My Choice Louisiana

Through My Choice Louisiana, the State will provide transition planning and support, as well as screening and evaluations to all Medicaid eligible individuals with serious mental illness who are currently in a nursing facility. The State will look to improve on diverting individuals with serious mental illness to appropriate community-based services in lieu of nursing facility placement. 

From paragraph 4 of the Agreement, stating the purpose: “With this Agreement, the Parties intend to achieve the goals of serving individuals with serious mental illness in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, to honor the principles of self-determination and choice, and to provide quality services in integrated settings to achieve these goals.” LDH has named this new program “My Choice Louisiana” to reflect two of the key principles discussed in the Agreement, self-determination and choice.

Louisiana Needs Assessment Final ReportMy Choice Louisiana follows a review by the Department of Justice in December of 2016 that claimed Louisiana was unnecessarily relying on nursing facilities to serve people with serious mental illness. The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, requires these individuals receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Based on assessments, this may mean in a setting that is less restrictive than a nursing facility such as care in a home or community-based setting.

Related Resources

MyChoice Louisiana Leadership

Karen Stubbs, OBH Assistant Secretary

Gearry Williams, OAAS Assistant Secretary

Frances Landry-Rippy, OAAS Senior Advisor

Ann Darling, OBH Program Manager