You may have heard that Medicaid offers housing assistance. But what exactly does this mean? Who qualifies for this benefit? And how do you access it? Learning the answers to these questions is essential to a smooth transition from facility to home. This article will cover Medicaid housing assistance specifically for LA Medicaid. Let’s get right into it!
What is Housing Assistance?
Transitioning from a facility to a residential home is an involved undertaking that usually comes with substantial expenses. That’s where Medicaid housing assistance comes in. The program aims to help people move out of facilities and transition to a more favorable home and community-based setting.
What is Money Follow the Person (MFP) Rebalancing/My Place Louisiana?
Every state implements its Medicaid program a little differently. In Louisiana, housing assistance provided for people with disabilities goes through My Place Louisiana. My Place Louisiana provides housing assistance for the elderly, adults with physical disabilities, and those with developmental disabilities.
The overarching goal of this program is to ensure that beneficiaries can live where they feel most comfortable (often, this is at home) while receiving the benefits and services necessary to support their overall health and well-being.
My Place Louisiana is part of a CMS grant called Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration. This initiative is in place to increase community services and reduce institutional services at outpatient hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, etc.
Who is Eligible for My Place Louisiana?
OCDD My Place Louisiana is available to a select portion of Medicaid recipients. Here are the eligibility criteria you’d need to meet to qualify for housing assistance through the program (you must meet ALL of them):
- You qualify for Medicaid.
- You have been residing at a qualifying institution for the last 60 days. Qualifying institutions include: Intermediate care facilities, Hospitals, Nursing facilities, or Rehab hospitals.
- You will be transitioning out of the facility you’ve been staying at.
- You qualify for an Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) waiver.
Benefits Available Through My Place Louisiana
Until now, we’ve addressed My Place Louisiana at a high level. Now, we’ll get into the benefits eligible beneficiaries can expect. Here’s a condensed list of the benefits available through My Place Louisiana:
- Assistance before your move.
- Funding to cover transportation, identification documents, qualifying home items, and more.
- Access to a realtor to help you find housing.
- Family counseling and training.
- Language assistance for beneficiaries who speak a language other than English.
- Assistance for up to a year after your move.
- Funding for necessary post-move services – This is only provided as a last resort in two situations: (1) when existing benefits aren’t sufficient or (2) there are no other resources available to meet your needs.
- In-home visits from My Place transition coordinators to evaluate your new living situation and ensure your needs are met. If not, they’ll explore alternative living arrangements/re-institutionalization.
- Training for direct supports to ensure they can provide the care you need.
Note: You get access to a transition coordinator before and after the move to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
How to Enroll in My Place Louisiana
Enrolling in My Place Louisiana is straightforward. If you’re an adult who meets the program requirements outlined earlier in the article, contact the My Place Program Manager, Scott Tuma, by email at ocdd.mfp@la.gov or by phone at (225) 342-6718. For children currently housed in specialty hospitals or nursing facilities, contact Krista Tipton by email at ocdd.mfp@la.gov or by phone at 601-259-2646.
So, there you have it – housing assistance information for Louisianans with disabilities. We hope the information in this article has shed some light on housing assistance, enabling you to access the benefits you or your loved one needs.
