Federal program helps people get home care

The program assists Medicaid enrollees to transition from institutions back to the community.  Prior to MFTP, many Medicaid recipients in need of long-term care had one option -- a long-term care placement. The majority of those individuals would have much preferred to receive services in their own homes rather than an institution. Often, decisions were being made for the provision of long-term care services that were dictated by what was reimbursable under federal and state Medicaid policy rather than by what an individual’s needs and wants were.

The federal MFTP program helps states reduce reliance on nursing homes to provide institutional care, expanding the options for the elderly and individuals with disabilities to receive services in the community. With grants of $1.44 billion, it is considered the largest demonstration project in the history of Medicaid. States that are awarded the grants use the funds to develop systems and services that will help long-term care residents return to home- or community-based settings. 

The MFTP program will be introduced in phases in Rhode Island. Phase I will target transitioning 640 senior and persons with disabilities who are receiving nursing home care.

To be eligible, individuals must:

• Have resided in a nursing facility for at least three months.
• Be Medicaid eligible for one day prior to discharge.
• Have health care needs that can be met through services in the community.
• Voluntarily sign a consent form. (Consent forms can also be signed by a designee in a medical durable power of attorney for health care document or a legal guardian.
• Be eligible for either the aged and disabled (A/D), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or developmental disabilities (DD) waiver.

The MFTP will assist residents transitioning from a long-term care facility or hospital by providing information to residents and family members that will help them make informed decisions about the program and waivers. A nurse will then assess the resident and will indicate whether the candidate can safely move and live independently.

The program staff will help participants locate a place to live and will arrange for medical, rehabilitative, home health and other services in the community. Participants will be covered for 365 days, after which time the A/D, TBI or DD waiver will then provide access to on-going services.
If you or a family member is interested in participating, contact the Rhode Island Department of Human Services Division of Aging at (888) 673-0002 or http://www.d-hs.ri.gov/DefaultPermissions/WhatsNew/tabid/153/Default.aspx.

Social Security or other income will cover rent and other basic necessities, and the MFTP program will cover the cost of Medicaid services. The Department of Human Services has done an outstanding job of applying for and receiving federal grants to improve the quality of life for seniors and individuals with disabilities and providing choices that will allow them to remain independent. Now people can choose where they want to live, what they want to eat and when they want to go to bed. Those are choices most of us take for granted.


Kathleen Heren is executive director of the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care. You can contact her at (401) 785-3340.