The VNS CHOICE Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) program is for older adults who wish to live at home but need assistance with day-to-day activities. The program is designed to provide each member with the very best possible care. We encourage members to take an active part in their own health care, and we offer many choices of services and locations.

If you choose to join VNS CHOICE MLTC, a Care Manager (a nurse or social worker) will work closely with you, your family, and your physician to:

• Understand your needs;
• Develop a Plan of Care, including all the medical services you need;
• Visit you in your home to provide care and monitor your health;
• Coordinate all of your health care services, to be sure that everyone is working together to provide you with the best care, and ensure that you receive all your long term care and health-related services—home, community, and facility-based services—through VNS CHOICE MLTC. 

A program of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, VNS CHOICE MLTC has been serving residents of New York since 1998 and is funded by Medicaid through a contract with the New York State Department of Health.

"What are the advantages of joining this program?"

As a member of VNS CHOICE MLTC, you will work with your own Care Manager to develop a plan of services designed especially for you. Your Care Manager will talk with you, offer professional advice, and arrange all the long term care services you need. VNS CHOICE MLTC is more flexible than many other long term care programs, offering you a greater selection of how and where to get the help you need. With more than 100 years of experience caring for people at home, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York is uniquely qualified to offer this program. You not only get more choices, but the expertise of our staff to help you make the best choices.

"What are the benefits and services provided by VNS CHOICE MLTC?"

All of the Medicaid long term care and other health-related services that you need are provided through VNS CHOICE MLTC. One call connects you to all the services of the program that are medically necessary. Your Care Manager will work with you, your doctor, and your family, to develop a Plan of Care that uses services to best meet your individual needs.

Covered services include:

• Professional Nursing
• Care Coordination
• 24-Hour-a-Day, 7-Day-a-Week On-Call Services
• Home Health Care—Nursing, Home Health Aides, Rehabilitation Therapies and Medical Social Work
• Rehabilitation Therapies (Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy) provided in Settings Other Than Home
• Personal Care
• Chore Service and Housekeeping
• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
• Scheduled Transportation to Health-related Appointments
• Home-Delivered Meals
• Nutritional Counseling and Nutritional Supplements
• Adult Day Health Care or Social Adult Day Care
• Medical Equipment
• Medical and Surgical Supplies
• Respiratory Therapy and Oxygen
• Home Safety Modifications/Improvements
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Dental Care
• Eye Exams and Glasses
• Foot Care
• Hearing Exams and Hearing Aids (including hearing aid batteries)
• Nursing Home Care (certain Medicaid restrictions may apply)

"Who provides the services?"

All services of VNS CHOICE MLTC are provided by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the carefully chosen, reliable providers of the VNS CHOICE MLTC provider network. As a member, you will have a choice of providers in your neighborhood. To obtain a list of our VNS CHOICE MLTC provider network, call us at 1-888-VNS-6555 or 1-212-609-5600.

If you are currently receiving services from someone who is not a part of our network, we will coordinate any changes that need to be made so that you continue to receive the care you need.

"Can I continue to use my own doctor?"

Yes. With VNS CHOICE MLTC, you choose your own doctor. Your Care Manager will work along with your doctor and other providers to coordinate all your health care needs. If you need help finding a doctor, we can help you locate a qualified physician in your neighborhood.

"How does membership in VNS CHOICE MLTC affect my health coverage?"

Membership in VNS CHOICE MLTC does not change your coverage for important medical benefits—including your doctor visits, hospitalizations, emergency room care, ambulance, prescription drug coverage, and others. If you have Medicare, you will continue to be covered by Medicare for these services. Members who use their Medicaid cards when receiving these services will also continue to do so. Your Nurse Consultant can make it easier for you by helping to obtain and coordinate these benefits with your VNS CHOICE MLTC services. And she will work closely with your physician to be sure that all the services you receive can meet your specific needs.

"How do I know if I am eligible to join?"

You may be eligible to join VNS CHOICE MLTC if you meet all the guidelines:

• You are at least 65 years old
• You are Medicaid eligible
• You are eligible for nursing home care but choose to remain at home with assistance at the time of enrollment. A VNS CHOICE Care Manager will assess your needs to determine if you need ongoing help with activities such as bathing, dressing, walking, or preparing food
• You will require long term care services for at least four months, as determined by the Nurse's assessment
• You reside in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island
• Your health care needs can be safely met in your home

"How do I become a member of VNS CHOICE MLTC?"

Membership in VNS CHOICE MLTC is voluntary. You always have a choice: you chose to enroll in the program and you may choose to end your enrollment at any time. If you are interested in becoming a member, the steps to enroll are as follows:

Step One: Call us at 1-888-VNS-6555 or 1-212-609-5600. We will talk with you by phone and answer any questions you have about the program.

Step Two: If you are interested in the program, a VNS CHOICE Care Manager will come to your home at a time that is convenient for you. During this visit, the Care Manager will begin to determine your needs, talk more about how the program can help you, and provide you with written materials that describe how the program works.

Step Three: If you are eligible and choose to enroll, your membership usually becomes effective on the first day of the month after your application is completed. This process could take 3 to 7 weeks. Be assured that if you need home care services during the enrollment period, we can provide them through our home care agency.