§349-17 Kupuna care program. (a) The executive office on aging may establish the kupuna care program. The program shall provide an array of long-term services and supports to address the needs of Hawaii's older adults to age in place and avoid institutionalization and to provide support services to caregivers or employed caregivers in their efforts to assist older adults to continue residing in their homes.
(b) The program shall be coordinated and administered by the executive office on aging and implemented through the area agencies on aging.
(c) To qualify for the kupuna care program, an individual shall be a care recipient, caregiver, or employed caregiver as defined in section 349-16.
(d) An area agency on aging, through the aging and disability resource center or any other entity designated by the executive office on aging, shall determine eligibility for the program, which may include the following:
(e) An area agency on aging shall use the assessment data and individual's support plan to confirm kupuna care program eligibility before authorizing and coordinating services and supports. An area agency on aging shall authorize and allot kupuna care services and shall not delegate the service authorization function to the agency's subcontractors.
(f) The kupuna care program shall be delivered through two distinct service options: traditional service delivery or participant-directed services and support, based on an individualized, person-centered support plan for each eligible care recipient, caregiver, or employed caregiver; provided that:
(g) An individual shall be determined to be ineligible for kupuna care services when:
(h) An area agency on aging shall provide an individual with written notice of the disposition of ineligibility for kupuna care services.
(i) An individual who has been determined ineligible for kupuna care services shall have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the applicable area agency on aging.
(j) Prior to termination of kupuna care services, service providers shall notify the applicable area agency on aging of the date and reason for termination. Termination of kupuna care services may occur if the care recipient, caregiver, or employed caregiver:
(k) All area agencies on aging shall record all consumer data, assessments, and service delivery within a statewide consolidated database.
(l) The kupuna care program shall award an allocation of funds to cover costs for services, subject to availability of funding; provided that the allocated funds shall be issued directly to the service provider or financial management service provider upon request and receipt of an invoice for services rendered.
(m) The executive office on aging shall develop an outreach plan to inform individuals of the kupuna care program and services of the program.
(n) The executive office on aging shall submit an annual report to the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, on the kupuna care program. The report shall include, at minimum:
(o) The director may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section. [L 2012, c 238, §2; §349-3.1; ren and am L 2017, c 102, §4; am L 2022, c 160, §3]