Rebalancing Long Term Care in Maryland
Money Follows the Person (MFP) in Maryland helps people transition from an institution, for example a nursing facility to community living in an apartment, private home, or small group setting. MFP initiatives increase outreach to individuals in institutions and decrease barriers to transition. New MFP efforts include peer mentoring, enhanced transition assistance, improved information technology, housing assistance, flexible transition funds and additional services to existing waivers.
For additional information, including the detailed Operational Protocol, please follow the links on this page, or contact the Project Director by email: mdh.mfp@maryland.gov
MFP Consent Form developed 2020:
MFP Consent Form.doc
The Money Follows the Person Consent Form authorizes the client to receive flex funds for groceries, transportation and other related transition expenses that are not usually covered by Medicaid. A consent form can be completed independently or with assistance by a representative from the Local Areas on Aging (AAA) and or a peer counselor. Due to the COVID- 19 Public Health Emergency, CMS has authorized informed verbal consent for clients who are interested in participating in the MFP Demonstration. The CMS policy states MFP participating States may leverage MFP Demonstration flexibility and resources to make temporary programmatic changes that are consistent with their state’s local community’s response to COVID-19.
Housing information
Maryland Health Department, Money Follows the Person Demonstration Project (MDH-MFP) is a partner in the Maryland Partnership for Affordable Housing (MPAH). MDH-MFP, along with the Maryland Department of Disabilities and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (MDOD and DHCD) administers four affordable housing programs: HUD 811 Project Rental Assistance (HUD 811 PRA), The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation's Affordable Rental Housing Opportunities Initiative for Persons with Disabilities (Weinberg), the Money Follows the Person Bridge Subsidy (MFP Bridge Subsidy), and Community Choice Home (CCH). CCH is specific to Montgomery County.
HUD 811 PRA
http://mdod.maryland.gov/housing/Pages/section811.aspx
Weinberg
http://mdod.maryland.gov/housing/Pages/MPAH.aspx
MFP Bridge Subsidy fact sheet:
https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/longtermcare/Resource%20Guide/08.%20Housing/MFP%20Bridge%20Subsidy%20Participant%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Other housing resources
https://www.mdhousingsearch.org/
https://www.affordablehousing.com/
https://www.hud.gov/states/maryland/renting/hawebsites
https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/HousingChoice/default.aspx
MFP Operational Protocol:
The MFP Operational Protocol is currently being revised. Below is the link to the past document. Updates are usually shared during the Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings.
https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/longtermcare/MFP%20BIP/MFP%20Protocols/MFP%20Operational%20Protocol%20%202017.pdf
MFP Services:
In order to address barriers that stop or impede transitions from institutions to the community, the MFP demonstration also offers MFP Flex Funds. This supplemental service includes funds for groceries, transportation and other necessary items that are not funded by Medicaid services. MFP Flex Funds is a maximum $700 to pay for initial supply of groceries when a client chooses to transition and is only available for qualifying MFP participants. Flex funds must be spent within 60 days of transition.
Peer mentoring is an MFP service offered to nursing facility residents who are in the process of transitioning to the community. Peer Mentoring prompts socialization, community inclusivity, self-advocacy and defines an individual's ability to make an informed and independent decision and a space to voice their concerns or opinions regarding the transition process. Peer mentoring services can begin two to three months prior to transitioning and help the client identify goals and community living skills.
Maryland Access Point:
MAP is a gateway to long term services and support in Maryland. MAP specialists work with caregivers, professionals and all individuals with long term care needs to plan, identify, connect and assist with accessing private and public resources for long term services and support.
https://marylandaccesspoint.211md.org/
SAG Meetings
The MFP Stakeholder Advisory Group meets on a bi-monthly basis to provide updates to the Demonstration Project. The MFP SAG provides feedback, identifies barriers to MFP transitions and invites content experts to facilitate educational opportunities to all stakeholders for HCBS services and policies. The Advisory Group is made up of individuals, advocates, community providers, professional organizations, institutional providers, State staff, and representatives from various organizations.
MFP FAQ:
Housing-related questions:
How can I assist my client with housing options via MFP?
How do I apply for housing?
Answer: Thank you for your inquiry in the MFP Housing options. Please take some time to read through the criteria and process information below.
The three programs are the HUD 811 Project Rental Assistance Program, the Weinberg Affordable Apartments, and the Money Follows the Person Bridge Subsidy Program.
For all three programs you must have Medicaid and must meet the other eligibility criteria. For HUD 811 and Weinberg, you have to be between the ages of 18 and 61 to qualify. Both of these programs are project-based, so the assistance is tied to a particular unit. For the MFP Bridge Subsidy Program you have to be over 18 and transitioning from a nursing facility, institution for mental disease, chronic hospital, alternative living unit (ALU), an assisted living facility (ALF), or a group home. It is a three year subsidy that then transitions to a Housing Choice Voucher or public housing. All three programs have income eligibility requirements and applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of the local public housing authority (PHA) where they will reside. Effective March 1, 2017, the Waitlist Registry is closed to new applicants who do not meet a priority category.
Maryland has a closed application process, meaning individuals cannot apply directly to the registry. Individuals must be eligible for Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS) or comparable supportive services through the State plan or the Centers for Independent Living. The supports planners or case managers (SP/CM) must register for a user account to add individuals to the web-based registry hosted on Social Serve. To set up an account the SP/CM must request an account via www.socialserve.com/Enter/MD. They should use their agency email address to register this account.
HUD 811 PRA Eligibility criteria:
· be a Maryland resident between the ages of 18 and 61;
· be a Maryland Medicaid recipient;
· be eligible for case management services through Medicaid;
· have income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income for the county in which the applicant plans to live; and
· be accommodated in a one or two-bedroom unit.
Eligible applicants are prioritized for HUD 811 PRA in the following order:
1. Institutionalized Medicaid Recipients
2. Households At Risk of Institutionalization Due to Current Housing Situation
3. Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Community Pathways waiver participants moving from Group Homes/Alternative Living Units (ALUs) to independent renting; Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Brain Injury waiver participants moving from ALUs to independent renting; BHA Residential Rehabilitation Program participants moving to independent renting; and Home and Community-Based Options (CO) Waiver participants moving from a MDH- Office of Healthcare Quality licensed Assisted Living Facility (ALF) to independent renting, and
4. Homeless persons who are Medicaid recipients, prioritized in HEARTH Act definition order (HEARTH Act of 2009)
MFP Bridge Subsidy eligibility criteria:
· Must be MFP eligible (signed consent form) or Brain Injury Waiver participant transitioning from an alternative living unit (ALU)
· Ages 18+
· Household income of $19,000 or less
· Transitioning from institutional settings to independent renting
· Must meet requirements of local PHA and HCV program
Weinberg Affordable Apartments eligibility criteria:
Individuals with disabilities between 18-61
Applying or receiving SSI or SSDI
Household income maximum of 30% AMI with minimum income of 10% AMI for Weinberg II and Weinberg III. 15% AMI is minimum income for Weinberg I.
Cannot be lifetime registered sex offender,
Cannot be convicted of production of methamphetamine production on federally assisted property
We recommend that you contact one of the Centers for Independent Living, which are agencies that assist people with disabilities. Use the following link to search for your local CIL:
https://aging.maryland.gov/accesspoint/Pages/Centers-for-Independent-Living.aspx
Caregiver question:
I am privately paying for a caregiver for a loved one, can MFP help me pay for a caregiver ?
Answer:
MFP does not assist with funding caregivers. Please try the MAPS site.
https://211md.org/
Contact for general information
mdh.mfp@maryland.gov
MFP Team Contact information:
Wayne Lee Reed III
Money Follows the Person Demonstration Grant Project Director
Division of Long Term Care Services
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
201 W. Preston Street, Room 137
Baltimore, MD 21201
o: 410.767.4948
m: 443.681.0557
f: 410.333.5333
e: wayne.reed@maryland.gov
Puja Shukla
Health Policy Analyst II
Money Follows The Person Demonstration
Division of Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
201 W Preston Street MD 21201
Work: 410-767-7761
Cell:443-683-0169
puja.shukla1@maryland.gov
Jared Palakanis
Health Policy Analyst II
Department of Health (MDH)
926 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804
P: (443)-683-0196
E: jared.palakanis@maryland.gov
Finance Specialist- position vacant
Marianne Graham, LCSW-C
Housing and Compliance Director
Money Follows the Person Demonstration Project
Office of Long-Term Services and Supports
Division of Long-Term Care
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
201 West Preston Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 767-9730 office
(443) 682-0871 cell
Marianne.Graham@Maryland.gov
Kimberlee Jackson
Money Follows the Person Medical Specialist II
Maryland Department of Health
Office of Long-term Services and Supports
Division of Long Term Care Services
201 W. Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Office:410-767-4796
Mobile:443-683-0137
Kimberlee.Jackson2@maryland.gov
Ericka Vinson
Money Follows the Person Demonstration, Health Policy Analyst
Office of Long Term Services and Supports
Division of Long Term Care Services
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
201 W. Preston Street, Room 137
Baltimore, MD 21201
o: 410-767-7242
f: 410-333-5333
e: erickal.vinson@maryland.gov
Susan Davis
Maryland Department of Health
Quality and Compliance Specialist
Money Follows The Person Demonstration (MFP)
Division Of Long Term Services & Supports (LTSS)
201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767 4273 (office)
(443) 683 0100 (cell)
Lisa Waddell
Money Follows the Person Demonstration Project-Housing Specialist
Division of Long-Term Care Services and Supports
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
201 West Preston Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 767-5212 Office
(410) 303-0620 Mobile
Lisa.Waddell@Maryland.gov
Nicola N. Simpson
Money Follows the Person Demonstration
Behavioral Health Policy Analyst Associate
Division of Long Term Care Services
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
o: 410.767.6660
c.443.683.0221
e: nicolan.simpson@maryland.gov
Mia Madera MBA, BS, HS-BCP
Developmental Disabilities Administration
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
Long-Term Services and Supports Administration
201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-935-8817 (cell)
410-767-4916 (office)
mia.madera@maryland.gov
