Project Description:
For decades NH has led the country in community services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. Its long-term care system (LTC) for elders has lagged behind and remains disjointed and highly dependent on nursing homes. Recognizing this, the NH Department of Health and Human Services has developed a comprehensive Medicaid Reform proposal with strong legislative and consumer support that will 1) advance the tenets of consumer choice and control by submitting a new Independence Plus waiver for older adults and adults with disabilities as well as amendments to existing waivers; 2) rebalance the long-term care system through access to 10 ?one-stop centers? and community services and supports as well as local community engagement; and 3) develop the necessary information and technology infrastructure to assure self-direction, integration, efficiency, integrity, and quality. Key to this system transformation is NH?s intent to expand a nationally relevant model that engages municipalities in long-term care infrastructure development including affordable and accessible housing, transportation, employment, recreation, and personal assistance and social support. NH?s existing and highly involved Real Choice Consumer Advisory Council (RCAC) will oversee and participate in all strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation activities.
This initiative, combined with current efforts is designed to move us to the next level of reform. This initiative will commence with a strategic planning process, that includes a Transformation Work Group and three Work Teams focused on each of the targeted goals to develop consensus on a vision and a plan for comprehensive systems reform that achieves the following outcomes:
? The development of a statewide one-stop system through the Service Link Resource Centers (SLRC) designed to reach 2700 people;
? A 30% increase in the number of referrals to and placement in home and community based services using Rapid Response Community teams and new community service models;
? A minimum of 20 engaged, accessible, and inclusive communities.
? Person-centered planning and individual budgets available to an additional 400 individuals with mental illness, older adults, and developmental disabilities; and
* Information technology strategies that support the shift from a provider driven system to a consumer driven system.
This work will be closely aligned with current Real Choice Systems Change grants as well as ongoing efforts within the DHHS to transform the LTC system. This proposal has been structured to 1) support NH?s Medicaid Reform efforts to substantially expand access to community based consumer directed services and supports; 2) increase the percentage of people referred to and enrolled in home and community based as opposed to institutionally based services; and 3) develop nationally relevant and innovative community practices that can be replicated by other states. A rigorous empowerment evaluation strategy that emanates from the logic model will include extensive consumer feedback, analysis of state and regional data, and systems outcomes.
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Other
