Are you or a loved one wrongfully institutionalized with severe mental health challenges? In Louisiana, there is assistance available to get you out of that institution and into a community-based setting where you can truly thrive. This article will cover My Choice Louisiana in detail. We’ll cover the program’s benefits, eligibility requirements, and how to apply. Let’s get right into it!
A Quick Overview of My Choice Louisiana
My Choice Louisiana is a Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) program that provides transition coordination services.
The program is designed to fulfill the behavioral health needs of select Louisianans who had been inappropriately placed in a nursing home or other institutional facility. It’s part of a 2018 agreement with the Department of Justice to make amends for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violation.
The goal is to transition individuals with serious mental illnesses into the most appropriate setting for their needs. This could be at home with family or in a community setting.
My Choice Louisiana Benefits
If you’re a good fit for My Choice Louisiana, you’ll receive assistance to safely transition out of your current nursing facility. You’ll then be moved to a better setting that’s suitable for your mental health needs. Along the way, you’ll get the following benefits:
- Transition planning
- Transition Coordination
- Transition support
- Screening
- Evaluations
You’ll work with a transition coordinator, along with a support coordinator, to complete your transition.
Who is Eligible for Louisiana My Choice?
Just because you’re a Louisianan with a disability, it doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed entry into this program. Louisiana My Choice helps a particular subset of people who meet one of the following criteria groups:
Eligibility Group 1:
- Over the age of 18.
- Eligible for Louisiana Medicaid
- Currently have severe mental illness (SMI)
- Currently residing in a nursing facility
Eligibility Group 2:
- Over the age of 18
- Currently have severe mental illness (SMI)
- Have been referred for a Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR)
- This is part of a federally required program designed to stop people from being mistakenly placed in nursing homes.
If you meet all of the requirements in either of these groups, you may be eligible for assistance through Louisiana My Choice.
How to Apply for My Choice Louisiana
Applying for My Choice Louisiana is the only way to determine whether you’re eligible for the transition assistance the program provides. So, how do you apply? There are two potential ways:
- Call the Louisiana Department of Health at (225) 342-9500 and ask to speak to someone about My Choice Louisiana.
- Reach out to Christy Johnson, the Program Director of My Choice Louisiana, at christy.johnson@la.gov.
Need More Assistance? Tap Into Support Coordination
Though the My Choice Louisiana program provides ample assistance to individuals in need, there may be times when you need a little extra help. That’s where support coordination comes in. Support coordinators are there to answer your questions, talk to internal contacts, and more. They help to ensure your transition goes as smoothly as possible.
