Title: Medicaid Infrastructure Grants
1Medicaid Infrastructure Grants Asset Building
Strategies
NCHSD
- National Consortium for Health Systems
Development - Audio Conference Call July 25, 2006
- Joe Entwisle, Health Disability Advocates/NCHSD
2MIGs Asset Building
- Purpose of this topical call
- Learn about how asset building programs can
further the objectives of the MIGs - Hear about the range of strategies MIGs can
employ to become more engaged in asset building
in their state and - Find out about how other MIGs have been involved
in asset building in their state.
3MIGs and Asset Building Programs
- Medicaid Buy-in programs are really a first step
in asset development ability to set up or keep
independence accounts and access much needed
services - Asset building programs serve as an incentive for
Buy-in participants to increase their earnings - Medicaid Infrastructure Grants are focused on
systems change that promote competitive
employment and building infrastructure to sustain
the support those changes
4MIGs and Asset Building Programs
- Intertwined goals of Asset Building Programs
MIGs - Both programs support and encourage employment
- Both create an environment that enables financial
self-sufficiency - Financial literacy prepares individuals future
for competitive employment
5Asset Building Programs People with
Disabilities
- Utilization Very low utilization of asset
building programs by people with disabilities --
especially within Medicaid buy-ins. Programs
are largely marketed to other low-income
populations (TANF). - Integration with work incentives Existing asset
building tools can work in conjunction with each
other AND with other work incentives programs. - Program implementation People with disabilities
often have trouble accessing information on how
to enroll and participate in asset building
programs.
6Asset Building Tools
- Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
- Work Incentive Related Strategies
- PASS
- Family Self Sufficiency
- Student Earned Income Exclusion
- Tax Related Strategies
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
7Asset Development Tools (cont.)
- Trust Funds
- Family Trust Funds
- Court ordered Trust Funds
- Pooled Trust Funds
8Role for MIG in Asset Building Programs
- Assess existing asset building programs and
resources. - Facilitate systems change and policy development.
- Initiate and support effective education
outreach plans.
9MIG Role in Asset Building Program Development
- Assessment
- Concrete ideas for involvement
- Identify and map asset building programs
available in the state how many are available
to people with disabilities? How are people
accessing those programs? Or --include asset
building programs in existing mapping efforts. - Potential outcome resource guide that people
with disabilities and providers can use to
increase utilization of programs.
10MIG Role in Asset Building Program Development
- Assessment
- Concrete ideas for involvement
- Assess how existing asset building programs mesh
with existing public benefits and work incentives
programs do Medicaid Buy-in resource limits
serve as a barrier to participation in asset
development programs? Should there be a tie
between asset building programs to other services
like benefits planning? - Potential outcome Identify programs and systems
challenges and create policy recommendations on
how they can be improved.
11MIG Role in Asset Building Program Development
- Facilitate Policy Development
- Concrete Ideas for Involvement
- Convene key stakeholders to address issues such
as - System challenges eliminating programmatic
barriers and identifying challenges with delivery
systems (program coordination) - Adequacy of existing asset building programs do
existing programs meet the expressed needs of
people with disabilities? - Program participation issues How do we know a
consumer is ready for asset development programs?
What needs to be in place to ensure that
consumers are accessing programs when they need
them?
12MIG Role in Asset Building Program Development
- Facilitate Policy Development
- Concrete Ideas for Involvement
- Convene key stakeholders to address issues such
as - Leveraging funding for asset building resources
--While the MIG can not use grant dollars to
provide services, it can use its position to
leverage other dollars and jump start programs. - Consumer Credit Counseling programs
- Financial institutions
- Trust development programs
13MIG Role in Asset Building Program Development
- Facilitate Policy Development
- Concrete Ideas for Involvement
- Convene key stakeholders to address issues such
as - Identify strategies to maximize asset development
programs - Assess unified entry points to programs
- Create incentives to coordinate services for
maximum benefit - Support the development of asset building
coalition
14MIG Role in Asset Building Program Development
- Education Outreach
- Concrete ideas for Involvement
- Create plan for outreach and education
- Are current IDA programs marketing to people with
disabilities? Are they reaching the MIG
population? - What is the message of the outreach efforts
focused on working building assets? - Targeting the outreach what points within the
system make sense? e.g. Benefits planning
programs, financial literacy programs
15Examples Asset Development Strategies in Action
-
- Sarah is an SSI beneficiary who opens a PASS
plan using earnings from work for down payment on
small business start up. - In this scenario the PASS plan allows her to
- Maximize her SSI benefit
- The opportunity to open an IDA that matches
earnings placed in PASS - Qualify for EITC for additional match in PASS/IDA
- And have her taxes processed at VITA for free!
16State Examples
- WA State IDA Initiative
- Abbey Cooper
- World Institute on Disability
- Megan ONeil
17(No Transcript)