Money
Follows the Person Rebalancing Initiative
NEVADA
Grant
Information
Name of Grantee
Nevada
Department of Human Resources
Title of Grant
Nevada Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Initiative
Type of Grant
Money
Follows the Person Rebalancing Initiative
Amount of Grant
$749,999
Year Original Funding
Received
2003
Contact
Information
Todd Butterworth, Project Director
775–687–4452
tbutterworth@dhr.state.nv.us
Paul Haugen, Project Co-Coordinator
775–687–4452
phaugen@dhr.state.nv.us
Sherry Manning, Project Co-Coordinator
Office of Disability Services
3656 Research Way, Suite 32
Carson City, NV 89706
775–687–4452
kpreston@dhr.state.nv.us
Subcontractor(s)
Joan Sperling-Johnson
775–353–3599 (voice/TTY)
Lisa Erquiaga
Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living
999 Pyramid Way
Sparks, NV 89431
Target
Population(s)
Nonelderly persons with disabilities served in nursing facilities or
at risk of institutionalization in the absence of effective community services.
Goals
- Rebalance Nevada's long-term
services programs so that community services and supports are the primary
source of support for people with disabilities.
- Design and implement
policies so that dollars spent on institutional services readily follow
individuals from institutional to community services.
- Strengthen community
services to reduce the use of institutional services.
- Expand options for
individuals to direct their own services.
Activities
- Design a Nevada "money
follows the person" (MFP) mechanism that ensures funding for
institutionalized individuals who want to return to the community.
- Prepare fiscal impact
estimates and identify necessary changes to the Medicaid program.
- Collect Medicaid
Statistical Information System (MSIS) information on costs and services.
- Identify 160
individuals for community integration, implement their transitions, and
use peer advocates to assist individuals or families in the transition
process.
- Establish a Housing
Specialist at the Nevada Developmental Disabilities Council to help
individuals locate affordable housing and access State and local housing
assistance programs; revitalize the Nevada Home of Your Own program, an
initiative to help people with disabilities secure housing; and develop,
disseminate, and periodically update a registry of affordable, accessible
housing in Nevada.
- Conduct research and
investigations of State policies and home and community services programs.
Prepare report of recommended policy and program changes in advance of
2005 and 2007 legislative sessions.
- Conduct research and
investigations into self-directed care, and develop proposed design.
- Consolidate and improve
consumer and family education activities across agencies.
Abstract
Rebalancing the State's system to avoid unnecessary
institutionalization requires changes in its policies and programs so money can
follow institutionalized persons into the community. It is also necessary to
assure that people with disabilities have ready access to effective, high-value
services and supports in the community so that they need not seek institutional
services. Another critical rebalancing dimension is to offer individuals with
disabilities greater opportunities to direct their own services.
The Nevada Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Initiative
is a collaboration of individuals with disabilities, advocates, Department of
Human Resources agencies (Office of Disability Services, Division for Aging
Services, the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy), the Nevada
Developmental Disabilities Council, Nevada's two Centers for Independent
Living, service providers, and community organizations.
The Initiative will link with other activities already
under way to strengthen and improve community services for people with
disabilities. The Initiative will
- lead to fewer
individuals served in institutional settings;
- increase the number of
people who are supported in the community;
- pave the way for a
solid, sustainable system of effective, high-quality community services;
- improve individual and
family access to information about community services; and
- afford
individuals with disabilities real opportunities to direct and manage their
own services and supports.