STATUS REPORT ON COMPREHENSIVE SELF-DIRECTED WAIVER COMMITTEE

In December of 2003, the secretaries of the Department of Health, the Human Services Department, and the Aging and Long Term Care Department asked that a committee be formed to make recommendations to the 3 departments concerning the creation of one or more self-directed Medicaid Waiver programs in New Mexico. Agencies represented on the committee include Protection and Advocacy, the ARC of NM, the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Family Voices, the Brain Injury Association of NM, the Governor’s Commission on Disability, and others.

This committee drafted recommendations that have been, or soon will be, presented to the secretaries of the 3 state departments mentioned above. The committee is recommending the creation of a comprehensive self-directed waiver program that will initially serve populations covered by existing waivers but will eventually be broadened to serve persons not covered by existing waivers such as persons with mental illness and brain injury. One proposed mechanism to provide additional funds for the new waiver program involves the State finding a way to allow persons currently in institutions such as nursing homes and ICFMRs to use the moneys funding their institutional care to transition into the community and onto the waiver.

It is unclear what direction the State will take with the committee’s recommendations, but it is hoped that the resultant changes will better address the needs of all persons with disabilities in New Mexico.