SILO is one of nine regional centers designated in New York State (NYS) to administer the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Medicaid Waiver. SILO has contracted with the NYS Department of Health (DOH) to serve as the Regional Resource Development Center for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The NYS DOH is designated to be the single state agency responsible for the administration of the Medicaid program. All RRDCs have demonstrated experience providing community-based services to seniors and individuals with disabilities and are responsible for determining waiver participant eligibility, reviewing Service Plans, meeting regional aggregate budgeting targets, organizing local outreach efforts, developing regional resources, making recommendations to DOH Waiver Management Staff about enrolling and training waiver services providers. In order to further assure the health and welfare of waiver participants, each RRDC employs a Nurse Evaluator (NE) who evaluates, as necessary, new waiver participants and waiver participants returning to the community for the potential need for medically related waiver services. The NHTD Waiver provides community-based alternatives to seniors and individuals with disabilities, who are at least eighteen (18) years old and eligible for nursing facility placement. The NHTD will allow waiver participants to avoid or transition from unwanted nursing home placement. Designed to promote waiver participant choice, NHTD waiver participants will choose:
The NHTD structure is modeled after New York's successful 1915(c) Traumatic Brain Injury Medicaid Waiver. Within the first three years, this application is requesting to serve at least five thousand (5000) individuals statewide, who are eligible for nursing home care, to remain in or return to the community. Such individuals will be eligible to receive a variety of comprehensive community-based services and supports. In order to assure implementation of its Quality Management Program, DOH contracts with Quality Management Specialists (QMSs). Quality Management Specialists work closely with DOH Waiver Management Staff to implement a quality management program, liaise between DOH Waiver Management Staff, RRDCs and service providers, review Service Plans that have a budget over an amount to be determined by DOH Waiver Management Staff and provide technical assistance to the RRDSs.
An essential component to the implementation of the NHTD is the waiver participant's right to choose a service provider, especially his/her Service Coordinator. At the regional level, RRDSs are responsible for providing unbiased and comprehensive information to enable potential waiver participants to make informed decisions about whom to choose as a Service Coordinator. The Service Coordinator is crucial to the waiver participants' success in the community, as they work with the waiver participant in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Service Plan. The Service Coordinator is responsible for assuring the waiver participant's choice of other providers.
The NHTD is provided via the provider managed method. Services offered under the NHTD Waiver include: Service Coordination, Assistive Technology, Community Integration Counseling, Community Transitional Services, Congregate and Home Delivered Meals, Environmental Modification Services, Home and Community Support Services (from licensed home care agencies), Home Visits by Medical Personnel, Independent Living Skills Training Services, Moving Assistance, Nutritional Counseling/Educational Services, Peer Mentoring, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Respiratory Therapy, Respite Services, Structured Day Program Services and Wellness Counseling Service.
The NHTD is one of the initial steps toward the restructuring of New York State's long-term care system.
NHTD Waiver Brochure: [PDF] [DOC]
More information about this waiver, and other long-term care programs provided under the New York State Department of Health: www.health.state.ny.us/facilities/long_term_care/