Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)

Program Code

The Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) program code is 3910100.

Program Description

MSSP provides both social and health care management services to assist frail individuals aged 65 or older to remain in their own homes and communities. To be eligible for MSSP, these individuals must meet the criteria for skilled nursing facility care. The Program’s goal is to prevent or delay institutionalization through ongoing care management, using available community services and resources, and purchasing needed services when they are not already available. The total annual combined cost of care management and other services must be lower than the cost of receiving skilled nursing facility care.

MSSP operates under a Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that has been approved by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The current waiver extends from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2024. The California Department of Aging (CDA) administers MSSP under an interagency agreement with the Department of Health Care Services. CDA’s MSSP Branch oversees the programmatic, fiscal, and service components of local MSSP site operations.

Under California’s Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI), most Medi-Cal beneficiaries in CCI counties must be enrolled in a participating Medi-Cal managed care health plan to receive their Medi-Cal benefits, including MSSP. MSSP sites that provide waiver services in a CCI county have entered into agreements with participating managed care health plans to deliver MSSP waiver services to eligible plan members. MSSP sites serving non-CCI counties deliver MSSP services as a Medi-Cal fee-for-service benefit. The CCI was previously scheduled to transition MSSP to a managed care benefit effective January 1, 2023; however, effective January 1, 2021 MSSP will no longer be transitioned to managed care and will be carved out of CCI. MSSP will operate as a waiver benefit in all CCI demonstration counties, as it did prior to the implementation of CCI in 2014.

Program Benefits

A team of health and social service professionals provides each MSSP participant with a complete health and psychosocial assessment to determine needed services. The team then works with the MSSP participant, their physician, family, and others to develop an individualized care plan.

Services include but are not limited to: care management; adult day care; minor home repair/maintenance; supplemental in-home chore, personal care and protective supervision services; respite services; transportation services; counseling and therapeutic services; meal services; and communication services.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Requirement
Age

Individuals age 65 or older

Income

Currently eligible for Medi-Cal under a qualifying primary Medi-Cal aid code

Other
  • Medi-Cal beneficiaries certified or certifiable for placement in a skilled nursing facility
  • Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in a CCI demonstration county must be enrolled in a participating Medi-Cal managed care health plan, unless the individual lives outside the managed care health plan’s covered service area, is awaiting enrollment into a managed care health plan, or is exempt from managed care health plan enrollment

Program Funding

Funding Type Funding Information
Source
  • Social Security Act Title XIX Medicaid federal funds
  • State General Fund (GF)
Allocation Formula

Not applicable

Match Requirements

50 percent State General Fund

Other

The California Legislature approved a one-time appropriation, spread over a three-year period, to allow for a rate increase for MSSP Care Management and Care Management Support services, effective July 1, 2019. FY 2019-20, FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 are impacted by this increase in funding.

Cycle

July 1 - June 30

Program Fact Sheets - Statewide

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Program Fact Sheets - Local Level

PSA Fact Sheets

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Program Narratives