House Republican Press Release

March 4, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. DelGobbo Testifies in Support of ‘Money Follows the Person’ Bill

Measure would Give More People Option of Long-term Home Care Alternative to Nursing Homes

State Representative Kevin M. DelGobbo today testified in favor a bill that would significantly expand a program that enables people who need long-term health care  to receive it at home rather than at nursing homes.

The legislation (Senate Bill 561) would expand the current “money follows the person” demonstration program, which allows up to 700 individuals to use their Medicaid benefits to cover long-term health care at their homes instead of at nursing home facilities, said Representative DelGobbo, R-Naugatuck, who cosponsored the measure.

The bill, which was the subject of a public hearing today before the state legislature’s Human Services Committee, would expand the current program to give up to 5,000 persons the opportunity to choose home health care treatment over long-term care at nursing homes, said Representative DelGobbo, who last year was an original supporter of the pilot program.

Representative DelGobbo expressed his passionate support for the legislation, adding: “Expanding the money follows the person program is not only the right thing to do, but also is a more cost-effective alternative to nursing homes.”

Representative DelGobbo facilitated the appearance before the committee of Joseph Stango of Southbury, the original author of the legislation to expand the program and to allow more people to qualify for it, and Bob Viellette of Naugatuck, who was paralyzed by a stroke.

Mr. Stango and Mr. Viellette were responsible for gathering thousands of signatures from Connecticut residents in support of the measure, and organized the appearance several dozen residents who attended the hearing and testified in favor of the bill, Representative DelGobbo said.