Choices For Independence

The Choices For Independence program (formerly known as the Home and Community-Based Care program for the Elderly and Chronically III, or HCBC-ECI) is available for seniors and adults with chronic illnesses who are financially eligible for Medicaid and medically qualify for the level of care provided in nursing facilities.

Program Objectives:

1. Be the major vehicle for long term care systems transformation in New Hampshire. For the past 10 years, NH has been gradually rebalancing its long term care system to increase reliance upon community based services and decrease the use of institutional services. This has resulted in increased responsiveness to needs and preferences by the Program, and the development of strategies that support community based care, including acquiring grants for overall system transformation and quality assurance, and the statewide ServiceLink Resource Center (SLRC) network, which is the New Hampshire Aging and Disability Resource Center model.

2. Meet the federal and state cost effectiveness requirements. Over the past two years, NH has increased the use of technology in the management of the Program. Information gathered for the clinical assessment instrument is entered into a database to generate a list of

participant needs, providing the clinical basis for Program support plans. Scheduled development will result in an automated link between the support plans and MMIS payment authorization.

3. Assess applicants, and reassess participants, in a clinically consistent and reliable manner. In 2006, NH implemented a clinical assessment instrument that is now used for every assessment and reassessment of clinical eligibility for long term care services, ensuring thorough and consistent assessments. Scheduled IT updates include an automated link between the instrument and payment through the MMIS.

Continued