Programs
New Mexico
TBI Lead Agency
Dept. of Aging and Long-term Services
Elderly and Disability Services Division
2550 Cerrillos Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Scott Pokorny
Brain Injury Services Program Manager
505-476-4782
866-451-4836 (Fax
Service Delivery
In New Mexico the Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is the Lead Agency that provides short-term services to clients of all ages through the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program that is funded from a State trust fund and other State general funds. The program serves about 550 persons a year.
To qualify for the TBI Program an individual must be a resident of New Mexico and have a medically documented TBI including an ICD 9 code. Recipients do not have to meet income eligibility requirements, however the program is a payer of last resort. It provides TBI-specific services including: case management, life skills training, and crisis interim services. Individuals that are receiving services from other payer sources such as the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Medicaid Waiver and the Disabled and Elderly Medicaid Waiver may also receive unique TBI services, not available within their other service programs. The TBI Program service lifetime maximum per person is $75,000 and no more than $25,000 in any given year.
Initial applications, intake, and program services are coordinated through ALTSD-contracted TBI case management agencies throughout the State. Case managers are responsible for oversight of all aspects of the program's regional services; determine eligibility, establish an independent living plan (ILP), identify and obtain alternate payer source services from other programs; make referrals to TBI Program life skills training agencies and arrange crisis interim services with a fiscal intermediary. Needs of the clients are reassessed every 90 days to determine ongoing unfilled needs. Services may last as little as three months or as long as years. Client cases are not closed until a person either moves out of State or dies, but may be given an inactive status once goals have been met, until new unmet needs arise.
TBI Program life skills trainers coach individuals in household management; nutrition; personal grooming, and hygiene; health maintenance; access to public services; money, time, and anger management; memory prompting; safety and social skills and other skills not listed which are determined by the client's needs that will allow them live in their community. Coaches also work with family and other support systems. They train these caregivers in ways to offer ongoing assistance that promote client independence.
Crisis iInterim services (CI) are provided to protect individuals from imminent risk to their health and safety and are intended to fill needs during a crisis and/or interim period. Services may include: special equipment that cannot be paid for by any other program and are necessary because of the individual's TBI (a physician's order is usually required); technology assessments; one-time-only initial housing costs for rent and startup utilities; environmental modification; retrofitting an automobile; homecare which may include homemakers, aides and nurses whose services are not covered by other payer sources; transportation to receive medical care; respite care for the primary caregiver; physical, occupational, speech and approved alternative therapy services (such as acupuncture), prescription medications to treat the TBI; and health insurance deductibles. The program most frequently pays for prescriptions and homemakers. CI may also include other client-unique services and or goods with prior approval from the TBI Program.
Find out more information on this State's services in its current profile by clicking here. [PDF 50KB]. You can also order a hardcopy of our latest "Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services" for profiles of all States and much more.
HRSA-Funded Projects
New Mexico was awarded a HRSA three-year Implementation Grant in 2001. The grant focused on: (1) measuring the efficacy of New Mexico's' TBI life skills training and case management service delivery systems; (2) developing a leadership training curriculum that is multi-faceted and culturally competent to teach individuals with brain injury, family members, and professionals how to work effectively within systems; and (3) to educate and support family members, individuals with TBI, and professionals about accessing available services in New Mexico through a family resource manual with emphasis on non-English speaking populations.
Find more information on this State's project in its current grant profile.
Promising Practices
Crisis Services and Life Skills Training are available statewide.
Click here for a summary of the State's Brain Injury Training Portfolio
