Legislation Ensuring that Vulnerable Hospital Patients Receive Information for In-Home Supportive Services is Signed by the Governor

(Sacramento) The Governor recently signed Assembly Bill 1005, authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego). AB 1005 provides In-Home Support Services (IHSS) application assistance to vulnerable hospital patients and ensures that a hospital case manager or discharge planner evaluate their patient to see if they are interested in IHSS services and need in-home personal care.

“Receiving a terminal diagnosis is a challenging moment for the patient and their family that only gets more difficult as the patient prepares for the end of life,” said Assemblymember Alvarez. “This bill will ensure they receive the most accurate and timely information about the care they can receive. Thank you to the Governor for signing this measure as this bill impacts vulnerable communities directly and leads them to the best health education resources.”

IHSS, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, provides qualified aged, blind, or disabled persons with supportive services in their own homes. In-Home Support Services (IHSS) caregiver services offers resources and support to ensure that patients’ end-of-life care makes them as comfortable as possible. However, despite having radically different lifetime expectations, terminal and non-terminal patients have the same process on the same timeline. AB 1005 aims to get vulnerable hospital patients who are interested in IHSS to get the application and assistance they need in an expedited process.