Transcript - slide 6

Interviewer:  If I were referred to, or selected another program, and I was dissatisfied with that program, is there a way for [me] to be referred to another program? Is there choice worked [into] the way your waiver is set up?

Danny Cowart:  Yes. As the families become more educated and more informed, then the waiver program itself becomes more mature and is basically family-driven. The families can decide if they are dissatisfied [and] move to another provider. It happens quite often. They have moved from us to other providers and come from other providers to us. I am all for that. It is kind of like a grocery store. If I don't like your breads, I have the option of going to another store for the bread. I think it is very good, and it also causes the providers to concentrate on quality and [being] customer-centered. I think it is a good thing.

Interviewer:  Absolutely, because if you know that your customer can choose another loaf of bread, then you are going to try to make a better loaf of bread, to use your analogy. I think that is really a great feature of your [state's] waiver. I think you may have already said this in some of our other discussions; but once I become eligible for the waiver, then I pretty much remain eligible. Is that correct?

Danny Cowart:  That is somewhat correct. You have to be re-evaluated for a waiver if you are under 16, every 3 years and if you are over 16, every 6 years [in the State of Mississippi]. And then, of course, you have to remain Medicaid-eligible as far as your finances and what it takes to remain eligible to receive Medicaid. Each year, you have to remain in the waiver at the end of the fiscal year to stay in it for the next year. Basically, having said all of that, once you get a slot, it is yours for life if you meet those requirements.

Interviewer:  We should remind the listeners at this point that Mississippi’s example would not necessarily mean it would apply in their states. Each individual needs to verify how the Medicaid Waiver is set up in the state where he or she is living.

Danny Cowart:  That's correct. I am not real familiar with a lot of states; but I know that Ohio and Minnesota seem to be in the forefront in all of the disability services, not just waivers. Each state is different or each state, at least, is set up individually because Medicaid is a state [run] program.

Interviewer:  The bottom line really is to learn how other people are doing this and to benefit from their experiences, which is why we are talking today.

Danny Cowart:  That is correct. If you could identify, within your state, the person or persons that can inform you. Then get the literature to read, [and] you can become informed on what it is going to take in your state to do this type of program.

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