Louisiana Medicaid Programs, Services, & Benefits New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) The mission of the NOW is to utilize the principles of Self Determination to supplement the family and/or community supports while supporting dignity, quality of life, and security in the everyday lives of people while maintaining the Recipient in the community. The NOW includes an array of services aimed at assisting people to live as independently as possible. Children's Choice Waiver The Children's Choice Waiver began February 21, 2001 to offer supplemental support to children with developmental disabilities who currently live at home with their families or with a foster family.  Waiver participants are eligible for all medically necessary Medicaid services, including Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) screenings.  Supports Waiver Supports Waiver offers focused, individualized vocational services to people age 18 and older who otherwise would require the level of care of an Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled (ICFs/DD). Residential Options Waiver The purpose of the Residential Options Waiver (ROW), a 1915 C waiver, is to assist service participants in leading healthy, independent and productive lives to the fullest extent possible; promote the full exercise of their rights as citizens of the state of Louisiana; and promote the integrity and well-being of their families. Services are provided with the goal of promoting independence through strengthening the individual’s capacity for self-care and self-sufficiency.   Elderly & Disabled Adult Waiver Fact Sheet What is the Elderly and Disabled Adult (EDA) Waiver program?  It is a special program that provides certain services in the home or community to elderly or disabled adults who qualify.    EarlySteps EarlySteps provides services to families with infants and toddlers aged birth to three years (36 months) who have a medical condition likely to result in a developmental delay, or who have developmental delays. Flexible Family Fund The Flexible Family Fund Program is intended to assist families with children with severe or profound disabilities to offset the extraordinary costs of maintaining their child in their own home in the community by provideing a monthly stipend to families of certain children with severe or profound disabilities who have qualifying exceptionalities identified through their local educational authority.  LaCHIP - LA Children's Health Insurance Program The Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program, or LaCHIP, provides health care to uninsured children up to age 19. It is a no-cost health program that pays for children’s hospital care, doctor visits, prescription drugs, shots and more.  LaHIPP LaHIPP stands for Louisiana Health Insurance Premium Payment and is a part of Louisiana Medicaid. It may pay some or all of the health insurance premiums for an employee and their family if they have insurance available through their jobs and someone in the family has Medicaid. Those getting Medicaid will also be able to have health insurance. Adult Day Health Care Waiver Fact Sheet What is the Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Waiver program? It is a special program that provides certain services for five (5) or more hours per day in a licensed and Medicaid enrolled Adult Day Health Care Facility to people who qualify. Long Term Care - Personal Services Fact Sheet What are Long Term Personal Care Services? Long Term Personal Care Services help with activities of daily living including help with eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, tranferring, walking, and toileting. Medicaid Purchase Plan Louisiana’s Medicaid Purchase Plan is a Medicaid program that offers affordable health coverage to people with disabilities who work. Medicare Savings Program Louisiana Medicaid may help pay part of medical costs, including Medicare premiums or other out-of-pocket expenses, and monthly premiums (up to $35) for Medicare Prescription Drug Plan(Medicare Part D) for senior citizens who meet certain qualifications. Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security Links Louisiana Medicaid Office Medicaid is the state's health coverage program for low-income residents who meet certain eligibility qualifications.  Louisiana OCDD The Louisiana Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) is an office of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, serving people with developmental disabilities and their families and professionals who provide support and services. Office of Aging and Adult Services (OASS) The Louisiana Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) brings together all of the long-term care programs that serve aging adults and people with adult-onset disabilities. Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council The Council’s mission is to advocate for and support people with developmental disabilities to exercise control over their lives and participate fully in the community.  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS provides health coveragefor 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. And with health insurance reforms and health care exchanges, we are improving health care and ensuring coverage for all Americans.  Supplemental Security Income (SSI) The Supplemental Security Income (SS) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits. Medicaid Rules & Fund Limits Medicaid Online Manual Searchable version of the Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual and searchable Medicaid forms applicable to Louisiana 2012 SSI caps, limits, spousal impoverishment A listing of the income and resource cap limits in effect for calendar year 2012 for determining financial eligibility for Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Organizations for Individuals with Disabilities Louisiana Citizens for Action Now (LaCAN) LaCAN is a statewide grassroots network of individuals and families who have worked together since 1988 advocating for a system that supports individuals to live in their own homes rather than having to move to a facility to receive needed services. Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana The Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana provides support to persons with Down Syndrome, their families and friends through networking, promotion of positive public awareness, information sharing and advocacy. Autism Society of Acadiana We are Acadiana's support organization for everyone in our area affected by autism. If you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, neighbor, friend, service provider, doctor, psychologist, speech-language pathologist, or have any connection to the autism community, we are the support group for you. ASAC was founded in 1985. We provides places to meet, get information, and share experiences with families and individuals affected by autism. Families Helping Families of Acadiana Our mission is to assist and strengthen individuals with disabilities and their families through a coordinated network of resources, services and supports. LARC of Lafayette For over 50 years, LARC has been dedicated to serving the needs of people in Acadiana's community with developmental disabilities and their families. Throughout LARC’s existence, we have continually expanded to fully include the people we serve in the mainstream and workforce of the community. LCG Committee on Disability Awareness The duties of the committee, as defined by the resolution that formed it, are: to develop and channel information regarding disabled persons to the citizens of the community through the introduction of special activities; to work with all aspects of community life so that persons with disabilities will realize the rights and responsibilities afforded to all citizens; to receive recommendations, requests, and citizen complaints regarding problems affecting the disabled; to make advisory recommendations to the Lafayette City/Parish President and the Lafayette City/Parish Council regarding problems faced by the disabled which might be addressed by the Lafayette City/Parish Consolidated Government; to serve as an advisory panel to the Lafayette City/Parish President and the Lafayette City/Parish Council on new activities, legislation and procedures affecting the disabled; and to help increase opportunities for employment for persons with disabilities. Autism Society of America - Louisiana Chapter Our Mission: To provide information and referrals, advocacy and support for individuals with ASD and their families: to help families identify qualified professionals in their communities; to assist families in securing benefits and services provided by law and to promote lifelong opportunities for persons with autism spectrum disorder in order to be fully included members of their communities. ARC of Iberia The Arc of Iberia is committed to securing for all people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to develop, function and live to their fullest potential. Bayou Land Families Helping Familes We are a group of families who, through our own experiences, promote peer support and advocacy and are committed to alleviating hardships of other families who have members with disabilities or special needs. The term, "special needs," includes physical, mental, emotional, behavioral and or academic issues. Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge is a non-profit, family directed resource center for individuals with disabilities and their families. It is a place where families can go that is directed and staffed by parents or family members of children with disabilities or adults with disabilities. It is this common experience that gives Families Helping Families a very unique approach to serving families. Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana Our mission is to enable and empower individuals with disabilities and their families by providing information, referral, education, training, peer support, and advocacy skills. Our vision is that all individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to attend school, live, work, and play in their own community. Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana, Inc. is a network of families in the Northeast Louisiana area who, because of their own experiences, became committed to reaching out to other families who have sons, daughters or grandchildren with special needs. Northshore Families Helping Families SERVING ST. TAMMANY, WASHINGTON, TANGIPAHOA, ST. HELENA AND LIVINGSTON PARISHES - Our mission is to provide the individualized services, information, resources and support to positively enhance the independence, productivity and inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Spina Bifida Association of Greater New Orleans The Spina Bifida of Greater New Orleans, Inc. (SBGNO) is a non-profit, tax exempt organization for the expressed purpose of providing services to those persons born with Spina Bifida and their families, and to increase public awareness about Spina Bifida and its prevention.