Money NOT Following The Person? - Information Bulletin #95, 10/05

In August, 2004, CMS issued a "Dear State Medicaid Director" letter (SMDL#04-005) supporting States to implement a "Money Follows the Person" (MFP) program so persons could leave nursing homes and return to their communities. (See our Information Bulletin #73 (9/04) for details.) In this, CMS discussed waiver capacity, cost neutrality and reducing the number of nursing home beds. They call it: REBALANCING!

We have an opportunity to continue to transition folks out of nursing homes even though there may be Medicaid shortages.

What is happening in your State? We would like to know the status of MFP in your state.

Please respond to us at the email address below, indicating the name of your State, what efforts the Disability Advocacy Community has undertaken to implement the MFP, the current status and prospects for actual implementation, and what roadblocks you have met in your State. All responses will be kept confidential.

Please answer as specifically as possible the following:

  1. Has your State used the Minimum Data Set Q1a data to identify the number of specific persons who have indicated they want to reside in the community? Has your State identified and made known to the advocates which nursing homes these people are in?
  2. Has your State made these MDS Q1a persons a priority in an Olmstead "Plan"? Who are a priority in your Olmstead "Plan"?
  3. Has your State applied to CMS for Medical Assistance Targeted Case Management funds to be used to identify and assist folks in nursing homes to relocate to the community?
  4. Does your State work/contract with the AAAs and ILCs to assist in transitioning people from nursing homes? Does your State use Targeted Case Management to fund the AAAs/ILCs to identify and get persons out of nursing homes?
  5. Does your state use any other funding source to identify and assist folks in nursing homes to relocate to the community?
  6. Has your State attempted to implement a Money Follows the Person concept? (Shifting the money from the nursing home budget to the community budget) If yes, how is it done; has it been successful? If not would you want more information on how it works in other states?
  7. Has your State worked on housing as a barrier? Has it suggested coordinating the receipt of housing vouchers with the delivery of home and community services so they are available at the same time? Has your State worked with the local PHA to target vouchers for those transitioning from nursing homes? Has the State explored using HOME funds for people relocating from nursing homes?
  8. Has your State asked the P&A to develop a campaign to assist people in nursing homes to live in the community?

We want to try to get a national and State-by-State picture. Please take some time and respond. Thanks very much.

Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects.

Send your answers to: stevegoldada@cs.com