Newsroom > DHHS News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 13, 2007

CONTACTS
Cindy Kadavy, Interim Unit Manager of Medicaid State Plan Long Term Care Services, (402) 471-4684 or cindy.kadavy@dhhs.ne.gov
Marla Augustine, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047 or marla.augustine@dhhs.ne.gov

Lincoln—Money Follows the Person is a new demonstration project of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Nebraska is one of 31 states selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to host the five-year project.

"Money Follows the Person will allow us to explore alternatives for clients so that they can live in environments that promote their independence, safety and well-being," said Vivianne Chaumont, Director of the Division of Medicaid and Long Term Care.

The project will help DHHS to rebalance Medicaid long-term care spending, decreasing the percentage that would normally be spent on high-cost care in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, and increasing the percentage spent on home and community-based services. This will allow people to return to their homes or apartments or relocate to other suitable living arrangements in community settings, such as houses, apartments, or small group living arrangements.

Up to 900 people could be served through this project. To qualify for participation in the Money Follows the Person project, an individual must be Medicaid-eligible and have resided in a nursing home or intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded for at least six months.

"The least restrictive living arrangements are often the most desirable, where our clients would be happiest," Chaumont said. "The goal is a better array of services allowing clients to live where they want. Many clients can be served in their homes and communities, preserving their independence and ties to family and friends."

The Money Follows the Person project offers the state an enhanced federal share for the Medicaid funds Nebraska expends in transitioning individuals from institutional to home and community-based settings, for a one-year period, with approximately 80 percent of the funding provided by CMS and approximately 20 percent provided by the State of Nebraska. Following the one-year transition period, the federal share for the individual’s Medicaid long-term care expenses will revert to its usual percentage of approximately 60 percent, with the State of Nebraska paying approximately 40 percent.

The federal match for this project could amount to approximately $27.5 million for Nebraska over the five-year demonstration period.

The initial year of the project will be spent developing operational protocols for identifying and screening potential candidates and determining what supports are needed to facilitate the transition.

William Roby is the new project manager. His job is to work with stakeholders to develop and implement creative alternatives to institutional care and ensure that consumers are aware of the programs and services that can meet their needs.

He has experience in facility and community care, consumer advocacy and program and grant management. He was a long-term care surveyor consultant for DHHS for six years. Before that he was Director of Social Services and Marketing at the University Heights long-term care facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2001-2002, and Executive Director of DayWatch in Lincoln, a homeless program, 1998-2001. He has a BA in Human Development from Doane College and holds nursing home and assisted living administrator licenses.

"Bil brings an enthusiasm for consumer choice and a knowledge of community resources that will be an asset to this project and will help Nebraska move toward a more balanced system of long-term care," said Cindy Kadavy, Interim Unit Manager of Medicaid State Plan Long Term Care Services.

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