Transcript - slide 2

Interviewer:  Thanks Danny. You have a very diverse background for speaking to a number of issues that I know our audience will be interested in hearing about today. You started by briefly talking about Mill Creek. Could you tell us a little more about the description of your agency and the individuals who receive services there?

Danny Cowart:  Mill Creek Community Services is part of the Mill Creek system, which is a part of Youth and Family Center Services, a nationwide company. Mill Creek Community Services was formed when Mississippi began to offer MR/DD waiver services. I began with Mill Creek Community Services in 2001. At that point, we expanded our physical locations in the state from two locations. [These] were first located in Port Gibson, on the Mississippi River in the southwest area, and in Collins, which is more centrally located. We added five other physical locations by acquiring buildings in Tupelo, Grenada, Jackson, Moss Point and Long Beach.

Mill Creek Community Services is certified in 11 of the 13 different menu items offered under the Mississippi MR/DD Waiver. The only service that we don't offer with Mill Creek Community Services is residential services. A menu item is really just a service. Depending on the needs of the individual, that service will be on a Medicaid Plan of Care. I think that our conversation today will probably [focus on] adult services. By that, I mean those services that can be offered under the waiver when a person exits the public school system after age 21, although it could be at age 18. The three primary menu items, or services, offered to adults are supported employment, day habilitation, and pre-vocational. We at Mill Creek offer a brand of service that utilizes each one of those in creative ways. We don't really care that much about what menu item it is. We just get the services that the person really needs at the time.

Interviewer:  I would like to clarify for people listening that the Medicaid Waiver is going to be different in every state. What Danny is describing for us today is going to be specific to Mississippi. That doesn't mean that there are not going to be similarities within your state. But you are going to have to listen to what Danny has to say and also do research about your own state's Medicaid Waiver. I think it is important to get that in early, don’t you Danny?

Danny Cowart: Yes, that is really true. I am not familiar with other states’ waiver programs. I did get somewhat familiar with them by studying and reading while I was working with the Boswell Regional Center as a monitor.

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