- What is the Indiana Money Follows the Person?
- Who is eligible for the Indiana MFP program?
- What does the Indiana MFP program do?
What is the Indiana Money Follows the Person program?
Indiana's MFP Program is designed to assist individuals in moving from a qualifying institution to return to their community. A qualifying institution is defined as a nursing facility or Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) institutions, which include an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) or Comprehensive Rehabilitative Management Needs Facility (CRMNF). While it is possible to leave a qualifying institution without the MFP program, this option is one path eligible individuals may use as a transitional, temporary way to move into the community of their choice and access waiver services.
The MFP program is funded through a grant from the federal agency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and state funds. The MFP program was developed to help states move individuals from institutional settings to home- and community-based settings. Indiana was approved for the MFP program in 2007 and has since focused on assisting eligible individuals to leave institutional care by providing services for individuals to live safely in their community.
Who is eligible for Indiana's MFP program?
An applicant must be living in an institution to be eligible for Indiana's MFP program.
To apply for Indiana's MFP program, a person must meet specific institutional placement criteria. This criteria varies, depending on the qualifying institution at which the person is currently residing. The applicant must be a resident of a qualifying institution for at least sixty (60) consecutive days or more.
In addition to the placement requirements, a person wishing to participate in Indiana's MFP program must also meet the following conditions:
- They must have needs that can be met safely through services available in the community;
- They must be an Indiana Medicaid eligible recipient at least one day prior to discharge from the institution; and
- They must meet the minimum requirements for a funding source that is currently partnering with Indiana's MFP program.
Once enrolled in the MFP program, the above conditions must be maintained throughout the MFP program participation period.
What does Indiana's MFP program do?
Indiana's MFP Program is designed to assist individuals in moving from a qualifying institution to return to their community. While it is possible to leave an institution without the MFP program, some persons find the additional supports from the MFP Program to be extremely helpful:
Program Enrollment
A transition nurse and transition specialist work with the MFP participant to identify their needs and possible supports, as well as discuss the changes that will occur in the participant's life once they leave the institution. They will work to ensure that the participant's return to the community is safe and satisfactory.
Transition to the Community
As part of the "transition" process, Indiana’s MFP program can help locate a place to live, as well as arrange for needed funding for medical, rehabilitation, home health and other services in the community. Many of these services can be funded by Medicaid or the MFP program.
Participation Period
An Indiana MFP participant completes their transition and enters the participation phase of the program on the day they are discharged from the qualifying institution and begin living in the community. Each participant has an MFP case manager that coordinates and manages the variety of services and supports the participant will be receiving.
Participation in Indiana's MFP program lasts for 365 days. During this time, the participant’s case manager monitors their safety and well-being and assists in ensuring that their community-based needs are being met.
At the end of 365 participation days in the MFP program, funding for the supports received by the participant will change from the MFP program to a partnering funding source. The MFP case manager will work to ensure the change in funding is as seamless as possible and the participant does not have a break in services or supports.