It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 40-18-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-18 entitled "Long Term Home Health Care--Alternative to Placement in a Skilled Nursing or Intermediate Care Facility" is hereby amended to read as follows:

40-18-1. Purpose. -- (a) The director of the department of human services, in addition to the medical assistance benefits provided in, chapter 8 of title 40, Medical Assistance, shall maintain and coordinate a program of long term home health care. The purpose of the program of long term home health care is to provide in-hospital eligible patients, who would be discharged to a skilled nursing facility and/or an intermediate care facility, with a viable alternative to placement in a skilled nursing facility and/or intermediate care facility. The director shall utilize a federally approved home and community based service waiver to provide a viable alternative. The hereinafter listed services shall be an integral part of the viable alternative.

(b) In addition, the director of the department of human services shall utilize {ADD any and all ADD} other available departmental resources and community resources to enhance and expand the provision of long term home health care as the viable alternative to placement in a skilled nursing facility and/or an intermediate care facility. {ADD These resources shall be used to strengthen and expand home and community-based long term care services which will help people stay at home for care when this is an appropriate alternative to nursing facility care. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.