Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a Medicaid program that lets those who are eligible have a choice of where to live and to get long term care services. The program helps those who live in certain long-term care sites move to a home and community-based setting - if they choose to. Medicaid long-term care can “follow the person” to a community setting of their choice - a home, an apartment or a group home with four or less people. A team, with a peer mentor, can help find housing and the care and services a person needs to move and to live on their own.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Money Follows the Person Program, you must:
- Live 60 days in one of the following and have one day of Medicaid eligibility:
- A nursing home
- An intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Sign an MFP Consent Form
Benefits
- Peer Mentoring: Helps a nursing facility resident who is planning to move back to the community. A peer mentor helps those in the Money Follows the Person program make their own informed decision about moving back into the community. Peer mentoring begins two to three months before the move. Peer mentoring includes:
- Support needs assessment
- A person-centered plan with goals
- Regular reviews of plan and goals
- Community interaction and drop-in centers
- Telephone support
- Group training and activities
- Options Counseling: An options counselor is a trained professional who will:
- Meet you where you live.
- Listen to your goals.
- Give you information about community services that may help you.
- Housing Assistance: An MFP housing specialist works with those in or interested in the program along with the supports planner. Together they help with housing options, availability and subsidy information. And they help with the housing application too. For more information, see Housing Options below.
- Flex funds: Are extra money for things needed to move that Medicaid does not cover. Use flex funds:
- For an initial supply of groceries, transportation to see housing or other costs directly related to the move.
- Within 60 days of the move.
- Talk to your case manager for more information on flex funds and what they may cover. See also the MFP Consent Form.
- Complete a consent form by yourself or with help from your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or peer counselor.
Services in the Community
Other Medicaid programs cover services for those in the Money Follows the Person program. Services are based on which Medicaid program a person is in. Those programs include:
- The Home and Community-based Options (CO) Waiver
- Serves adults with physical disabilities age 18+.
- The Brain Injury (BI) Waiver •
- Serves adults with brain injuries who are moving from a chronic hospital or a state-owned nursing facility.
- The Community Pathways (CP) Waiver
- Serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Increased Community Services (ICS)
- Serves nursing facility residents age 18+ who were over income for and denied a CO Waiver.
Maryland Access Point
Maryland Access Point (MAP) is a gateway to long term services and support in Maryland. MAP specialists work with caregivers, professionals and those with long term care needs to plan, identify, connect and assist with accessing private and public resources for long term services and support. Visit Maryland Access Point.
