| I am
writing to ask you to enroll in the Medicaid Waiver program.
Over the last two years, Mental Retardation Services (MRS), has
enrolled 580 individuals currently receiving adult day and vocational
services into the Person/Family Directed Support Waiver (P/FDSW). At
this time, we would like to enroll the remaining individuals receiving
services into the Waiver program. You and your family member will be
contacted by a PATH support coordinator (case manager) who will assist
in this process. The Person Family Directed Support Waiver has a ceiling
of $21,125 available for services based on the needs of each person.
This amount includes the cost of day services.
The entire cost of your services are currently being funded by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Over the past 15 years, the mental
retardation system in Pennsylvania has shifted from using 100% state
dollars to fund services to using funding through the Medicaid Waiver,
which is a combination of state, and federal dollars. When additional
funds are made available to serve people on the waiting list, the funds
are through a Medicaid waiver.
At present, there are a very limited amount of services funded solely
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The amount of state funded services
has declined and we expect these funds to continue to decline and waiver
enrollment to increase. In the future, if state funds are no longer
available, the only alternative will be to discontinue services. It is
for these reasons that we strongly advise you to enroll in the Medicaid
Waiver program now. Enrolling in the waiver will assure funding of the
services you or your family member currently receive and provide you
with safeguards against a potential future loss of services.
In addition, waiver enrollment will benefit the whole mental
retardation system by generating additional federal dollars with which
to provide new services. There are several very good reasons for
enrolling in the P/FDS Waiver:
- 1. You will have stable funding for your services.
- 2. You will have choice in selecting from among any qualified
agency to provide those services in your plan.
- 3. You have the right to appeal any changes or decreases in your
services.
- 4. You will receive support coordination services from a person
with a smaller caseload.
- 5.Your services will be monitored at least four times every year
to ensure that service needs are met including at least two face to
face meetings per year.
- 6. People in the P/FDSW receive Medical Assistance coverage.
| Enrolling in the waiver will
assure funding of the services you or your family member currently
receive and provide you with safeguards against a potential future
loss of services. |
Once again, I urge you to enroll now in the Medicaid Waiver program.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact
Mr. Eugene McCauley at 215-685-4742, or Ms Elaine Thilo at 215-685-5506. |