Myths

Facts

Nursing home residents must meet a higher level of eligibility than people who use the MiChoice Waiver.

·        Under Federal law, applicants to the MiChoice Waiver are eligible for the program only if they require nursing home level of care.[1]

·        The identical screening tool and criteria determine eligibility for MiChoice and for Medicaid funded nursing home care.[2]

MiChoice Waiver Program serves people with a lower acuity of care than nursing homes.

·        Both the MiChoice Waiver Program and nursing homes offer services to clients with a similar range of needs.[3]

·        Because the MiChoice Waiver program has been arbitrarily limited to an average cap on services per client per day of only $32, it has served fewer people with high needs.

This crisis in long term care supports and services is only temporary.

·        Michigan is becoming an aging state. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of Michigan residents age 75 or older grew by 125,000.[4]

·        From 2000 to 2025, the number of citizens over 65 will increase by 79%.

We can wait until our economy gets better to address the long term care issue.

§         The changing demographics in the state have already led, and will continue to lead, to increased overall demand for long term care services.

§         Relying on publicly funded long term care supports, delivered to people at home, will slow rising costs and serve more people.[5]

The MiChoice Waiver has not demonstrated an ability to significantly reduce nursing home bed utilization.

·        Since there has never been a shortage of nursing home beds, but there has always been a shortage of MiChoice slots, the state has been unable to ascertain the impact of consumer choice on service utilization.