In-home supportive services: needs assessment.

Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons are provided with services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes. Existing law requires the county welfare department to assess each recipient's continuing monthly need for in-home supportive services at varying intervals as necessary, but at least once every 12 months, except as specified. This bill would authorize counties to perform the needs reassessment using telehealth, including video conference or telephone, if certain conditions are met, including that the recipient has had at least one in-person assessment since the initial program intake and the recipient has had at least one in-person assessment in the past 12 months. The bill would require the county to notify recipients within 30 days of a proposed assessment by video conference or telephone and to provide the recipient with the option of having an in-person assessment instead.