Self-determination Guide for Parents

Funding Resources in Alaska for People with Disabilities

If your family and child require services that you cannot afford, there are several programs in Alaska that your child may be eligible for.  These funds come from state, federal or private insurance.

State Assistance

Short Term Assistance and Referral (STAR)

The STAR program assists people with developmental disabilities and their families in addressing immediate needs before a crisis occurs or to defer the need for more expensive residential services or long-term care.  Allowable costs include, but are not limited to environmental modifications, adaptive equipment,  and services that assist the family such as behavioral training, personal  care, or medical appointments. Assistance with basic living needs necessary to avert a crisis that is not covered by another public or private program such as emergency transportation and clothing may be approved  on a limited basis.

Adult Public Assistance (APA)

APA furnishes financial assistance to people who are over 65 years old or have severe and long-term disabilities with mental and physical limitations on their day-to-day functioning.  The maximum amount of payment is $364 per month.

Core Services

Core Services are limited to $3,000 per person  and  offered  to individuals  on the Developmental Disability Waitlist who receive no other services from the Division. Core Services may alleviate crisis until individuals  are in need of long-term care  and are selected off of the Waiting List

Block Grant Respite Programs

Services provided to individuals unable to care for themselves; furnished on a short-term basis because of the absence or need for relief of those persons normally providing the care.  These programs are funded entirely from the State’s General Fund.

Community-Based Grants

Individualized services for people whom do not require institutional level of care. 

MHTA Minigrants

One-time awards of up to $2,500 per person for health and safety needs not covered by grants or other programs, such as: therapeutic devices, access to medical, dental  and vision care, or special health-care needs. Adult dental care is the most frequently requested service by those who receive Mini-grant.

Federal Assistance

Supplemental Security Income

A Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes) that is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and to provide cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Medicaid -  A federal health care program for low income people, provides 50% and the state provides the other 50%. For Alaskans eligible for health care from Tribal Health Organizations, Medicaid provides 100%. The Department of Health and Social Services is Alaska’s Medicaid agency. The Division of Senior and Disability Services uses a Medicaid ‘waiver’ to provide home and community-based service to people who, if not for the waivers, would need to live in a nursing home, or, what’s called an Intermediate Care Facility for people with Mental Retardation (ICF/MR). Alaska has no ICF/MR’s, so all services are provided in the community. 

Home and Community Based Waivers

Waivers provide funding for services for people who meet much higher  standards  of care than those typically funded through other developmental disability  programs.  To be eligible under the waiver, a person must be found eligible for Medicaid, be enrolled with the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA),  and meet an institutional Level of Care. Persons  interested in waiver services should contact their regional program  specialist (RPO). Currently there is a waitlist for services under  the  MRDD waiver program

Tefra Option (50%)

TEFRA, or the “Katie Beckett” option, uses the same level of care needs and same basic eligibility standards as HCB Medicaid.  Eligible children are under 18, have disabilities, live with at least one parent, have a disability determination from the State Medical Review Team, need a level of home health care to stay at home that compares to the level of care provided in a hospital, a nursing home or an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded.  The cost for home care must not be more than the cost for care in a medical institution. Only the child’s income is counted, there is no asset limit and covers all health care services covered under Alaska’s Medicaid program but TEFRA does not pay for non-medical services

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSDT)

Federal Medicaid law requires that children enrolled in Medicaid from birth to age 21 receive regular well-child health screenings, and that screenings occur according to an approved schedule. Children are to receive age-appropriate services and tests, including a comprehensive health and developmental history, physical exam, immunizations, laboratory tests and health education. Under EPSDT, Medicaid-enrolled children are also entitled to hearing, dental and vision services, including eyeglasses, and any other covered medical, diagnostic or treatment service required to correct or ameliorate a physical or mental condition discovered in an EPSDT screen. This is required even if the services are not otherwise covered in the state Medicaid plan.

Private Insurance

Insurance companies will reimburse for services such as general medical, and services such as physical, speech, occupational therapies, and psychological or psychiatric treatment, but they rarely reimburse for community based support.  The exception may be if the developmental disability is a result of a traumatic injury.  More likely, those costs will be born by the family, if they have the means.

Federal DD System flowchart

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