About Us
History
Western Wisconsin Cares is the product of more than two-and-one-half years of planning by the West Central Consortium for Long-Term Support and Health Care Reform. The West Central Consortium received a grant from the former state Department of Health and Family Services in February 2006 for the purpose of preparing for the expansion and regionalization of the Family Care program in western Wisconsin. Planning efforts included county officials and staff, consumers, advocates, providers and other stakeholders from eight counties - Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Trempealeau and Vernon.
To learn more about our history, click here.
Family Care
Family Care consists of two distinct but interrelated components – an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and a Managed Care Organization.
The ADRC acts as the “front door” to Family Care since that is where consumers and their families go to learn about resources available to adults with concerns related to aging or disability. ADRCs provide a wide array of assistance, ranging from basic information to short-term case management to long-term care options counseling. ADRC staff also help determine eligibility for Family Care and help consumers enroll in the program. Each county in the WWC region will house an ADRC; staff also will visit consumers in their homes or other locations convenient to individuals requesting assistance.
The managed care aspect of Family Care is designed to optimize the health and independence of adults with long-term care needs through the provision of a flexible benefit package that includes both traditional Medicaid services (e.g. nursing homes, durable medical equipment, physical therapy) and home- and community-based “waiver” services (e.g. home modifications, supportive home care and respite).
Upon enrollment, each Family Care member becomes part of an interdisciplinary team that also includes at minimum a registered nurse and a social services coordinator. The team members work together to assess the member’s needs and preferences, define desired outcomes and develop an individualized care plan. Although Family Care does not pay for acute and primary health care services, such as doctor office visits, hospitalization, medication or dental work, care managers work with members in coordinating all aspects of health care to promote the members’ overall well-being.
Since the intial Family Care pilot programs began in 2000, independent analyses have shown that improved consumer outcomes resulting from effective care management also produce cost-savings in the state’s Medicaid budget. Consequently, efforts are now underway to expand the program statewide, with counties and tribes working collaboratively to create regional MCOs with sufficient members to support successful, self-sustaining operations.
For more information on the state initiative to expand Family Care in Wisconsin, read this Managed Long-Term Care Expansion Overview.