Elderly and disabled Minnesotans who would rather stay in their homes or apartments than move to nursing facilities could get some help from an innovative new program funded jointly by the state and federal governments.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced Wednesday it will receive $58 million in federal money to provide home-care services that could save the state money in the long term by keeping frail and disabled people out of expensive, long-term care facilities funded by Medicaid.
The initiative is part of a broader state effort, known as "Reform 2020," to rein in the ballooning costs of caring for the estimated 350,000 Minnesotans who are elderly or disabled and receive assistance from the state. Taken together, the elderly and disabled populations represent nearly 30 percent of those enrolled in Medicaid in Minnesota, but account for nearly 70 percent of the program's expenditures.
The state-federal Medicaid program spent $8.24 billion during the last fiscal year on 732,000 Minnesotans, up from $4.7 billion for 443,000 Minnesotans in 2003.
DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said the long-term care system is "unsustainable" without reform.
"If we don't make some additional changes to the system, we will see our health care and Medicaid budget balloon in a way that will leave very little money for some of the other priorities in Minnesota, such as education," Jesson said.
With earlier intervention, more elderly and disabled people can stay in their homes for less cost, Jesson said.
For instance, the state plans to provide more direct help for older adults and their family members as they navigate the long-term care system and identify home-care services.
