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County hears presentation on Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver expanding nonmedical supports
Summary
A resource-center social navigator and county aging staff briefed the Legislature on the state27s Section 1115 waiver demonstration, which can provide rental assistance, food boxes, furniture and limited home remediation to qualifying Medicaid recipients through May 2027; outreach includes a Medicaid text blast and partner screenings.
Veil Gonzalez Colon, a social navigator with the Resource Center, briefed the Chautauqua County Legislature on the state27s Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver during the Nov. 19 session, describing how eligible Medicaid recipients can access nonmedical supports during the demonstration period.
"This program could help individuals with food insecurity," Gonzalez Colon said, listing potential services including rental and deposit assistance, transitional services, furniture and beds for families, and food boxes with fresh fruits, vegetables and meat for up to six months on a weekly basis. She said some remediation supports (for lead, mold, pest infestation) are included when funding allows, but that specific service availability can vary depending on program capacity.
Gonzalez Colon explained outreach and access: recipients can screen themselves on the program website and providers and social navigators can perform screenings and referrals. She said Medicaid had sent a text message to county Medicaid recipients announcing the waiver and included the screening website; partner organizations are conducting in-person screening clinics at pediatric and housing partner sites.
Dan Foreman (director) and Dana Corwin (director, Chautauqua County Office for the Aging) confirmed the county27s Office for the Aging is contracting with a regional convener (Winiak/Western New York Integrated Collaborative Care) as a vendor and is co-branding materials to reach seniors. Corwin said the 1115 waiver has been in development for several years and that county staff are coordinating outreach with partners including Catholic Charities and local health providers.
Why it matters: The waiver expands the set of nonmedical services that can be provided to Medicaid enrollees during the demonstration period, which county staff said could help older adults and families who do not qualify for other housing or benefit programs.
Next steps: Staff and community partners will continue local outreach and screening; the Office for the Aging and partner agencies will assist eligible residents with assessments and referrals.
