The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is seeking information and stories about the impact of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Medicaid Demonstration program in the United States, which funds state programs that help older adults and people with disabilities make the move from living in a nursing home or other institution to living on their own in their own residence or in community-based settings. Through MFP (it may be called something else in your state), the program may provide access to a housing coordinator, funding to secure appropriate housing, basic furnishings, and more. The program, which has garnered strong bipartisan and bicameral support, requires reauthorization by Congress by December 11th to continue.
At its peak, this vital program operated in 44 states and helped nearly 100,000 individuals with disabilities and older adults make this important transition. Now, likely due to funding lapses coupled with multiple short-term temporary extensions, the number of states continuing this program has started to diminish and many states have reduced their transition efforts. This has led to a near 50% decline in the number of people making this transition through the program over 2018-2019.
As a strong past supporter of the MFP program, JFNA seeks information as to whether and how this vital program has assisted your agency’s clients. Please consider this question broadly. The program may not have funded your agency directly, but could have helped a client connect to a housing coordinator who assisted with the process of locating appropriate housing, covered security deposits or first month’s rent, provided in-home support, service coordination, furnishings, or other critical transition supports.
If you have information that you would like to share or questions, please contact Aaron Kaufman, JFNA Senior Manager for Legislative Affairs, by Monday, October 26th or (202)-736- 5865.
