HHS Approves Maryland Medicaid Waiver To Allow People With Disabilities To Remain at Home
HHS on Monday approved a waiver for Maryland's Medicaid program that allows the state to move forward with a pilot program to allow beneficiaries to receive care in their own homes. The "New Directions" program will provide Medicaid services including respite, supported employment, personal support, transportation, environmental accessibility adaptations, family and individual support services, assistive technology and adaptive equipment. Participants will be able to choose their personal assistants and can use part of their individual budget for nontraditional goods and services. "This Maryland plan will allow people to play an essential role in making decisions about how they receive the services they want and need to stay at home," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said, adding, "We are committed to giving states greater flexibility in designing programs to help persons with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives." CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said, "Allowing persons with disabilities to engage in 'self direction' is a high priority for the Bush administration. Self direction is a proven approach to higher beneficiary satisfaction for the same or lower costs" (HHS release, 11/8).
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