Wyoming task force narrows ‘essential services’ for vulnerable adults, urges agencies to refine recommendations

The Mental Health & Vulnerable Adult Task Force reviewed a condensed list of “proposed essential services” for vulnerable adults and voted to direct the Legislative Service Office to work with state agencies to finalize language for the task force’s report.

The vote, moved by a task force member and approved by the group, followed extended discussion about who should provide housing, temporary safe places, medical care, transportation and case management for adults who are elderly, functionally impaired or otherwise vulnerable.

Task force members said the draft deliberately emphasizes leveraging existing programs rather than creating large new state services. “We need to do better with what we have,” Director Johansen said as the group described using Medicaid waivers, Department of Health home-based services and senior-center programs to meet many needs. Director Schmidt told the committee: “We receive $80,000 of biennium to provide all of these services,” and said those funds are limited and intended for short-term emergency support rather than long-term housing or care.

Why it matters: task force members said Wyoming’s aging…