NHTD is the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver. It has the same financial requirements as Community Medicaid, but the process can be a bit different. According to the NY State Department of Health:
The NHTD waiver program is a home and community-based program that helps New York´s Medicaid-eligible seniors and people with physical disabilities receive comprehensive services they need while they live in a community-based setting, rather than in a nursing home, congregate care setting, or other institution.
Program participants receive services based on their unique strengths, needs, choices, and goals. The participants are the primary decision makers. Participants choose the services they receive, the service providers they will work with, and the outcomes they will achieve.
Contingent upon the availability of funds, waiver participants may also be eligible for a state-funded housing subsidy to help them live in the community. The subsidy is administered through the NHTD program; however, the provision of housing is not a waiver service.
The NHTD Medicaid waiver was developed based on the philosophy that individuals with physical disabilities and seniors have the same rights as others. This includes the right to be in control of their own lives, encounter and manage risks and learn from their experiences. This is balanced with the waiver program´s responsibility to ensure the waiver participants´ health and welfare in the community.
The individual is the primary decision maker and works in cooperation with providers and others they may choose to develop a Service Plan. This process leads to personal empowerment, increased independence, greater community inclusion, self-reliance and meaningful productive activities. Participant satisfaction is a significant measure of success of the NHTD program.
Where Does Care Answered™ fit in here? Through our intake we can let clients know if they are appropriate for the program. If we believe they are, we can refer them to the program, advocate through scheduling their assessments, and help them through the process from selecting their service coordinator and home care agency up to their onboarding of services.
Diagnoses
Clients generally would have a diagnosis that affects their ability to care for themselves safely in the community such as:
- visual impairment including blindness
- dementia
Timeline
It can take about 3- 6 months to receive services from NHTD, if not currently in a nursing home and looking for community housing. As stated above, DOH can help with housing but that is not a necessary part of the program.
Services Provided – Official List
- Help with daily tasks and activities, such as personal hygiene
- Delivered meals
- Independent living skills and training
- Home modifications, such as a ramp
- Assistive technology devices, such as controls for lights, phones and heat
- Peer mentoring
- Moving assistance
- Respiratory therapy
- Structured day program
- Transportation to social activities
- Wellness counseling
- Coordination and planning of all services you receive
- Help integrating into the community, like moving costs
Services Provided in Care Answered’s Experience
- Help with daily tasks and activities, such as personal hygiene
- Delivered meals
- Structured day program *
- Transportation to medical appointments and social activities*
- Coordination and planning of all services you receive*
- Assistive technology devices, such as controls for lights, phones and heat*
- Respiratory therapy *
- Transportation to social activities *
- Wellness counseling *
- Engagement with clients with dementia*
*In our experience, these services are often only obtained with help from a private patient advocate.
Who are the Players
Individuals may apply for the program through Regional Resource Development Centers (RRDC).
| New York City | New York City | Westchester Independent Living Center (WILC) 10 County Center Rd. White Plains, NY 10607 |
Phone: (914) 682-3926 Fax: (914) 682-8518 Web: www.wilc.org |
| Long Island | Nassau and Suffolk | Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO) 3253 Route 112, Building 10 Medford, NY 11763 |
Phone:(631) 320-1662 Phone: (631) 880-7929 Fax: (631) 320-1664 Web: www.siloinc.org/ |
According to the NYS DOH:
The applicant will meet with the RRDC and have an intake meeting. After the meeting, the applicant works with a Service Coordinator (case manager) to develop an Initial Service Plan (ISP), which identifies the services and supports necessary to ensure the participant´s health and welfare while residing in the community.
The Service Coordinator is selected by the applicant. Home care services are also selected by the applicant but need to work with the Service Coordinator. In Nassau County, the Service Coordinator and the Home Care provider cannot be the same agency.
Ready to learn more? Contact us today.