Medicaid extender provisions in the 2020 year-end omnibus legislation signed Dec. 28 by President Trump included positive policy updates for the Money Follows the Person demonstration and spousal impoverishment protections, LeadingAge reported.
The MFP program, designed to enable older adults to move out of nursing homes and back into their own homes or into the homes of their loved ones, will be extended through 2023 with funding at $450 million per year. Program changes include lowering the institutional residency threshold from 90 to 60 days and adding accountability measures that states describe their activities with the grant funds and that the secretary of Health and Human Services issue a report on best practices.
As with the MFP program, spousal impoverishment protections for the partners of individuals receiving Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services will be extended through 2023. The protections are meant to help maintain the partners’ ability to afford to live independently in the community while their loved ones access support outside of institutional settings.
