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Please disseminate widely.
This is a good time to let the politicians and policymakers know about this,
especially with Election Day around the corner...
Why not save State funds? Information Bulletin #181 (10/06)
In a recent Information Bulletin, we provided the amount of savings
that a few states would accrue if the States applied for Money Follows the
Person and were awarded a MFP grant. Based on the response, we have
attempted to provide this information for more States. The limitations
involve whether or not your state has reported enough information so we
could calculate the savings.
We obtained the information from: The National Association of State
Medicaid Directors put together a high-level database for each waiver in
2004, which is at http://www.nasmd.org/waivers/1915cdb.htm. It includes
the most recent data available at that time, usually 2003 data but
sometimes 2002 or 2004. (We added a cost of living increase to the 2003
figures so the data comparison was more accurate.) FMAP data is at
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/fmap07.htm. The per diem data was from ACHA
and was provided per state in a recent Information Bulletin.
I have taken a random geographical selection of States. If your State
is not listed, it may mean only that I did not have the data. But local
advocates can obtain all the information needed to input the Calculator.
You can easily obtain the per diem and FMAP. You can obtain the most
recent data for waivers by asking either your state MA officials for the
waiver's D +D' data they supplied to CMS; this is the average annual per
person HCBS cost.
Here are the savings your State will achieve if it applies for MFP and
is awarded. We provide the information per person. We also provide it,
assuming your State will assist 1,000 people to move from the nursing
institution back to the community.
SAVINGS PER STATE PER PERSON AND PER 1,000 PEOPLE
CO $22,354 per person or $22.3 m
CT $30,243 per person or $30.2 m
FL $21,399 per person or $21.4 m
GA $15,050 per person or $15 m
HI $23,944 per person or $30 m
IN $10,621 per person or $10 m
IA $10,838 per person or $10.9 m
KA $11,225 per person or $11 m
MD $25,140 per person or $25 m
MI $23,455 per person or $23 m
MO $12,886 per person or $13 m
NE $15,019 per person or $15 m
NV $25,033 per person or $25 m
NJ $30,076 per person or $30 m
NY $29,344 per person or $29 m
OH $19,813 per person or $20 m
OK $10,830 per person or $11 m
SD $12,310 per person or $12 m
UT $13,567 per person or $13.6 m
VA $18,451 per person or $18 m
WV $14,831 per person or $15 m
Besides the savings your State will accrue, CMS and the federal government
will save significant sums per person.
Disability Advocates:
1. Do you think your local/state press are aware of the significant
savings that will accrue? This is true even if your States is NOT awarded
an MFP grant! The Calculator provides this savings for both MFP grantees
and for States that do not apply for MFP.
2. Why would your State NOT apply for an enhanced federal
reimbursement rate? Why would your State NOT want to move persons into
the community and end "unnecessary institutionalization?" It could not be
that the providers in your State have the politicians in their pockets.
3. If your State either does NOT apply or submits a flimsy
application just to placate the advocates, think about the Olmstead
decision. We're confident your State Protection and Advocacy agencies
have been considering an Olmstead action if your State does not want these
extra funds. Have you spoken to the Boards of Directors of your State
P&As?
4. Why has the MR/DD community been extraordinarily silent? Why
aren't States taking advantage of this opportunity to end the "unnecessary
institutionalization" of persons in State Centers, ICF-MRs, and group
homes? Why not use MFP as the opportunity to end the institutionalization
of persons in ICF-MRs?
5. Is your State's MFP going to look at ALL disabilities and all ages?
Why not look at persons who are institutionalized in our mental health
institutions? While there may not be an enhanced federal match for
persons in mental institutions, what a great opportunity to organize
across disabilities.
6. What about States deinstitutionalizing ALL CHILDREN, regardless of
diagnosis and institution. Why in 2006 should any child be
institutionalized?
7. Also, don't be ageist. Lot's of elderly people in nursing
facilities want to live in the community. MFP is a great opportunity to
offer them adequate services in their own homes.
8. CMS will probably provide more points to States that honestly
address both the ICF-MRs and Mental Institutions, as well as ALL Children
and ALL ages.
It's not too late! Encourage your State MA officials to do the right
thing!
Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues
Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at
http://www.stevegoldada.com
with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects.
To contact Steve Gold directly, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call
215-627-7100.
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