Money Follows the Person in NM Act Fiscal Impact Report

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Although the bill does not contain an appropriation, the Aging and Long Term Services Department (ALTSD) indicates it administers the Disabled and Elderly Medicaid Waiver program (D&E waiver) and currently allows individuals to move from a nursing facility to the community and receive home and community-based services and supports through a community reintegration allocation. This bill would not change this process. Additionally, in development is a new self-directed waiver, called Mi Via, scheduled for implementation in early FY07. Mi Via would provide an avenue for individuals allocated to the D&E waiver or other existing Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers (HCBS) to use their waiver funds to purchase services and supports within a wide range of options identified in Mi Via.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
ALTSD indicates the bill implies that federal approval, presumably a waiver that ALTSD is to obtain, is for a self-directed waiver. ALTSD, Human Services Department and Department of Health, along with stakeholders, have developed a self-directed waiver, Mi Via, for implementation early FY07. ALTSD states there are significant differences between the proposed legislation and what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow as a HCBS waiver.

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