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Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
Arizona Employment and Disability Partnership

Goal

To develop or enhance existing infrastructure that supports individuals with disabilities to secure and sustain competitive employment.

Authorization

The Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) are authorized under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999 and thereby jointly responsible to work toward the desired outcomes of the ACT including:

  • Increase social security beneficiary choice in obtaining rehabilitation and vocational services
  • Remove barriers that require individuals with disabilities to choose between health care coverage and work
  • Assure that more individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in the workforce and lessen their dependence on public benefits

Charge

The charge of the MIGs is threefold:

  • Facilitate enhancements to state Medicaid programs
  • Promote linkages between Medicaid and other employment related services agencies
  • Develop a comprehensive system of employment supports for people with disabilities

Approach

The MIGs may take either one of two approaches to implement the charge including facilitating basic infrastructure development and enhancements to the Medicaid program or develop a comprehensive approach and system to improve employment outcomes. Currently, the Arizona MIG is taking the formerly noted approach focusing on basic infrastructure development.

The ROLE of Medicaid Infrastructure Grants

The primary role that MIGs play is one of a convener or facilitator. In order to facilitate sustainable systemic change through either basic infrastructure development or through the creation of a comprehensive system of employment supports, the MIGs must support a number of programs and service provision agencies to work in partnership with one another.

MIGs should not be considered funding sources. They may leverage funding to provide "seed" monies for initiatives or projects that are necessary to carry out the systemic change activities and that are either temporary or sustainable after the duration of funding.

Arizona Employment and Disability Partnership

Arizona was awarded a MIG in January 2007 funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (award number 1QACMS300122). The MIG is administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).

2009 Initiatives

Health Care Practitioner Training: The training is aimed at supporting the role practitioners play in supporting patients to start, stay at or return to work after the onset of an injury/illness and targeted to provide information to support the role of the practitioner including techniques they may use to make effective employability decisions.

One Stop Career Center Conference: Representatives from the One Stop Career Centers will be provided information about best practice models used to build capacity for directly serving individuals with disabilities including participation as an Employment Network in the Ticket to Work program. Centers that participated in the conference will be eligible to apply for competitive grants to develop, implement and build the sustainable infrastructure to directly serve individuals with disabilities.

AHCCCS Freedom to Work Evaluation and Member Survey: The program evaluation is intended to identify systemic improvements and will include a cost/benefit analysis and a current/former member survey in an effort to learn how the program is impacting the overall health care system and the lives of individuals with disabilities making the transition to employment.

Grant Applications

Note: Information provided in PDF files.

Contact

  • Call: (602) 417-4362
  • Email: Dara.Johnson@azahcccs.gov
  • FAX: (602) 256-6421
  • Write:
    Dara Johnson, Project Director
    Arizona Employment and Disability Partnership
    AHCCCS
    701 E. Jefferson St., MD 6100
    Phoenix, AZ 85034