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The Department of Mental Health operates the Home and Community Based Services Waiver for individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (MR/DD Waiver). The purpose of this program is to provide services at home and in the community for people who would be eligible for services in an Intermediate Care Facility for persons with intellectual and developmental disabities (ICF/DD). The MR/DD Waiver is available on a statewide basis to people of all ages who meet the following eligibility criteria:
Evaluations for eligibility are conducted at the state's five Regional Centers (see map for catchment areas). When a person goes through the evaluation process and the Diagnostic and Evaluation Team determines the person meets the criteria for ICF/MR level of care, the individual/family is offered the choice of institutional or home and community based services. People who elect to receive home and community based services are referred to the MR/DD Waiver Support Coordination Department at the Regional Center . A family can opt to receive home and community based services and still remain on the Regional Center's waiting list for long term placement, if they so desire. An MR/DD Waiver Support Coordinator will contact the individual/family to arrange a meeting with the family to further explain the services offered through the MR/DD Waiver and to discuss with the individual/family which services they believe could be of most benefit to the individual. Based on this information, an individualized Plan of Care is developed and it, along with other required forms and documentation, are submitted to the Department of Mental Health/Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (BMR) for review. If BMR finds the paperwork to be in order, the enrollment packet is forward to the Division of Medicaid/Bureau of Long Term care for approval/disapproval. Upon notification from the Division of Medicaid, the MR/DD Waiver Support Coordinator contacts the individual family to inform them if they were approved or disapproved for enrollment. If someone is disapproved, they can appeal the decision to the Dirctor of the Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. When a person is approved, the individual/family is offered choices of qualified providers from which to choose. The MR/DD Waiver Support Coordinator then makes the appropriate referrals and providers contact the family to arrange an exact date on which services will begin. Services available for adults are:
Attendant Care - This service is generally provided a few hours per day to assist an eligible individual with activities such bathing, meal preparation, eating, dressing, shopping, leisure activities, light housekeeping, and participation in activities in the community. (back to services) In-Home Respite - The primary purpose of this service is to provide the primary care giver(s) a break from the constant demands of caring for their family member who has a disability. Respite can be provided in the home or in a certified community setting. In-home respite can be provided by a nurse (if the individual requires a nurse in the absence of the care giver) or by an aide. Activities which typically take place include assisting the individual with personal hygiene, meal preparation, and leisure activities. Community Respite is offered at certified sites which offer leisure/recreation activities and other activities of the individual's choosing. Community Respite is not provided overnight and is not provided in private residences. Respite care is also offered in ICF/MR settings on a limited basis, based on the number of available beds. (back to services) Day Habilitation - These services are designed to assist and support individuals in retaining and/or improving skills which afford them the greatest level of independence possible. Programs are required to provide individuals with numerous and varied opportunities to participate in activities in the community rather than in a center-based program. The maximum amount of Day Habilitation services a person may receive is 30 hours per week. Day Habilitation services are available only to those individuals who are no longer eligible for services from the school system - generally ages 21 and up. (See map for currently certified Day Habilitation programs.) (back to services) Prevocational Services - These services are designed to promote vocational skill development with the eventual outcome being employment in a workplace in the community, with or without support. Generally, activities are not primarily directed at teaching job specific skills, but at broader skills which can be used in a variety of work settings (examples: increasing attention span, improving gross and fine motor skills, etc.). Services can be provided in either center based or community based settings. If individuals participate in any form of activity in which they are paid for their work, the program must be a certified Work Activity Center . (See map for currently certified Prevocational programs.) (back to services) Supervised Residential Habilitation (Supervised Living) - Supervised community living means there is a staff person on site, 24 hours per day, who can respond to calls for assistance within five minutes or less. The types of settings in which Supervised Living is available vary across the state. There are several locations in which individuals live in their own apartment (usually, but not always, with one or two roommates) and program staff also has an apartment. Generally there are several individuals living throughout an apartment complex with this type of arrangement. Another option is individuals living in their own apartments (own bathroom, kitchen, living area, and bedroom) within a single housing unit. Staff is on-site 24/7. There are also some situations in which the provider owns/leases the home and individuals pay rent/utilities. Generally no more than six individuals live together in a home. Staff is in the home 24/7. Transportation to and from day programs and community activities is provided, as well as support with shopping for food and personal items and assistance with individual finances. (back to services) Supported Residential Habilitation (Supported Living) - Supported community living services are provided to individuals who live in a home or apartment they rent/lease themselves. Staff is not on-site 24 hours a day, but someone is always on call in case of emergency. Generally staff visits the individual for one or two hours a day, three to five days a week, depending on the level of support the person desires. Staff assists with shopping, paying bills, meal planning, doctor visits, personal hygiene (if needed), housekeeping (if needed), etc. Transportation to and from day programs and community activities is also provided. (back to services) Supported Employment - This service supports people in finding and keeping a job in the community. It includes activities such as job exploration, assistance in applying for jobs, assistance on the job to ensure the individual has the support necessary to be successful, assistance in building natural supports in the work place, and assistance in learning the routines and requirements of a particular job/workplace. Supported employment can be phased out as the individual learns the job and performs it without staff support/supervision or supported employment can continue indefinitely, depending on the individual and his/her particular level of support needs. (back to services) Support Coordination - It is the responsibility of the HCBS Waiver Support Coordinator to listen to each person and/or his/her family and arrange services around each individual's stated wishes and desires. A family may not know they need a service called "respite," but they know they need assistance at home because they are exhausted. The MR/DD Waiver Support Coordinator must take all available information and, based upon the family's wishes and desires, arrange services and supports (both those provided through the MR/DD Waiver as well as any other service/support the individual requests) which are flexible and tailored to each person. The MR/DD Waiver Support Coordinator acts as an advocate for each person, assisting them in navigating through the various service systems and determining the individual's level of satisfaction with services. MR/DD Waiver Support Coordinators are responsible for gathering, maintaining and submitting required documentation annually to the BMR to verify the person's continuing eligibility for the MR/DD Waiver. Everyone enrolled in the MR/DD Waiver receives Support Coordination services which are provided by each of the state's five regional centers. (back to services) Behavior Support/Intervention - This service is designed for individuals who exhibit behavior problems that cause them to not benefit from other services being provided or cause them to be so disruptive in their environment(s) that there is imminent danger of institutionalization. The provider works directly with the individual and also trains staff and family members to assist them in implementing specific behavior support/intervention programs. (back to services) Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapy - These services are available only when a person is not eligible for them through the regular Medicaid State Plan or another funding source. These therapies offered through the MR/DD Waiver are designed to maintain an individual's skills and prevent regression whereas under the State Plan, the person must have rehabilitative potential. (back to services) Specialized Medical Supplies - Supplies offered through the MR/DD Waiver include: disposable briefs, underpads, and catheters. These supplies are available only to those participants for whom there is no other funding source. (back to services) For more information about accessing MR/DD Waiver services, please contact the MR/DD Waiver Support Coordination Department at the Regional Center in whose catchment you reside ( see map ). (back to services) Click here for a list of Regional Centers. |
