More than 10,000 people are seeking a spot in a state program that provides at-home services to the developmentally disabled.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More than 10,000 people are seeking a spot in a state program that provides at-home services to the developmentally disabled. But with no new money to spend, Louisiana's health chief is searching for ways to chisel away at the waiting list.
Kathy Kliebert, secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, wants to move program money she has available to her, and to be sure that everyone on the list for the New Opportunity Waiver program, or NOW, needs the services they're seeking.
The $417 million program, paid for with state and federal Medicaid funding, can help families pay for specialized equipment and supplies, nursing services and at-home care.
Kliebert says she wants to prioritize applicants by need and thoroughly investigate whether they are best-served by NOW or another program.