Overview of the Centennial Care Community Benefit Program
New Mexico’s Community Benefit Program, often called Community Benefit (CB), provides home and community based services and supports for state residents who are elderly or disabled. Intended to prevent and delay the need for institutionalization (nursing home admission), a variety of long-term benefits are available to assist persons in living outside of this setting. This includes assistance with daily living activities, adult day health care, home modifications for safety and accessibility, respite care, and transitional services to assist persons currently residing in nursing home facilities in transitioning back into the community.
Program participants can reside in one’s home, the home of a loved one, or an assisted living facility. It is thought that persons cannot reside in adult foster care homes.
In addition to long-term care, Community Benefit program participants receive medical, vision, dental, and behavioral health benefits via a single Medicaid plan provided by a managed care organization (MCO). This is essentially a private healthcare company with its own network of care providers, though which program participants receive services. There are four available MCOs from which to choose.
There is some flexibility of providers for persons receiving Community Benefit. In addition to the agency-directed community benefit (ADCB), program participants have the option of self-directed community benefit (SDCB). Rather than receive services by the MCO’s network of licensed care providers, a program participant can direct and control their own services. This includes the ability to hire their own caregiver, including relatives, such as an adult child or a spouse with the approval of the MCO. A financial management services agency handles the financial aspects of employment responsibilities, such as tax withholding and caregiver payments. Community Benefit program participants must initially enroll in ADCB, but can switch to SDCB after 120 days.
Community Benefit is not necessarily an entitlement; meeting the eligibility criteria does not mean one will immediately receive program benefits. Instead, the number of participant slots may be limited, and when these slots are full, a waiting list called the Central Registry forms.
New Mexico previously had a 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver called CoLTS (Coordinated Long Term Services), initially called the Disabled and Elderly Waiver, through which home and community based services were provided for seniors and disabled state residents. In January of 2014, the CoLTS program ended, as did the state’s Personal Care Options (PCO) program. However, the available services and supports were absorbed into the state’s managed care program as the Community Benefit (In-Home and Community Based Supports), which operates via an 1115 Demonstration Waiver called New Mexico Turquoise Care, formerly called Centennial Care 2.0. New Mexico’s Medicaid managed care program is called Turquoise Care (eff. 7/1/24). Previously, it was called Centennial Care.
Benefits of the Community Benefit Program
Follows is a list of potential home and community based services available via Community Benefit. An individualized service plan determines which services and supports a program participant receives. An asterisk indicates the benefits that can be self-directed.
– Adult Day Health Care
– Assisted Living Services
– Behavior Support Consultation*
– Community Transition Services – assists persons with transitioning from a nursing home to a private home
– Customized Community Supports* – community day programs for persons to participate in activities and socialization (limited to persons self-directing their care)
– Emergency Response Services*
– Employment Supports*
– Home Health Aide*
– Home Modifications / Environmental Modifications*
– Non-Medical Transportation* – limited to persons self-directing their care
– Nutritional Counseling*
– Personal Care Assistance*
– Private Duty Nursing*
– Related Goods* – supplies and equipment not covered by Medicaid (limited to persons self-directing their care)
– Respite Care* – includes nursing respite to give a primary caregiver a break
– Skilled Maintenance Therapies* – occupational, speech and language, and physical
– Specialized Therapies* – limited to persons self-directing their care (i.e., acupuncture, chiropractic, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, massage)
– Start-Up Goods* – limited to persons self-directing their care
While services and supports can be provided in assisted living residences, the cost of room and board is not covered by NM Medicaid / Turquoise Care.
Eligibility Requirements for Centennial Care Community Benefit Program
The CB Program is for New Mexico residents who are elderly (aged 65+) or disabled and between the ages of 0 and 64. Persons who are disabled and over the age of 64 can receive program benefits under the aged (65+) category. Additional eligibility criteria relevant to seniors follows.
Financial Criteria: Income, Assets & Home Ownership
Income
There are two pathways through which an applicant can be financially eligible for the CB Program. The first is through “full coverage” Medicaid, which is State Plan Medicaid. In 2024, a single senior applicant can have income up to $943 / month, and a married senior couple, regardless of if one or both spouses are applicants, can have up to $1,415 / month.
If an applicant’s income is too high to qualify for “full coverage” Medicaid, they can potentially qualify instead through the “waiver” program. The applicant income limit via this pathway is equivalent to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which increases annually in January. In 2024, an applicant, regardless of marital status, can have a monthly income up to $2,829. When both spouses are applicants, each spouse is considered individually, with each spouse allowed income up to $2,829 / month. When only one spouse is an applicant, the income of the non-applicant spouse is not counted towards the income eligibility of their spouse. Furthermore, monthly income from the applicant spouse can be transferred to the non-applicant spouse as a Spousal Income Allowance, also called a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance.
New Mexico has set a minimum Spousal Income Allowance of $2,555 / month (eff. July 2024 – June 2025). This allows an applicant spouse to supplement their non-applicant spouse’s monthly income, bringing their income up to this amount. The state also sets a maximum income allowance, which in 2024, is $3,853.50 / month. While this potentially allows a non-applicant spouse a higher income allowance, the exact amount one can receive is dependent on their shelter and utility costs. However, a Spousal Income Allowance can never push a non-applicant’s total monthly income over $3,853.50.
Assets
For “full coverage” Medicaid, the asset limit for a single senior in 2024 is $2,000, and for a married couple, regardless of if one or both spouses are applicants, is $3,000. Medicaid considers the assets of a married couple to be jointly owned.
For the Medicaid “waiver” program, the asset limit in 2024 is $2,000 for a single applicant. For married couples, with both spouses as applicants, the asset limit is $4,000. When only one spouse is an applicant, the applicant spouse is allowed up to $2,000 in assets and the non-applicant spouse is allocated a larger portion of the couple’s assets as a Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) to prevent spousal impoverishment.
In 2024, the CSRA allows the non-applicant spouse to keep 50% of the couple’s assets, up to $154,140. If 50% of the couple’s assets falls under $31,290, the non-applicant spouse can keep all of the couple’s assets, up to $31,290.
Some assets are not counted towards Medicaid’s asset limit. These generally include an applicant’s primary home, household furnishings and appliances, personal effects, and a vehicle.
Assets should not be given away or sold under fair market value within 60-months of long-term care Medicaid application. Medicaid has a Look-Back Rule and violating it results in a Penalty Period of Medicaid ineligibility.
Home Ownership
The home is often the highest valued asset a Medicaid applicant owns, and many persons worry that Medicaid will take it. For eligibility purposes, New Mexico Medicaid considers the home exempt (non-countable) in the following circumstances.
– The applicant lives in the home or has Intent to Return, and in 2024, their home equity interest is no greater than $713,000. Home equity is the current value of the home minus any outstanding mortgage. Equity interest is the portion of the home’s equity value that is owned by the applicant.
– The applicant has a spouse living in the home.
– The applicant has a minor child living in the home.
– The applicant has a disabled adult child living in the home.
While the home is likely exempt while one is receiving Medicaid benefits, it may not be safe from Medicaid’s Estate Recovery Program. Learn more about the potential of Medicaid taking the home.
Medical Criteria: Functional Need
An applicant must require a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC) to be eligible for the Community Benefit Program. A functional assessment is completed and one must be determined as needing assistance with 2 or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). ADLs include bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility, and transitioning. While persons with Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body, Multi-Infarct, and other types of dementia may warrant a NFLOC, a diagnosis of dementia in and of itself does not mean one will automatically meet a NFLOC.
Qualifying When Over the Limits
Having income and / or assets over Medicaid’s limit(s) does not mean an applicant cannot still qualify for Medicaid. There are a variety of planning strategies that can be used to help persons who would otherwise be ineligible to become eligible. Some of these strategies are fairly easy to implement, and others, exceedingly complex. Below are the most common.
When persons have income over the limits, Miller Trusts, specifically called Income Diversion Trusts in NM, can help. “Excess” income is deposited into the trust, no longer counting as income.
When persons have assets over the limits, one option is to “spend down” assets. Examples include paying off debt, making home modifications, and purchasing pre-paid funeral and burial expense trusts called Irrevocable Funeral Trusts. Another option are Medicaid-Compliant Annuities, which turn countable assets into a stream of income. There are many other options when the applicant has assets exceeding the limit.
Inadequate planning or improperly implementing a Medicaid planning strategy can result in a denial or delay of Medicaid benefits. Professional Medicaid Planners are educated in the planning strategies available in New Mexico to meet Medicaid’s financial eligibility criteria without jeopardizing Medicaid eligibility. Furthermore, there are additional planning strategies that not only help one meet Medicaid’s financial criteria, but can also protect assets from Medicaid’s Estate Recovery Program. These strategies often violate Medicaid’s 60-month Look-Back Rule, and therefore, should be implemented well in advance of the need for long-term care. However, there are some workarounds, and Medicaid Planners are aware of them. For these reasons, it is highly suggested one consult a Medicaid Planner for assistance in qualifying for Medicaid when over the income and / or asset limit(s). Find a Medicaid Planner.
How to Apply for the Centennial Care Community Benefit Program
Before You Apply
Prior to applying for the CB Program, applicants need to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Applying when over the income and / or asset limit(s) will be cause for denial of benefits. The American Council on Aging offers a Medicaid Eligibility Test to determine if one might meet Medicaid’s eligibility criteria.
As part of the application process, applicants will need to gather documentation for submission. Examples include copies of Social Security cards, Medicare cards, life insurance policies, property deeds, pre-need burial contracts, bank statements up to 60-months prior to application, and proof of income. A common reason applications are delayed is required documentation is missing or not submitted in a timely manner.
Since the Community Benefit Program is not necessarily an entitlement program, there may be a waiting list (Central Registry) for program participation. This waitlist is only for persons who qualify financially for CB through the “waiver” pathway. Currently, approximately 7,789 persons per year can be served via this portion of the program. In the case of a Central Registry, priority is given to some individuals, such as those currently residing in a nursing home who wish to return home and those with the highest medical needs.
Application Process
To apply for the Community Benefit Program, one must be eligible for NM Medicaid / Centennial Care. Persons can apply online at YesNM or by calling the Consolidated Customer Service Center at 800-283-4465. Alternatively, a Medicaid Application can be found towards the bottom of this page and downloaded or one can get an application from their Income Support Division (ISD) field office.
Persons who are already enrolled in Medicaid and receive their benefits via a Managed Care Organization (MCO) should contact their care coordinator or current MCO to request a functional needs assessment and begin the process of applying for Community Benefit. Medicaid-enrolled persons who do not currently receive their benefits via a MCO, should call 800-283-4465 to first enroll in a MCO. See contact information for Centennial Care MCOs.
Persons can also call the Aging & Disability Resource Center at 800-432-2080. More on the Community Benefit.
The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) administers the Community Benefit Program. Financial eligibility is determined by the HCA’s Income Support Division (ISD). Functional eligibility is determined by one’s Managed Care Organization (MCO).
Approval Process & Timing
The Medicaid application process can take up to 3 months, or even longer, from the beginning of the application process through the receipt of the determination letter indicating approval or denial. Generally, it takes one several weeks to complete the application and gather all of the supportive documentation. If the application is not properly completed, or required documentation is missing, the application process will be delayed. Based on federal law, Medicaid offices have up to 45 days to review and approve or deny one’s application (up to 90 days for disability applications). Despite the law, applications are sometimes delayed even further. Furthermore, as a Central Registry (waiting list) may exist, approved applicants may spend many months waiting to receive benefits.