Month: April 2018

It is hard to believe that it has been eleven years since Anne Ciavaglia McMahon partnered with hip to launch Our New Journey. Focused on helping one family at a time, this service gives help and hope to families faced with the onset of illness or disability.

Since inception, Our New Journey has helped more than 1,200 families and receives new referrals weekly. Each family gains access to available services that are designed to address their individual needs. Our New Journey assists those dealing with the complicated maze of insurance benefits, physical care needs, personal transitions, home modifications and location of available public services, all of which can be a full time job in itself. Caregiver or consumer, either way, it is overwhelming.

Our New Journey‘s most compelling aspects are responding to the shared daily challenges each caregiver encounters, as well as the program’s ability to make a difference through practical guidance or by providing limited financial help for direct care services.

Through various fundraising efforts and private donations, Our New Journey helps families with limited financial support for homecare or personal needs, ultimately allowing them to live in their community of choice.

In order for Our New Journey to continue to build and to provide help, increasing resources through donations or various types of volunteer support is necessary. Please visit ournewjourney.org and refer to the About Us section which highlights the program’s mission.

Please share this information with anyone you feel could benefit from this service. If you need additional information about this truly unique service, please email Founder Anne Ciavaglia McMahon at ac0417@aol.com or call her at (551)666-7581. She’d love to hear from you!

Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)

Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) refers to the delivery of long-term services and supports through New Jersey Medicaid‘s NJ FamilyCare managed care program. MLTSS is designed to expand home and community-based services, promote community inclusion and ensure quality and efficiency.

MLTSS uses NJ FamilyCare managed care organizations (also known as HMOs or health plans) to coordinate ALL services. Currently, NJ FamilyCare members have their acute and primary health care services and their home and community based services coordinated by different care management agencies. MLTSS provides comprehensive services and supports, whether at home, in an assisted living facility, in community residential services, or in a nursing home.

Participants previously enrolled in one of the following Medicaid Waiver programs were automatically enrolled in MLTSS effective July 1, 2014

• AIDS Community Care Alternatives Program (ACCAP)
• Community Resources for People with Disabilities (CRPD)
• Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver (TBI)
• Global Options for Long Term Care (GO)

Unlike the previously administered Medicaid Waivers, which were coordinated by independently contracted care management agencies, MLTSS uses a managed care approach. At this time, NJ contracts with these five MCOs to administer NJ FamilyCare, including MLTSS:

• Amerigroup
• Horizon NJ Health
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
• WellCare
• Aetna

The MLTSS application process will vary depending on whether or not an individual already has NJ FamilyCare.

INDIVIDUALS WHO CURRENTLY HAVE MEDICAID:

Regardless of age, all individuals who currently have Medicaid
must contact their assigned MCO to initiate an assessment for MLTSS
eligibility.

INDIVIDUALS WHO CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE MEDICAID:

Adults (21 years of age and older):
Contact your County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or
your County Welfare Agency (Board of Social Services) to initiate an
assessment for MLTSS eligibility.

     Children (20 years of age and younger):
     Contact the Division of Disability Services at 1-888-285-3036 and follow
the prompts to speak with an Information and Referral (I&R) Specialist to
initiate an assessment for MLTSS eligibility determination.

Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Summary

MLTSS Resources for Consumers, Providers, and Stakeholders

NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, and Disabled Programs (ABD) Financial Application

The NJ Statewide Respite Care Program has been operational since April of 1988. This program provides respite care services for elderly and functionally impaired persons age 18 and older to relieve their unpaid caregivers of stress arising from the responsibility of providing daily care. A secondary goal of the program is to provide the support necessary to help families avoid making nursing home placement of their relatives. Services available under the Statewide Respite Care Program include:

• Companions
• Homemaker/home health aides (on an hourly or overnight basis)
• Medical or social adult day care
• Temporary care in licensed medical facilities
• Camperships
• Private duty nursing service
• Caregiver-Directed option

To reach the Statewide Respite Care Program in your county, call the Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) toll-free at 1-877-222-3737.