Colorado has $22 million in new funds to get longtime nursing residents back to their homes or community-based care, part of a major federal push called “Money Follows the Person,” that has been slow to catch hold.
The grant, from a program launched in 2005 and extended by the Affordable Care Act last year, will allow Colorado Medicaid to seek 500 patients who are ready to leave nursing care if given extra support. Clients may come from nursing homes, intensive- care centers for the developmentally disabled, or psychiatric facilities.
The idea is to give more independence and dignity to long-term care patients who want to remain outside an institutional setting; such programs can also save money by substituting cheaper home care for expensive nursing beds.
Independent health agencies have praised the program’s goals, but noted that finding homes for those leaving institutions remains a big obstacle.
Politico reported that in July 2010, the 29 participating states and the District of Columbia had 13,000 people in the transition program, only one-third the number projected at the launch in 2007.
A Kaiser Family Foundation report last year said states were making progress in moving more people into the program, but that “locating adequate housing remains an ongoing challenge.” States and local governments have trouble finding apartments or homes available at the official payment rates.
The state Health Care Policy and Financing Department will oversee the effort, looking for willing clients who have a network of family and friends that can backstop their transition.
State Medicaid offices pay a large portion of nursing home and other long-term care costs. An increasing amount of Medicaid spending already goes to home or community care options, but Money Follows the Person is aimed specifically at moving out patients who have been in institutions for 90 days or more.
The Kaiser survey of states found that per-person costs in the “Money Follows the Person” program were lower than for traditional clients in 22 out of 23 states, with one state reporting equal costs.
Michael Booth: 303-954-1686 or mbooth@denverpost.com
