§ 19-P:2-a — Advisory Council on the System of Care for Health Aging in New Hampshire

I. The commission shall establish an advisory council on the system of care for healthy aging in New Hampshire. The purpose of the advisory council shall be to:
(a) Improve the well-being of older adults and caregivers;
(b) Identify cost-savings and opportunities to increase collaboration, efficiency, and the effectiveness of the service array and service delivery system; and
(c) Assist and advise the commissioner of the department of health and human services on the system of care principles and values and implementation of RSA 151-E:22 through 151-E:27.
II. (a) The director of the division of long-term supports and services, or the director's designee, and one member of the state commission on aging shall serve as the permanent co-chairpersons of the advisory council.
(b) Additional members of the advisory council representing diverse perspectives shall be appointed by the commission on aging and shall include older adults and family caregivers with relevant experience, members of agencies serving older adults including public, private, consumer advocacy, and non-profit organizations, and individuals with relevant policy expertise.
III. The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly and may meet more often at the call of the commission.
IV. The duties of the council shall include reviewing and making recommendations regarding all aspects of the implementation of the system of care for healthy aging established under RSA 151-E:22 through 151-E:27. Such duties shall also include addressing the availability of long term supports and services for individuals across the continuum of care, including but not be limited to:
(a) Reviewing and making recommendations that improve and shorten the timeline for accessing Medicaid long-term care benefits.
(b) Reviewing and making recommendations to remove barriers to hospital discharge for non-acute patients who require post hospital long-term supports and services.
(c) Gathering additional data to review the implementation of the system of care for healthy aging, including but not limited to:
(1) Licensed long-term care beds in service versus licensed long-term care beds not in service, and recommendations for optimal utilization of limited long-term care bed licenses to increase access to long-term care.
(2) Reviewing the availability of long-term services and supports for individuals requiring post hospital or nursing facility care service.
(3) Access to Medicaid Choices for Independence waiver services post hospital discharge and recommendations for optimal program utilization.
(4) Availability of long-term supports and services for non-Medicaid individuals.
(d) Working collaboratively with public and private stakeholders to strengthen the direct care workforce to meet the growing demand for long-term supports and services in New Hampshire.
(e) Advising the governor, the senate president, the speaker of the house, the oversight committee on health and human services, as established in RSA 126-A:13, and the commissioner of health and human services on any issue related to long-term services and supports within the system of care for healthy aging.
V. A summary of the advisory council's activities, findings, and recommendations shall be included in the commission's annual report submitted under RSA 19-P:3.

Legislative History

2025, 141:38, eff. July 1, 2025.