News and Notes from The Johnson Center
Q & A: What resources are available from the state of Texas for people with disabilities?
JCCHD | Tue, June 26, 2012 | [Community][Q and A ][Webinars]
The state of Texas currently has eight different 1915(c) waivers, each with different administrative units and rules, service array, rates, monitoring requirements, and billing guidelines. Originally developed to provide alternatives to institutionalization, the demand for Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services’ (DADS) community-based services and supports often outweighs available resources. Applicants’ names may be placed on a waitlist until services become available, and the wait can last from months to nine or more years. However, some needs may be met through other programs until your name comes to the top of the list. This system of state- and federally-funded waivers can often be overwhelming to navigate, but important for your family’s needs.
Interest lists for community-based programs are managed either locally or statewide, depending on the program. The available Texas 1915(c) Waiver Programs are:
• Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)
• Home and Community-based Services (HCS)
• Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP)
• Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD)
• Community Based Alternatives (CBA)
• Youth Empowerment Services (YES)
• Texas Home Living (TxHmL)
• STAR+PLUS
The Johnson Center is thrilled to have Ms. Colleen Horton, MPAff present our upcoming webinar on July 3rd, 2012 from 12:00-1:00pm. Attendees will hear an overview of each Medicaid Waiver Program, the history of why these programs were developed, the eligibility process, and a handful of helpful resources.
Ms. Horton is the Program Officer of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in Austin, Texas. She is an expert in state and federal disability policies, and leads the foundation’s mental health policy unit through managing policy-related grants and activities. Previously, Ms. Horton worked at the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. As public policy director and a children’s policy specialist, she gained extensive knowledge and experience in legislative and administrative rule-making processes. Ms. Horton is a member of the Promoting Independence Advisory Committee and the Medical Care Advisory Committee at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She also serves on the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Advisory Committee at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. She has a master’s degree in public affairs and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas.
To register for our webinar ‘Medicaid-Funded Long-Term Services and Supports for People with Disabilities’ click here. To learn more about webinars and how they work click here.
