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Mi Via: New Mexico’s Medicaid Cash and Counseling Program
Overview of New Mexico's Mi Via Program
Mi Via is a state Medicaid program for the elderly and disabled that provides a very wide range of services to enable individuals to self-direct their care and increase their ability to live independently. It is based on the Cash and Counseling model program in which program participants determine their care requirements and select and manage their care providers instead of relying on the state to perform these activities on their behalf. This model of program is also referred to as consumer direction and it is becoming increasingly popular because it both decreases administrative costs for the state and increases the flexibility and control for the participant.
A second factor that contributes to the popularity of the Mi Via program is that under certain circumstances family members and friends can be hired to provide personal / attendant care services; spouses and adult children can be paid to be caregivers. The program works by making the participant an “employer” and uses a 3rd party, fiscal intermediary to manage payments to the “employees” or care providers.
Qualifications for the Mi Via Program
To be eligible for the Mi Via program, New Mexico residents must be eligible for Medicaid and one of the HCBS waivers, most relevantly the CoLTS c Waiver.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change frequently and there are many exceptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change frequently and there are many exceptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Benefits / Services Covered by the Mi Via Program
Many states have similar programs which strictly limit the services that can be self-directed to only personal care services. New Mexico has gone in the opposite direction and allows a very wide range of supports to be paid for by the Mi Via program. For example, most states disallow individuals that reside in assisted living communities from participating in the program, New Mexico does not. Instead they just limit some of the services for which individuals living in assisted living are eligible.
Programs / Services
-Personal care attendant to assist individuals with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming and toileting
-Assistance with instrumental activities of daily living such as meal preparation, shopping for groceries and other essentials
-Companion services and transportation escorts
-Medication oversight
-Personal emergency response and 24 hr monitoring
-Home health aide
-Private duty nursing
-Respite care
-Alternative therapies including acupuncture and massage therapy
-Home modifications
-Assistive technologies to increase independence
-Nutritional counseling services
Programs / Services
-Personal care attendant to assist individuals with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming and toileting
-Assistance with instrumental activities of daily living such as meal preparation, shopping for groceries and other essentials
-Companion services and transportation escorts
-Medication oversight
-Personal emergency response and 24 hr monitoring
-Home health aide
-Private duty nursing
-Respite care
-Alternative therapies including acupuncture and massage therapy
-Home modifications
-Assistive technologies to increase independence
-Nutritional counseling services
How to Apply for the Mi Via Program
The application process depends on one’s current Medicaid status. If one is currently enrolled in a New Mexico Medicaid waiver program, contact the administrator for a Waiver Change Form. If one is not yet a Medicaid enrollee, one should contact their local New Mexico Public Health Office. More information can be found on the Mi Via website and a complete Participant Manual is available for download.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
