Program Name: Mi Via (My Way)

Goals: The goals of Mi Via are:
• To facilitate greater participant choice and control over the types of services and supports that are purchased within an agreed upon budgetary amount
• To increase awareness and knowledge about Mi Via as a valuable waiver choice
• To serve the most people possible within available resources.

Target population: Current participants in the Medicaid waiver programs: Disabled and Elderly, Developmentally Disabled, HIV/AIDS, Medically Fragile. As a result of a $2,000,000 appropriation by the 2005 New Mexico Legislature, persons with brain injuries will also be eligible for participation in Mi Via.

Number of anticipated participants: a minimum of 400 consumers by end of grant period

Waiver used: 1915 (c) Medicaid Self-Directed Waiver, version 3.2

Lead agency: The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) leads oversight of the program through a Tri-Agency partnership that includes the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Human Services Department. In addition, the Self-Directed Waiver Sub-Committee, comprised of waiver participants, their families; service providers, advocates, other interested parties and state staff, provides feedback that guides the program’s design, implementation and support.

Website: www.mivianm.org

Questions and enrollment:

Marise McFadden
Director
Elderly & Disability Services Division
2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501

(p) 505-476-4706
(f) 505-827-7692
marise.mcfadden@state.nm.us

The Mi Via program provides consumers the option to control their own waiver services. Consumers receive a monthly budget based on his/her needs, and are able to use this money to hire personal assistant services, make home modifications, and more. Consultants work with consumers to develop and revise individual budgets. Consumers have the option of appointing a representative, and being part of a peer support group.

Mi Via is going beyond the basic Cash & Counseling principles and creating new and meaningful services including recognizing and supporting the basic human aspirations of the consumers and by extending the responsibility for quality assurance to consumer/families themselves.

Consumer-Related Information

The core tenets of Mi Via are that participants:
• Be viewed in terms of their abilities;
• Have the right to participate and be fully included in their communities; and
• Have the right to live, work, learn, and receive all services in the most integrated and least restrictive settings within their communities.

Mi Via is available state-wide. Enrollment began in December 2006. Mi Via also will be supported by funds from a Real Choice Systems Change grant. Communication and enrollment activities will be tailored to the state’s heterogeneous mix of ethnicities and lifestyles. With the support of an RWJF Innovation Grant, Mi Via communication and enrollment materials will be produced in a culturally appropriate and meaningful manner. This includes the translation of materials into Spanish and other Native American languages.