Definition: Money Follows the Person
Money Follows the Person is a federal Medicaid program designed to move elderly nursing homes residents out of nursing homes and back into their own homes or into the homes of their loved ones. In some states, the program also extends to help persons in immediate risk of nursing home placement.
The MFP program does not provide individuals with financial grants to aid in their transition. Instead, this is a federal program that provides states with grants so they can develop Money Follows the Person programs. These programs use existing Medicaid resources such as HCBS waivers to assist individuals in managing their care outside of a nursing home. The federal funds are also put toward the development of new services designed to help individuals with the transition such as housing coordination, case management and tele-health services.
This program does not provide benefits or financial assistance directly to seniors.
States with Active MFP Programs
As of 2024, 38 states and Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have active MFP programs.
These states include:
AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, D.C., GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WA, WI, WV and Puerto Rico and American Samoa
Note that MFP programs often have different names in different states. For example, some state specific MFP programs go by the following names.
- California Community Transitions
- Colorado Access to Community-Based Transitions & Services (CO-ACTS)
- Hawaii “Going Home Plus”
- Kentucky Transition Program
- My Place Louisiana
- Oklahoma Living Choice Project
- Ohio Home Choice
- Take Me Home, West Virginia
Eligibility Requirements
The program requirements are different from state to state. However, there are some eligibility requirements determined at the national level. To be eligible for a Money Follows the Person program, candidates must:
-Be a current resident in a nursing home and have been there for at least 90 consecutive days
-Be enrolled in a state Medicaid program. Read Medicaid’s eligibility requirements.
Benefits
The services and benefits provided under Money Follows the Person programs are state specific. However, typically included is an assessment of the individual’s capabilities and the home to which they will be moving. Money may be allocated to make home modifications that will increase the program participant’s independence and safety. For example, the program might pay for stair-lifts, wheelchair ramps, adaptive lighting and bathroom safety modifications. Transportation, moving assistance, service animals are all examples of other benefits that are specific to each state.