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The Department of Mental Health operates the Home and Community Based Services Waiver for individuals who have mental retardation/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 mental retardation (ICF/MR). 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 Director of the Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disablilities. 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 children 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) 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 - For children, this service is only available in non-school settings because school districts are responsible for providing this service while the child is at school. Federal regulations prohibit MR/DD Waiver funds from being used to provide services which are available through/required to be provided by other funding sources such as school districts or private health insurance. When provided, 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 child is not eligible for them through the regular Medicaid State Plan or another funding source (such as a local school district or private health insurance). 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) 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). Click here for a list of Regional Centers. |
