Ticket to Work

As part of the Missouri Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, surveys and focus groups were conducted with a wide range of audiences from people with disabilities and their families to state agency staff and providers concerning employment issues. The surveys and focus groups yielded a great deal of information that is helpful in understanding the challenges people with disabilities face when trying to obtain and maintain employment. Included are three reports describing the information gathered.

This training manual provides a basic overview of Work Incentives and their parent programs. Title II Work Incentive Programs, such as Trail Work Period and Extended Period Eligibility, are discussed. Additionally, Title XVI Work Incentives, such as Blind Work Incentives and Plans for Achieving Self Support, are explained.

According to a report by the Kaiser Foundation, Medicaid has become the major payer for long-term services and supports to low-income individuals, and a safety-net for those who become impoverished as a result of long-term care needs. In addition to concerns about the high costs of long-term care, recent developments have drawn attention to challenges facing Medicaid as a provider of long-term care. This paper describes these challenges and other issues facing the Medicaid program going forward.

This memo summarizes the state of the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) program in Washington, DC as of August 2007. The memo offers findings within the current PAS program and recommendations for improvements. Also listed are the accomplishments of the program.

The Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) contracted with George Washington University’s Department of Health Policy, School of Public Health and Health Services (GWU) in order to evaluate the Washington, DC MIG activities. This memo summarizes all of the MIG-related activities which occurred or started in the first half of 2007.

The brief reports findings of a survey to assess how many Kansas Working Healthy Medicaid Buy-In participants would likely increase their employment and earnings under a gradual Social Security Disability Insurance offset program. 25% of the respondents would try to work and earn more if this program was available and 25% maybe would do so. Researchers suggest benefit offset programs coupled with existing Medicaid Buy-In programs have potential to increase employment and earnings for people.

The goal of NFI is to remove barriers to full integration for Americans with disabilities. This report highlights the activities in several areas: increasing access through technology, expanding educational opportunities for youth with disabilities, integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce, and promoting full access to community life. The report describes initiatives, regulations, grant programs and other efforts to improve integration for youth and adults with disabilities.

This report provides estimates of likely enrollments in Kentucky should the state implement a Buy-in program. The estimates are based on a statistical analysis of data from states that have implemented programs. The analysis takes into account both characteristics of the states and characteristics of the states’ programs that are likely to affect enrollments. Relevant considerations include the number of individuals with disabilities, participation rates and the state’s economy.

Working Healthy, the Kansas MIG program, offers people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to get or keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. The website offers an interactive map of benefit specialist, a chart on premiums (SRS Form ES-3165) , information on Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK), publications, and FAQs. Also review their brochure in English and Spanish and their one page fact sheet used for outreach.

Indiana Works (Indiana’s Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Programs) received a MIG grant to conduct a statewide needs assessment in the disability community of the informational needs regarding state and federal programs and resources that support employment. The website contains general information about subjects and does not replace the expertise and assistance from trained benefits counselors. Also included for review are project overview and updates, fact sheets, and final reports.