DC’s Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Project (MFP) has been a pathway to independent living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since September 2008.
The District’s MFP Project is part of the largest demonstration in history funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This federal grant program provides support to States and the District of Columbia to shift Medicaid long-term spending away from a facility based system to one that offers services and supports in home and community-based settings. MFP allows individuals receiving Medicaid the opportunity to choose where to receive their services. DC’s MFP tagline, New Choices. New Lives. reflects this mission.
Currently the District offers MFP to the following individuals:
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities residing in long-term care settings, such as Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/ID), who are eligible for the DDA Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver and
- Individuals living in nursing facilities, who are eligible for assistance through the Elderly and Physical Disability (EPD) Home and Community-Based Services waiver.
To explore transition through MFP, an individual must be:
- Someone who has lived in an ICF/ID or other long-term care facility, for at least 90 continuous days
- Supported by Medicaid to live in a long-term care facility within the last 30 days
- Interested in receiving services and supports in the community and
- Eligible for one of DC’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Programs.
Money Follows the Person is different from other Medicaid grant programs in two ways:
- MFP has Enhanced Medicaid matching funds (FMAP) to help offset states’ expenses related to deinstitutionalization, such as house-hold start up costs.
- MFP provides support to individuals in learning about and participating in community activities during the year of their transition.
To learn more about MFP for people transitioning from ICFs/ID, contact Ms. Sakena McWright (MFP Project Coordinator at the Department of Health Care Finance at (202)442-9011.
You may also contact the DC Department on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about transitions from nursing homes to the community. The telephone number is (202) 724-5626.