Money Follows the Person Home Modifications: 2026 Guide

Last updated: July 28, 2026

Unsafe discharge warning: If a person cannot enter the home, use the bathroom, transfer safely, or receive needed care, tell the facility discharge planner and Medicaid case manager before discharge. Ask them to document the safety problem and pause an unsafe plan while an accessible option is arranged. Call 911 for an immediate medical or life-safety emergency.

Bottom Line

Money Follows the Person, often called MFP, may help an eligible Medicaid member move from a nursing facility or another qualifying institution into a home or community setting. Depending on the state, the transition plan may include an approved wheelchair ramp, wider doorway, accessible bathroom, lift, environmental controls, moving expenses, deposits, basic furnishings, or other one-time supports.

MFP is not a cash home repair grant, loan, rebate, or tax credit. Federal funds go to participating states and territories. The state program normally assesses the need, approves the service, and pays an authorized provider or contractor. The safest first step is to ask the facility discharge planner or state Medicaid long-term care office for an MFP referral before any work begins.

The federal CMS MFP overview explains that MFP helps states shift Medicaid long-term services and supports from institutions to community settings. The program can support transition planning and one-time services that make a community move possible.

Home modification help is not the same in every state. One state may cover a ramp through MFP supplemental services. Another may pay through a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver. A third may combine both programs. Approval depends on the person’s Medicaid status, care needs, residence, state plan, available providers, and written service plan.

Quick Facts

Money Follows the Person home modification quick facts
Question	Current answer
What type of help is MFP?	A Medicaid transition program and service, not a direct cash grant or consumer loan.
Who is it mainly for?	Eligible Medicaid members moving from a qualifying institution into an approved community residence.
How long must the institutional stay be?	The federal minimum is generally at least 60 consecutive days. The state calculates whether the stay and facility type count.
What home changes may be covered?	State-approved accessibility or safety changes needed for the transition, such as a ramp, wider doorway, accessible bathroom, lift, or environmental controls.
Is there one national income limit?	No. The person must meet the state’s Medicaid and long-term services and supports rules. Income, asset, and clinical standards vary.
Is there one national dollar limit?	No. State programs, waivers, service plans, and individual budgets control the amount.
Where does a person apply?	Through the facility transition team, state MFP program, Medicaid agency, managed care plan, or local transition partner – not directly through CMS or Grants.gov.
Can work start before approval?	Usually no. Early work may be ineligible for payment and can interfere with assessments, bids, permits, or inspections.

Who Money Follows the Person Is For

MFP is designed for people who want to leave institutional care and can live safely in the community with Medicaid-funded services and supports. It is not a general remodeling program for anyone with Medicaid, and it does not usually pay for repairs for a person who already lives at home.

Basic federal starting rules

A person generally must:

Be enrolled in Medicaid or become Medicaid-eligible under the state’s transition rules.
Have lived in a qualifying inpatient institution for at least 60 consecutive days.
Choose to move into a qualified community residence.
Need a level of care and services that the state can support in the community.
Complete the state’s assessment, person-centered plan, and approval process.

Federal law reduced the stay requirement from 90 days to 60 days. The Administration for Community Living summarized the 2021 eligibility changes, including how skilled nursing and rehabilitation days can count. States commonly require Medicaid coverage for at least one day before transition; North Carolina’s program is one example. The state must confirm the dates and pathway.

Qualified community homes

A qualified residence can commonly be:

A home owned or leased by the participant.
A home owned by a family member.
An apartment with a normal lease.
A small community residence allowed under federal and state rules.

The setting must meet Medicaid community-setting standards and state MFP rules. Assisted living and small group homes need state review because rules differ.

Practical point: A person does not have to own a house to ask for MFP. Renters and people moving into a relative’s home may qualify, but the program may require a lease, owner permission, a landlord agreement, or proof that the person can remain there.

What Home Modifications May Be Covered

The CMS supplemental-services notice allows approved one-time or short-term transition services, including home accessibility work before discharge. The change must address a documented need, support safe community living, and appear in the service plan.

Common approved changes

Wheelchair ramps and safer exterior access.
Wider doors or altered thresholds.
Grab bars, a roll-in shower, or another accessible bathroom change.
Kitchen changes needed for safe use.
Stair lifts, platform lifts, or ceiling lifts when the state allows them.
Automatic door openers, environmental controls, or alert systems.
Electrical or plumbing work needed for approved equipment.
Minor structural work required to complete an approved accessibility project.

Coverage varies in practice. Colorado’s MFP page lists environmental adaptations such as widened doors, ramps, and bathroom or kitchen changes. Georgia’s MFP page includes environmental modifications with other transition supports. Montana’s MFP page lists home modifications, occupational therapy assessment, assistive technology, and some simple home repair.

Examples of how state MFP services can differ
State example	Possible transition help named by the state	Important limit
North Carolina	Ramps, deposits, furniture, and one-time food support.	The person must meet Medicaid, facility-stay, community residence, and service-program rules.
Colorado	Environmental adaptations, short-term rental help, pre-tenancy support, food, and peer mentoring.	Each service must be approved through the state transition process.
Georgia	Environmental modifications, deposits, furnishings, moving costs, and peer support.	Services depend on the individual transition plan and state program rules.
Montana	Home modifications, some simple repairs, occupational therapy assessment, and assistive technology.	The work must support the transition and be authorized before purchase or construction.

What is usually excluded

Cosmetic remodeling or upgrades chosen only for appearance.
General maintenance unrelated to the person’s disability or transition.
Work started or completed before written authorization.
Luxury items or a more expensive option when a safe lower-cost option meets the need.
Duplicate equipment or changes already funded by another program.
Work that is another owner’s or provider’s responsibility.
A home purchase, major addition, or broad rehabilitation.

A house with major structural, electrical, roof, mold, or code problems may need separate repair funding before an accessibility project can proceed. See the site’s guide to home modification help for other programs that may be combined without duplicating payment.

How to Request a Modification Before Discharge

Start early. A ramp or bathroom project may require a home visit, therapy assessment, owner approval, estimates, permits, Medicaid authorization, and inspection. Safety should be settled before discharge.

Name the planned home. Ask the facility team to record the person’s choice to return to the community.
Ask for an MFP referral. Also ask about Medicaid transition and home and community-based services.
Request a home assessment. Describe unsafe tasks such as entering, bathing, transferring, cooking, or exiting.
Put the change in the plan. Include the need, proposed work, payer, timing, and backup.
Wait for written approval. Do not hire, order, or pay first.
Confirm the backup. Ask what happens if work is unfinished by the move date.

Script for the facility: “I want to return to the community, but the home is not safe for me yet. I need help with [ramp/bathroom/doorway/other change]. Please make an MFP or Medicaid transition referral, document this need in my discharge plan, and tell me who will assess the home before a discharge date is final.”

Do not accept a verbal promise alone. Ask for the referral date, worker’s name, case number, written plan, and the exact program expected to pay. Keep a copy of every notice.

Where to Apply and Who to Call

CMS does not issue home modification checks to individuals. The person applies through the state transition system.

Use the official state MFP contacts page to find the current project director. CMS last updated that page on June 15, 2026. A listed contact does not guarantee that every service is open in every county, so ask about current referrals, service areas, waitlists, and the correct local intake office.

Best contact based on the person’s situation
Situation	Best first contact	What to ask for
Currently in a nursing facility or hospital	Discharge planner, social worker, case manager, or transition coordinator	An MFP referral, Medicaid long-term care screening, and home assessment.
No one at the facility knows MFP	State MFP project director or state Medicaid agency	The correct transition program, eligibility unit, and referral process.
Enrolled in Medicaid managed care	Member services and the care manager	Long-term services and supports care coordination, prior authorization, and appeal rules.
Needs independent options counseling	Aging and Disability Resource Center	Community living options, benefits counseling, housing leads, and local transition contacts.
Needs disability-led transition help	Center for Independent Living	Peer support, advocacy, transition planning, and community resources.
Older adult or caregiver needs a local number	Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116	The local Area Agency on Aging, ADRC, and long-term care resources.

The Administration for Community Living also keeps transition resources for people leaving institutions. These networks may help when the facility is unresponsive or the person cannot manage the process alone.

Script for the state MFP office: “I am calling about a Medicaid member who has been in [facility name] since [date] and wants to move to [type of home]. The home may need [modification]. Is MFP accepting referrals in this area, who completes the referral, and what must be approved before work begins?”

Script for a Medicaid plan: “Please connect me with long-term services and supports care coordination. I need a written decision on an environmental or home modification needed for community transition. Please tell me the assessment, provider, prior-authorization, and appeal steps.”

Documents and Proof to Gather

The exact list varies, but these records can prevent delays:

Medicaid card, member number, managed care plan information, and notices.
Facility admission date and expected discharge date.
Medical records, therapy notes, level-of-care assessment, and functional limitations.
The proposed community address and proof of ownership, lease, or permission to live there.
Landlord or property-owner contact information and written consent when required.
Photos, measurements, and therapy recommendations showing the barrier.
Contractor estimates, plans, or permit information if the program requests them.
Written transition plan, person-centered service plan, and prior-authorization notices.

Keep a simple call log with the date, office, worker, phone number, case number, and promised next step. The site’s document checklist can help organize property and contractor records that Medicaid may request.

What Happens After You Apply

The state or its contractor may complete these reviews:

Eligibility: Staff confirm the stay, Medicaid status, care level, and community setting.
Planning: The person identifies goals, risks, services, caregivers, and preferred home.
Assessment: A qualified worker examines barriers in the home.
Scope and budget: The program selects necessary work and the funding source.
Provider: Approved contractors, estimates, insurance, permits, or environmental review may be required.
Authorization: The notice should name the service, scope, provider, and conditions.
Work and inspection: The project is completed and checked before final payment.

CMS allows some transition services to begin before discharge, including home accessibility work. This does not mean every state can complete a project quickly. Contractor shortages, landlord approval, building permits, weather, supply delays, and Medicaid processing can affect timing.

Ask one key question: “What must be complete before the person can safely move, and what is the written backup plan if it is delayed?”

Renters, Family Homes, and Manufactured Homes

A renter may qualify, but written owner permission is often required. Ask who owns and maintains the improvement and whether it can be removed later.

For a family member’s home, the state may request proof that the arrangement is stable. Do not promise contractor payment before Medicaid identifies who is responsible.

A manufactured home may qualify when it is a safe, lawful residence. The program may request title or lease records, park approval, foundation information, and an experienced contractor.

If the needed work is broader than an accessibility change, check Medicaid HCBS modifications and local repair programs. Do not let two programs pay for the same item.

Funding, Dollar Limits, and Repayment

There is no single national MFP home modification award amount. A state’s operational protocol, Medicaid waiver, managed care contract, service definition, and individual plan may each set limits. Some states use MFP for a one-time transition cost and a waiver for the larger construction expense.

Ask for the approved scope and maximum amount, funding source, included costs, provider rules, hidden-damage policy, equipment ownership, maintenance duty, and any lien, owner agreement, restoration duty, or estate-recovery rule.

An authorized MFP home modification is generally a Medicaid service, not a consumer loan. The person normally does not make monthly loan payments to repay the contractor cost. However, a separate city repair loan, housing grant, landlord agreement, or other program used with MFP may have its own repayment, lien, occupancy, or forgiveness terms. Never assume all parts of a combined project are free.

There is also no separate national MFP income chart. The person must qualify for Medicaid and the long-term care pathway used by the state. Financial rules can depend on income, countable assets, marital status, age, disability, and whether the person uses a waiver or another Medicaid eligibility group.

Delays, Denials, and Appeals

Delays may involve missing records, disputed stay dates, Medicaid gaps, housing problems, owner refusal, no contractor, a bid over the cap, or work labeled cosmetic.

Avoid these mistakes:

Starting construction before written approval.
Using only a contractor’s opinion instead of a functional assessment.
Asking for a broad remodel instead of the least costly safe change that meets the need.
Letting the discharge date arrive without a written backup plan.
Missing a Medicaid notice or appeal deadline.

If a request is denied, reduced, or delayed:

Ask for the decision in writing, including the rule, service definition, and appeal deadline.
Ask the assessor to explain the functional need in specific terms.
Request the case file, assessment, plan, bids, and notes used in the decision.
File the Medicaid grievance, appeal, or fair-hearing request before the deadline.
Ask whether services can continue or the discharge can be delayed while the appeal is pending.
Contact an ADRC, Center for Independent Living, state protection and advocacy agency, long-term care ombudsman, or legal aid office for help.

Appeal deadlines vary by state and notice. Do not wait for a second phone call if a written deadline is running. The site’s guide for people denied repair assistance gives additional steps for organizing evidence and requesting review.

Script after a denial: “I am requesting the written denial, the policy used, the assessment and service-plan records, and the deadline for a Medicaid appeal or fair hearing. Please also tell me whether the transition plan can be revised with new medical or occupational therapy evidence.”

Backup Help If MFP Is Not Available

If MFP is unavailable or unsuitable, check these paths:

Medicaid HCBS waiver or state-plan service: Environmental modifications may be covered even when MFP is not the funding source.
Managed long-term services and supports: A Medicaid plan may authorize home modifications through its benefit package.
State nursing-facility transition program: Some states use a different name or funding source. New York Open Doors and South Carolina Home Again are examples of state-branded transition routes.
Department of Veterans Affairs: Eligible veterans may have separate housing adaptation or home improvement benefits.
Vocational rehabilitation: A modification may be considered when it is needed for an employment goal. See vocational rehabilitation help.
Local housing or disability program: A public, tribal, or nonprofit program may offer a grant, loan, or direct repair service.
Medicare Advantage supplemental benefit: Some plans offer limited in-home supports, but Original Medicare usually does not cover permanent home modifications. See the site’s Medicare safety guide.

Use the site’s guide to find local repair programs when the Medicaid route cannot cover structural repairs or the person does not meet MFP rules.

Scam and Contractor Warnings

No company can guarantee MFP approval. Avoid anyone who charges to “unlock” Medicaid money, pushes a loan, or says work must begin before state review.

Confirm the worker and contractor with the Medicaid program.
Do not give a stranger the Medicaid number, Social Security number, bank information, or power of attorney.
Do not sign a blank contract or completion certificate.
Get the scope, payer, warranty, permit responsibility, and change-order rules in writing.
Report suspected Medicaid fraud to the state Medicaid agency or Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

A legitimate contractor may discuss costs, but the state program should explain who pays. If a contractor asks the participant to finance an approved Medicaid service, stop and call the case manager before signing.

A Short Action Plan

Tell the facility in writing that the person wants a community transition.
Ask for an MFP and Medicaid long-term care referral.
Identify the exact home and the barriers that make it unsafe.
Request a home and functional assessment before discharge.
Get the modification, payer, contractor process, and backup plan in writing.
Do not start work until written approval is issued.
Appeal quickly if the service is denied or reduced.
Use HCBS, disability, veteran, housing, or local repair programs as backup.

Common Questions

Is Money Follows the Person a home repair grant?

No. Money Follows the Person is a Medicaid transition program. A state may authorize and pay for an approved home modification as a service, but the participant normally does not receive a cash grant to spend on any repair.

How long must someone live in a facility?

The federal minimum is generally at least 60 consecutive days in a qualifying inpatient institution. The state decides whether the facility, dates, Medicaid coverage, and planned transition meet its rules.

Can MFP pay for a wheelchair ramp or bathroom modification?

Possibly. Many state programs can approve ramps, wider doors, accessible bathrooms, lifts, or other environmental changes when they are necessary for the person’s safe transition, included in the service plan, and authorized before work begins.

Can a renter or someone moving to a family home qualify?

Possibly. A qualified residence may be a leased home or a family member’s home. The state may require a lease, proof that the arrangement is stable, owner permission, and an agreement about installation, maintenance, or removal.

Is there a national income limit or maximum dollar amount?

No. There is no separate national MFP income chart or guaranteed home modification amount. State Medicaid eligibility rules, service definitions, waiver limits, individual budgets, and available funding control the decision.

Should work start before approval?

Usually no. Most programs require an assessment, written service plan, prior authorization, approved provider, and sometimes bids or permits. Work started early may not be reimbursed.

About This Guide

How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, tribal, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, and whether each option is a grant, loan, rebate, service, or referral.

Our role: HomeRepairGrants.org is an independent information website. We do not run these programs, accept applications, choose recipients, or guarantee funding or approval.

Local changes: Funding, waitlists, service areas, income limits, and application periods can change. Confirm current details with the organization that runs the program before you apply, sign papers, pay money, or start repair work.

Corrections: See something outdated or incorrect? Email info@homerepairgrants.org and include the page URL and a reliable source when possible.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information. It is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, disability-rights, contractor, or government-agency advice.

Last verified: July 28, 2026 | Next review: October 28, 2026