There are some very special MassHealth programs in Massachusetts. Some are set up for MassHealth members who are in nursing homes or rehabilitation hospitals, and who want to live in the community. These are the Home and Community Based Services Waivers. Massachusetts can “waive” or to set aside some of the Medicaid (MassHealth) rules so that people can return to the community, with support.
These programs work with each person to plan their own services. Each person, or waiver participant, chooses his/her own services. Services are planned to help people achieve their own goals. Visit our MRC You Tube page to see how the waivers work and the dramatic results individuals have achieved.
The Waivers
MRC operates three waivers:
- Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver (TBI Waiver)
- Acquired Brain Injury Non-Residential Waiver (ABI-N Waiver)
- Moving Forward Plan Community Living Waiver (MFP-CL Waiver)
Two other related waivers are operated by the Department of Developmental Services:
- Acquired Brain Injury Residential Habilitation Waiver (ABI-RH Waiver)
- Moving Forward Plan Residential Supports Waiver (MFP-RS Waiver)
The ABI and the MFP waivers can only be entered from a nursing or rehab hospital facility. People in the community with a Traumatic Brain Injury can become eligible for the TBI waiver.
Details
|
Requirements |
ABI Waiver |
MFP Waiver |
TBI Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Apply for the waiver while living in a facility and… |
yes |
yes |
|
|
Have an TBI |
|
|
yes |
|
Have an ABI* that was sustained at age 22 or older |
yes |
|
|
|
Be a disabled adult or be age 65 or older |
yes |
yes |
|
|
Have been living in a facility for at least 90 days |
yes |
yes |
|
|
Meet clinical level of care requirements |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Need waiver services in the community (see reverse) |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Meet financial requirements to qualify for MassHealth Standard** |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Be able to be safely served in the community |
yes |
yes |
yes |
Waivers provided by MRC
The MRC Community Based Services department provides case management support to participants in the waivers. Case Management support helps people to live in the community with services. The MRC waivers include:
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI-N) Waiver
The Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver program helps people who have been in a nursing home or a long term care hospital for at least 90 days. If people want to move back into the community with services, they could apply for the ABI-N waiver. The ABI-N Waiver provides supports for adults with an ABI who do not need 24-hour help and support. An acquired brain injury is any kind of a brain injury that happens after birth and isn’t inherited. People on the ABI-N waiver live with family or in their own homes.
Moving Forward Plan Community Living (MFP-CL) Waiver
The Moving Forward Plan (MFP) Waiver program helps people who have been in a nursing home or a long term care hospital for at least 90 days. If people want to move back into the community with services, they could apply for the MFP-CL waiver. The MFP-CL Waiver provides supports for adults who don’t need quire 24-hour help and support. People on the MFP-CL waiver live with family or in their own homes.
Applications and more information for the ABI non-residential, the MFP community living, the ABI residential and the MFP residential waivers can be found on the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Moving Forward Plan (MFP) Waivers page.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver
The TBI waiver helps people who have a traumatic brain injury and who want to live in the community. A traumatic brain injury happens when a person’s head is hurt by something on the outside of the person’s skull. To be eligible, people must be eligible to be in a nursing facility or chronic/rehabilitation hospital. Waiver services are set up to provide extra help. Waiver members can also use state services and the informal support of families and caregivers.
Services
SERVICES
Services provided to participants in the ABI-N Waiver, the MFP-CL waiver and the TBI waiver may include:
- Assisted Living Services
- Residential Habilitation
- Shared Living - 24 Hour Supports
- Adult Companion
- Chore Service
- Coordinated Behavioral Health Services
- Day Services
- Family Training
- Home Accessibility Adaptations
- Homemaker
- Individual Support and Community Habilitation
- Orientation and Mobility Services
- Peer Support
- Personal Care
- Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy
- Prevocational Services
- Respite
- Skilled Nursing
- Specialized Medical Equipment
- Supported Employment
- Transitional Assistance
- Transportation
Services are not all available in all waivers.
For more information including how to apply, and to download application materials, please visit the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Moving Forward Plan (MFP) Waivers page.
or call
- MRC ABI/MFP Waiver Program (617) 204-3747
- The University of Massachusetts Medical School, (855) 499-5109 or TTY: (800) 596-1746