What is Medicaid’s Community First Choice (CFC) Program?
Community First Choice (CFC) is a Medicaid program that allows states to provide home and community-based services to eligible individuals who require assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. It emphasizes the importance of supporting individuals to live in their preferred setting while receiving necessary care and support.
How Does Community First Choice Work?
Under the Community First Choice program, eligible individuals can receive a range of services and supports, including personal attendant services, assistance with activities of daily living, and supports for managing their health and well-being. These services are provided in the individual's home or community setting, allowing them to maintain independence and quality of life.
Who Benefits from Community First Choice?
Community First Choice benefits individuals who:
- Need assistance with daily activities due to aging, disability, or chronic illness.
- Prefer to receive care and support in their own homes or communities rather than in institutional settings.
- Desire greater autonomy and control over their daily lives and care decisions.
Impact of Community First Choice
- Improving Quality of Life: By providing essential services and supports in the home or community, Community First Choice enhances individuals' ability to live independently and participate in activities they enjoy.
- Preventing Institutionalization: CFC helps prevent unnecessary institutionalization by offering an alternative to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, allowing individuals to remain in familiar surroundings.
- Promoting Cost-Effectiveness: Research shows that home and community-based services, such as those provided through Community First Choice, can be more cost-effective than institutional care, resulting in savings for states and taxpayers.