The Medically Fragile Adult Waiver (MFAW) Program allows adults with serious medical needs to receive services, like personal care and skilled nursing visits, in their homes so they do not have to move into an institution to obtain adequate care.
The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), which administers the federal program in Missouri, is modifying our state’s MFAW waiver in response to problems identified by a care recipient. I commend this recipient for fighting to improve her quality of care and applaud the department for listening to her needs.
If the changes are approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, medically fragile Missourians will receive more comprehensive community-based care.
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To enable these adults to be involved in their communities, care will be available outside the home under the modified waiver. Attendants will be able to travel with recipients to school, an internship, or a job. This community integration will allow recipients to take advantage of opportunities outside the home without losing access to the care they require. DHSS is also strengthening the backup plan language to ensure that recipients receive care when their regular attendants are not available.
Home-based services generally offer a higher quality of life than care in an institution, and our state must continue working to provide medically complex adults with the care they need as well as the opportunities for community involvement that they deserve.