CAP-MR/DD

About
CAP-MR/DD, often called just "CAP" or "CAP services", stands for "Community Alternatives Program for persons with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities". The NC MHDDSAS describes it thusly: The Community Alternatives Program for Persons with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (CAP-MR/DD) is a special Medicaid program started in 1983 to serve individuals who would otherwise require care in an intermediate care facility for people with the mental retardation/developmental disabilities (ICF/MR). It allows these individuals the opportunity to be served in the community instead of residing in an institutional or group home setting.

CAP-MR/DD operates under a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver granted by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). HCFA approves the services, the number of individuals that may participate, and other aspects of the program. The participants must be at risk of institutionalization. The Medicaid cost for community care must be cost effective in comparison to the cost of ICF/MR care.

The CAP-MR/DD program is administered by the Best Practice and Community Innovations Team in the Community Policy Management Section of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. The Local Management Entities are responsible for operation at the local level. The Division of Medical Assistance, as the State Medicaid Agency, provides oversight in relation to Medicaid and waiver issues.

Tiers
On 2008-11-01, the CAP waver was divided into two tiers, "Comprehensive" and "Supports". "Comprehensive" is apparently equivalent to the old-style unified CAP waiver, and includes some additional services not covered by "Supports" (most notably "residential supports").

News

 * 2009-11-19 Allocation of Additional CAP-MR/DD Slots: after over a year of being frozen, some CAP Supports slots are finally released
 * 2009-03-20 Governor Perdue's Budget Fulfills Promise to People and Families with Developmental Disabilities &ldquo;If the legislature were to adopt the Governor’s 2009-10 budget recommendations community Mental Health, Developmental Disability, and Substance Abuse Services funded by state funds would receive no reductions. Additionally the funding for Tier 1 Community Alternatives Program slots that have been frozen this year would be released.&rdquo;
 * 2006-05-10 Changes to billing procedures for Speech and OT if you have CAP

Reference

 * NC MHDDSAS: CAP-MR/DD (NC MHDDSAS): includes the official CAP-MR/DD Manual as a PDF
 * WakeGOV.com - CAP-MR/DD Program
 * The Service System for People with Developmental Disabilities in North Carolina (The Arc of NC) explains about the various type of CAP and how things fit together
 * Adult Medicaid Manual MA-2280-COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (CAP)