Update on Illinois' Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program

Health & Medicine’s Center for Long-Term Care Reform has supported the supported the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program in Illinois since 2007, when the demonstration project began in the state. MFP is a federal demonstration grant to assist individuals living in nursing homes for 6 months or longer to transition back into a home and community based setting.  Through MFP, Illinois was awarded $55.7 million in the form of enhanced Medicaid reimbursements for a 5 year program, 2007-2011.

Although Illinois had set the highest goal for number of people to transition from nursing home to home and community, the state has been slow in getting started in helping people make their transitions.  Illinois is not alone, however, and most states are finding it difficult to meet their transition goals. 

As a result of the passage of the Health Care Reform legislation, the MFP grant has been extended through 2016 with additional federal funds allocated to the program.  The eligibility requirements have also been changed, including the length of stay in the nursing facility; individuals who have been in a nursing facility under Medicaid payment for at least 3 months are now eligible for MFP transitional services.

As Illinois continues to reform its long-term care system and works to promote quality home and community based service options, MFP is an important demonstration project for the state.  Although Illinois has been transitioning people out of nursing facilities into the community at a slower pace than originally planned, the Health Care Reform legislation gives the state the opportunity to make some adjustments in the project and work towards increasing transitions.

Check out this Kaiser Family Foundation article for more information on the Money Follows the Person grant: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/April/22/states-struggle-to-move-people-out-of-nursing-homes.aspx

Questions? Contact Kristen Pavle, Policy Analyst, Center for Long-Term Care Reform