Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the ADRC topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ADRC reports surge in long‑term care referrals; staff ask for options counselor FTE
Summary
Kristin Newton told the board ADRC referrals for public long‑term care rose from 274 in 2024 to a projected 542 through May 2026, and that staff have spent more than 500 hours on functional screens so far, supporting the requested options counselor position.
Kristin Newton, the ADRC administrator, asked the board to consider an options counselor position to handle a growing volume of long‑term care referrals. "In 2026, to date, we were projected to have about 542 referrals for publicly funded long term care," she said, contrasting that with 274 referrals in 2024.
Newton explained that functional screens take the most time and that, through June, the ADRC staff of four had spent over 500 hours on those screens alone. She said the ADRC is the only agency in Wisconsin that performs this role and that adding staff would help prevent higher‑cost crises that lead to adult protection referrals, law enforcement involvement, or expensive placements.
Board members supported the proposal while noting the partial Medicaid funding for the position and the approximate levy impact. The director invited Kristin to present further detail to supervisors as part of the position prioritization process.
