- What Programs Are Available To Assist People With Disabilities in Missouri?
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Is there a Medicaid waiver program in Missouri? Missouri has several waivers including:
- Assisted Living
- AIDS
- Division of DD Autism
- Independent Living
- Aged and Disabled
- Division of DD Missouri Children's Developmental Disabilities (MOCDD)
- Division of DD Partnership for Hope (PfH)
- Division of DD Comprehensive
- Divison of DD Support
- Medically Fragile Adult
What state department handles the Medicaid waiver program in Missouri? All Missouri HCB waivers are administered by the Department of Social Services MO HealthNet Division, which is Missouri’s state Medicaid authority. The Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD), operates the Medicaid waiver program for persons with developmental disabilities.
What programs assist people who have developmental disabilities in Missouri? The Missouri Department of Mental Health's Division of Developmental Disabilities (Division of DD) administers five Medicaid Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver programs for individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities. The five waivers are the Comprehensive Waiver; Missouri Children with Developmental Disabilities Waiver (MOCDD or Sarah Jian Lopez Waiver); Support Waiver; Partnership for Hope; and Autism Waiver.
What is the best number to call to get started? To learn more about Medicaid Waiver services in Missouri, call (573) 751-4054 or toll free 800-207-9329; however, you will need to contact your local regional office to enroll.
Is there a website? http://dmh.mo.gov/dd/
- Who Qualifies For Assistance?
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What is considered a developmental disability in Missouri? The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD), established in 1974, serves a population that has developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, head injuries, autism, epilepsy, and certain learning disabilities. Such conditions must have occurred before age 22, with the expectation that they will continue. To be eligible for services from the Division, persons with these disabilities must be substantially limited in their ability to function independently.
Are there income limits to receive waiver services in Missouri? Yes, you must be eligible for Medicaid (otherwise known as Mo HealthNet) as determined by Family Support Division (FSD) under an eligibility category that provides for Federal Financial Participation (FFP).
How old do you have to be to start receiving waiver services in Missouri? Age requirements vary by waiver. For example, The Comprehensive waiver does not have age restrictions. The Autism Waiver serves children Age 3-19.
- Is There a Waiting List For Services?
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How long is the waiting list in Missouri? Since people with the highest need get put on the top of the list, you can expect to wait several years before getting waiver services in Missouri if your prioritization of need score is low. However, Since the Partnership for Hope waiver was implemented in 2010, the length of the wait lists have significantly been shortened.
How many people are on the waiting list in Missouri? There are about 3,300 people waiting for services in Missouri.
How many people are currently receiving Waiver services in Missouri? There are over 12,000 people with developmental disabilities receiving waiver services in Missouri. There are about 8,300 people receiving services through the Comprehensive Waiver. The Support Waiver is approved to serve up to 1,575 individuals. The Partnership for Hope Waiver serves over 2,000 people. No more than 366 children can be served in the MOCDD waiver at any one time. In the Autism Waiver no more than 175 persons can be served at any given time.
What assistance is available while you wait for services in Missouri? Everyone who applies for services from the Division is entitled to an eligibility determination. All persons determined eligible will have a support coordinator (case manager) assigned and an annual individual support plan will be developed. Service coordination will be provided. that draws upon other available resources such as social services available from other state agencies, county-based services, local family and community supports. If you have not already done so, you should apply for Medicaid and SSI.
Is there priority preference for waiver services in Missouri for people who are in crisis?
Yes. For the Comprehensive, Support, Autism and MOCDD waivers, the Division of DD’s Utilization Review (UR) Process prioritizes the needs of individuals in order to identify and serve individuals with the greatest needs first. The Utilization Review (UR) process is standardized for use at all regional offices. The process rates Priority of Need and assigns points with a score of 12 representing individuals who have the greatest need in the State. Individuals with scores of 12 are served first statewide before individuals with scores of 11, 10, etc. are served. Should there be any change in the person’s status during this time, the Utilization Review (UR) Process will be updated in order to reflect the individual’s current needs.
The Partnership for Hope Waiver has participating County Boards who prioritize the level of need of individuals in their county based on the criteria: “Crisis” or “Priority”. - What Services Are Offered & What Are The Service Limitations?
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What services does the Medicaid waiver program offer in Missouri? Missouri waiver services include: Assistive Technology, Behavior Analysis Service, Communication Skills Instruction, Community Employment, Community Specialist, Community Transition, Counseling, Co-Worker Supports, Crisis Intervention, Environmental Accessibility Adaptations/Vehicle Modifications, Group Home, Host Home (Shared Living), In Home Respite, Independent Living Skills Development (Home Skills Development, Day Service, Community Integration), Individualized Supported Living, Job Discovery, Job Preparation, Occupational Therapy, Out of Home Respite, Physical Therapy, Personal Assistance, Person Centered Strategies Consultation (Formerly known as Positive Behavior Supports), Professional Assessment and Monitoring, Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies (Adaptive Equipment), Speech Therapy, Support Broker, and Transportation
Does Missouri offer community group homes? The Comprehensive Waiver is the only waiver in Missouri that offers residential services. Group homes and host homes are options. Group Homes are owned and operated by public or private agencies under contract with the DMH Division of DD. A Host Home is a private home, licensed or certified by the Division of DD, where a family accepts the responsibility for caring for up to three individuals with developmental disabilities.
Does Missouri offer supported living? Yes, Missouri offers supports and services designed to help you live in your own home.
Are there still state owned institutions in Missouri? Missouri operates four facilities, called habilitation centers. All are undergoing a redesign moving from self-contained facilities with a focus on long-term residential services to becoming a crisis and stabilization resource center. As of 2013, the Division provides long term care to fewer than 450 individuals on the campus of the DD habilitation centers. There have been no new long-term admissions since 2008.
- How Do You Select A Provider?
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Do providers work for the state? No, providers in Missouri are solo and agency providers.
About how many providers are there in Missouri? There are several hundred providers in Missouri.
Do you have a choice in providers? In Missouri you are encouraged to select your own providers.
- How Do You Become A Provider?
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Find information on how to become a provider in Missouri at http://dmh.mo.gov/dd/provider/
- Additional Information
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The Autism Waiver has an annual individual cost cap of $22,000; the Support Waiver has an annual cost cap of $28,000; PfH has an annual individual cost cap of $12,000. If an individual has needs in excess of the cost limit, to ensure health and welfare of the individual an exception may be granted for additional services above the individual cost cap.
Self-Directed Supports (SDS) is an option for service delivery for individuals with developmental disabilities who wish to exercise more choice, control and authority over their supports. SDS is founded on the principles of Self-Determination. Under this option, the individual or their designated representative has employment and budget authority. This authority allows individuals and families to hire, train and schedule their own employees, utilizing an individualized budget. Currently there are over 1,000 individuals who are self directing their supports in Missouri and employing over 2,000 people.