HJAR Mar/Apr 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAR / APR 2026 37 aligned with each person’s goals and safety needs. The Money Follows the Person program also emphasizes autonomy and dignity through a formal informed consent process, allowing beneficiaries to maintain control over their choice of living setting, service delivery model, and involvement in care planning, while ensuring confidentiality and protection against abuse or coercion. Providers can get involved by serving as a home and community-based services resource, partnering in housing or other support services, coordinating care for eligible individuals transitioning into community-based care, and participating in interdisciplinary care coordination. By working closely with beneficiaries and care teams, providers help ensure that individuals maintain independence while accessing the services they need to live safely and comfortably in their communities. To learn more or to partner in delivering services and supports, visit: ar.gov/MFP. n Jay Hill serves as the director of the Division ofAging, Adult,and Behavioral Health Services at theArkansas Department of Human Services. He oversees pro- grams that promote the health, safety, and indepen- dence of olderArkansans and adults with disabilities. Prior to his current roll, Hill worked at DHS’Arkansas Health Center for over a decade, serving as its direc- tor for six years. He has also worked in management for several large private corporations and served as a SpecialAgent in the United States Secret Service.He is a 1994 graduate of the University of CentralArkansas with degrees in history and political science. Jay Hill Director of the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS) Arkansas Department of Human Services service selection and care planning, and linkages to Medicaid waiver or state plan services. Beneficiaries may choose to self- direct their services or use an agency- directed care model, providing flexibility and respect for personal choice. Clinical and support staff collaborate to develop individualized plans of care that prioritize safety and the beneficiary’s ability to live independently. Services That Support Beneficiaries The Money Follows the Person program provides a combination of ongoing home and community-based services resources and one-time transition supports. Ongoing services, delivered throughMedicaid waivers or the state plan, may include personal and attendant care, supported living services, and therapeutic and rehabilitative services, as well as transportation and meal supports when applicable. One-time demonstration supports, available during the first 365 days, may include home and environmental modifications, assistive technology and monitoring systems, security, utility, and rental deposits, essential furnishings and household setup, telehealth and in-home monitoring tools, and community transition services. Beneficiaries are supported through 24- hour backup systems for critical services, including care staff, transportation, and equipment, along with structured plans to address service disruptions. Ongoing reassessments help ensure care plans remain THE Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) understands the importance of independence for Medicaid beneficiaries who receive long-term services and supports. To help beneficiaries achieve independence, DHS offers resources through the Money Follows the Person program, a federally funded Medicaid demonstration initiative designed to help eligible Arkansans live in their homes and communities while receiving the services they need. Designed for Independence The Money Follows the Person program supports the delivery of long-term services and supports through home and community- based services, emphasizing person-centered planning and coordinated care management to ensure services are provided when clinically appropriate and aligned with each beneficiary’s personal goals. The program serves adults who are Medicaid-eligible and meet the program’s level-of-care criteria. The Money Follows the Person program is critical because it helps Arkansans live safely, comfortably, and as independently as possible in their communities. It also gives them the opportunity to advocate for themselves. Participation in the Money Follows the Person program is voluntary and requires informed consent. Each beneficiary is paired with an Intensive Transition Manager who helps coordinate the transition from organized care to community living, including housing planning and placement,