Health, Department of

Aging Division

Chapter 3: Planning and Service Areas

Effective Date: 12/05/2005 to Current

Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 048.0003.3.12052005

WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

AGING DIVISION OPERATIONAL RULES

CHAPTER 3

PLANNING AND SERVICE AREAS

Section 1. Designation. The Division shall divide the state into planning and service areas in the following manner:

(a) Applications for designation as a planning and service area shall be submitted to the Division only by officials of an eligible entity.

(b) The application must include a description of the following:

(i) The geographical region, population and number of elderly persons in the geographical region proposed for designation as a planning and service area;

(ii) How the administration of the proposed planning and service area will be more efficient and cost effective than the present single planning and service area administered by the Division;

(iii) The system by which services will be delivered in the proposed planning and service area; and

(iv) The budget for the administration of the proposed planning and service area.

(c) Such applications will be reviewed as follows:

(i) At the first quarterly meeting of the Advisory Council all applications will be considered.

(ii) Each application will be assigned to a subcommittee of council members, which shall evaluate the application by:

(A) Conducting an on-site evaluation/assessment of the management capabilities of the applicant, based upon an evaluation report submitted by the Division staff which includes fiscal and program performance reports of the applicant; and

(B) Formulating results of the on-site assessments into a written report of the subcommittee findings.

(iii) Copies of the subcommittee's written report and the original application will be disseminated to the full Council at the second quarter meeting.

(iv) The application will be considered for approval at the Advisory Council meeting during the third quarter.

(A) If approved, the report and application will be forwarded to the Division Administrator, the Director of the Department of Health, and the Governor for final approval.

(B) The applicant shall be notified within 30 days after the third quarter meeting of the Council, by certified mail, of the recommendation and/or approval.

(C) If the application is not approved by the Advisory Council at the third quarter meeting, the applicant will be notified of denial by certified mail within 30 days of the meeting.

(v) If the recommendation is to approve the application, legislation will be drafted, and the state plan will be amended, to provide for multiple planning and service areas in the state.

(vi) If the application is denied, the applicant may request an administrative hearing under Chapter 2, Section 4.

Section 2. Designation of an Area Agency on Aging.

(a) The Division shall designate an area agency on aging only after an approved planning and service area has been designated, as explained in Section 1.

(b) Application for designation as an area agency on aging must include, at a minimum:

(i) Name, address and telephone number of the applicant;

(ii) A description of the proposed area agency's methods for carrying out its functions and responsibilities under the Older Americans Act;

(iii) Written testimony of the units of general purpose local government within the planning and service area;

(iv) Written testimony of the local senior citizens boards of directors, advisory boards and project directors which are within the planning and service areas and are funded under the Division;

(v) A proposed staffing plan that identifies the number and types of staff assigned to carry out area agency responsibilities and functions; and

(vi) A proposed budget for services and administration for two (2) succeeding years of operation.

(c) Within thirty (30) days of receiving an application for designation of an area agency, the Division staff will:

(i) Conduct an on-site assessment to determine whether the applicant has the capacity to perform all of the functions of an area agency, which will include:

(A) Review of fiscal and program performance records of the applicant; and

(B) Preparation of a written report on the finding to be disseminated to the Division Administrator and Advisory Council.

(d) The Division will act within sixty (60) days of receiving this report to approve or deny the application based on the written report and the recommendations of the Administrator and the Advisory Council. Notification to the applicant of the decision for designation will be made by certified mail within thirty (30) days of this decision.

(e) If an application is denied, the applicant may request an administrative hearing under Chapter 2, Section 4.