Ask Mike - If I move to another state who will pay for my personal assistant

Dear Moving to Mississippi,
Thanks for contacting me. You wrote to say that you have a disability and that the state currently pays an attendant to assist you. You asked if you were to move to Mississippi and the personal attendant came with you, would the attendant still be able to be paid.

The answer to your question is that it is quite possible. Searching the PAS Center website and the web, I found at least one Medicaid Waiver program in Mississippi (the Independent Living Waiver) that allows individuals to select their own aides provided their aides otherwise meet state requirements. Prior to relocating, you should contact the Mississippi Medicaid agency to find out more about programs and whether they will allow you to bring your own aide. To find the agency contacts, go Contact Info and Descriptions for Medicaid Waivers. Next, click on "Mississippi" on the USA map. The next page provides target populations, program descriptions, program contact information and web addresses for the various Medicaid Waivers, including the Independent Living Waiver mentioned, above. You should contact the programs that seem to best match your situation to find out more. You can also contact the state Medicaid agency to ask questions by Agencies Related to PAS.

Good luck to you!
Mike Oxford