The Louisiana Department of Health holds public forums on Community Choices Waiver

Baton Rouge, La. (January 10, 2019) – The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Aging and Adult Services is seeking input from health care providers, the public and others as it develops strategies to reduce the waiting list for its Community Choices Waiver program and help people swiftly receive the care they need.

The office is holding meetings this month and in February to gather input from interested individuals on reducing the waitlist, which people currently spend more than eight years on and improving the program to provide better care and better health for more than 17,000 individuals awaiting services.

The Community Choices Waiver is one of the most widely-requested Medicaid services in the state, serving seniors and individuals ages 21 and older with adult-onset disabilities, and provides these individuals with a wide array of services including support coordination, nursing and skilled therapy assessments, in-home monitoring services, personal care, home modifications, home-delivered meals and caregiver respite.

“Through these services, our goal is to keep people in their home with dignity and independence, allowing these individuals to continue to live in the community,” said Tara LeBlanc, assistant secretary of the Office of Aging and Adult Services. “But waiting more than eight years to receive these services is too long, and that’s something that we want to change.”

All meetings are open to the public. Click here to learn more about the program.

Meetings will be held at the times and locations below: