Submitted by Meghan Schoeffling, Director of Advocacy
With all the changes to Medicaid, there has been a sharp focus on changes to how health care will be delivered throughout New York State to people with disabilities. Back in 2011, Governor Cuomo formed a Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) to address the escalating and unsustainable Medicaid costs in New York State. The entire Medicaid system has been undergoing major changes, with the switch for many into managed care plans being most noteable.
In 2011, The MRT formed several working groups to look at various policy areas relevant to Medicaid or to the population served by Medicaid. The Affordable Housing Workgroup (AHW) was formed as a result of discussions within the MRT and an acknowledgement within the administration that stable housing is critical to the continuum of care and that increasing access to housing will result in savings in the Medicaid program and will result in improvements to the quality of services to targeted individuals. As an organization which sees how disruptive unstable housing is to so many people with disabilities, it is encouraging that housing was considered within the context of this process.
The AHW came up with a list of recommendations for the administration which seek to better address the housing needs of many people with disabilities on the Medicaid program. Some notable recommendations include ensuring the continued funding of the rental subsidies attached to the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) and the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid Waivers. These programs help ensure savings to Medicaid by keeping people out of nursing homes and in the community. This is not only what most people choose, but it is also good policy.
Last year, consistent with the MRT’s recommendation, the state created and funded a new supportive housing development program that will provide service funding, rent subsidies and funding for capital projects to increase housing opportunities in the community for people with disabilities. The administration committed $75 Million for 2012 and for the next two years. A MRT Housing Allocation Plan has been released. Much of the funding is going toward housing with services attached and continued funding of already existing projects. As Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) is implemented, it is essential that funding for rental subsidies continue and be expanded. Priority should be given to those with the highest needs.
Again, it is encouraging that housing has been an integral part of Medicaid Redesign. Disability advocates continue to voice their opinions in how these programs need to be developed to best serve those with the highest needs. As changes to the Medicaid program unfold, and as housing opportunities develop, Westchester Disabled On the Move strives to keep people with disabilities informed and offer opportunities to be involved with our advocacy efforts.