Evaluation of the Cash and Counseling

Proposed Project: Evaluation of the Cash and Counseling Demonstration--OMB No. 0990-0223--Reinstatement with Changes--Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). Abstract: The original evaluation of the national Cash and Counseling Demonstration was intended to include three groups: self-directing consumers, a control group, and non-participants. When funding was not available to survey all groups, the non-participant sample was removed. The subsequent evaluations showed that self-directing consumers were more satisfied with their supportive services, reported fewer unmet needs, and enjoyed greater well-being than other Medicaid programs. Still, despite these apparent benefits, relatively few of the beneficiaries who were eligible to participate in Cash and Counseling demonstrations elected to do so (8 to 15 percent). Since that time, the Cash and Counseling program has been expanded under the 1915(j)(2) Section of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and beginning January 1, 2007, states were permitted to offer the program to Medicaid recipients without demonstrating budget neutrality and without a requirement for periodic renewal of the state plan amendment as required for ``1115'' or ``1915'' (c) waivers. This study involves drawing a sample from Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey who are eligible to enroll in the state's Cash and Counseling program. The qualifications for enrollment have not changed since the original research. This study will include only individuals who did not enroll (non-participants) who will be compared to those who did enroll (and about whom data were collected) during the original demonstration/evaluation data collection as well as those who have enrolled since (about whom the state of New Jersey collects descriptive data for Medicaid program administrative purposes). The government will conduct 600 one-time telephone interviews over a three-month period. The survey includes questions asked in the original evaluation of the Cash and Counseling demonstration surveys, as well as original questions designed to measure factors related to nonparticipation. These questions will allow comparisons between participants and non-participants of the Cash and Counseling demonstration.