Money Follows the Person: The Facts

An institutional bias currently exists that forces individuals with long term care needs to receive services in nursing homes and other institutional settings.

In 2003, West Virginia spent 33.7 million Medicaid dollars on long term care expenses.
60.6% (20.4 million dollars) of long term care dollars were spent on nursing homes and other facilities.
39% (13.3 million dollars) of long term care dollars were spent on community based services.

Note: Data obtained from the HCBS Clearinghouse for the Community Living Exchange Collaborative sponsored by CMS, the Independent Living Research Utilization project, Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, National Academy for State Health Policy, and Boston College Graduate School of Social Work.

According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), there are approximately 2,000 individuals living in nursing homes in West Virginia who would like to return home. Currently, a disproportionate amount of our Medicaid spending is used to provide services in nursing homes/facilities. These same services could be provided in the homes and communities of individuals at a lower cost and in a way that respects the choice and dignity of each individual.

We ask our legislators to support legislation which allows money to follow the individual into the setting of their choice, ending the institutional bias which exists in West Virginia. This legislation:

Will allow funding supporting individuals in nursing homes or other institutional settings to "follow the person" into community-based services and supports.
Is revenue neutral and uses the funding from current services to follow the person and fund the community-based services.
Requires DHHR to engage in the development of policies and procedures which support the successful return of individuals to their communities.
Requires DHHR to report regularly to LOCHHRA concerning the progress of policy changes to eliminate the institutional bias and the status of those eligible individuals who choose to move to community-based settings.

In addition, we encourage DHHR to apply for federal funding currently available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for "money follows the person" which can be used to support our citizens returning to the community.

For More Information contact:

Fair Shake Network at 304-766-0061 wvfsn@charter.net, or
Brenda Goodfellow, Mountain State Centers for Independent Living, 304-525-3324, bgoodfellow@mtstcil.org

Read story published in Charleston Gazette on Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Posted: March 8, 2006