MassHealth Moving Forward Plan Community Living (MFP-CL) Waiver
The Moving Forward Plan Community Living (MFP-CL) Waiver helps people who have lived in a nursing facility or certain hospitals for at least 90 days move back to a home of their own or a family home and receive services there. For the wider picture, see our Massachusetts Long-Term Care Medicaid guide.
Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of program | Program for people moving out of a nursing home |
| Who runs it | MassHealth |
| Age | 65 and older, or 18 and older with a disability |
| Care need | Facility level of care |
| Massachusetts 2026 income rule (long-term care) | Home care waivers: under $2,982 a month (300% of the SSI rate) |
| Massachusetts 2026 asset limit (single applicant) | $2,000 |
| Waiting list | Can be limited |
MFP-CL in brief
To sum up, MassHealth oversees MFP-CL. Its target group is 65 and older, or 18 and older with a disability; on care need, the rule is: Facility level of care. As for waiting: Can be limited. More detail on each point follows, and the Massachusetts state guide covers the shared financial rules. Other Massachusetts programs, and general guides on care at home, are linked at the end of this page for comparison with MFP-CL.
What the program is
MFP-CL is for people leaving a nursing facility or long-stay hospital who can live in their own home or apartment, or in someone else’s home, with less than 24-hour support. A transition coordinator and waiver case manager help plan the move, arrange services, and set up supports such as home changes before the participant moves. Participants can also receive regular MassHealth services such as PCA.
MFP-CL exists to help nursing facility residents return to the community with support in place. They are often paired with the federal Money Follows the Person program, which helps with set-up costs.
Who qualifies in 2026
A person generally must meet all of these conditions:
- Has been in a nursing facility or chronic disease, rehabilitation or psychiatric hospital for at least 90 days
- Is 65 or older, or 18 or older with a disability
- Meets facility level of care
- Qualifies for full Medicaid under Massachusetts’s long-term care financial rules (see the money test below)
- Can be safely served in the community
The money test. MFP-CL requires full Medicaid eligibility under Massachusetts’s long-term care financial rules. Figures shown above are the 2026 Massachusetts long-term care limits from our state guide. The home (up to the equity limit, when the person or a spouse lives there or plans to return), one vehicle, belongings and a small burial fund are generally not counted by MassHealth. Married couples get extra protection in Massachusetts: the spouse at home keeps a share of assets and may get some of the applicant’s income. See Spousal impoverishment rules.
What the care test means in practice. MassHealth’s assessment covers daily activities, from bathing and dressing to toileting and medications, plus memory and safety. For MFP-CL, an assessor, usually a nurse or social worker, visits the person at home, in the hospital or in the facility. Families should describe the worst days honestly and bring a list of conditions and medicines. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.
What services it can pay for
What a participant receives under MFP-CL follows the care plan. Possible services include:
- Case management
- Personal care
- Homemaker
- Respite
- Transportation
- Home accessibility
- Transition help
The menu is broad, but the plan is built from need, and unpaid family help is factored in. If needs change, ask for a new assessment.
How to apply
Applying usually involves two decisions: one about money (financial eligibility for Medicaid) and one about care needs. In plain terms, the steps are:
- Tell the facility social worker the person wants to move home under MFP.
- Apply for the waiver.
- Complete an assessment.
Before contacting MassHealth, see Applying for a waiver and the documents checklist for what to gather.
Waiting lists
MFP waivers have a set number of slots. When they are full, eligible applicants may wait.
More on how lists work: Waiver waiting lists.
How it relates to nursing home Medicaid
MFP-CL is a path out of a nursing facility or long-stay hospital. It uses the facility level of care and MassHealth waiver financial rules. A person who moves home and later needs a nursing home again can return to nursing home MassHealth.
What is the same as nursing home Medicaid. Massachusetts’s financial rules for MFP-CL track the nursing home rules closely. The five-year look-back for gifts generally applies, so a gift or transfer for less than fair value can cause a period when Medicaid will not pay for long-term care services. MassHealth can also use estate recovery to seek repayment for long-term care services received after 55. People who keep income above a set allowance may have to pay part of it toward their care each month.
Personal needs allowance. If the person does move to a nursing home, Massachusetts’s 2026 personal needs allowance is $72.80 a month. Most of the rest of their income goes toward the cost of care. Details are in our state guide.
Tips for families
- Start early. If there is a waiting list or a slow assessment, the clock usually starts when you ask, not when the crisis comes.
- Keep copies of every MFP-CL form, notice and letter, and write down the name of each person you speak with and the date.
- Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
- Report changes promptly, including income, assets, a move or a new living arrangement.
- Mark renewal dates. Eligibility and the care plan are usually reviewed annually; see Renewals.
- Protect a spouse at home. Spousal protections must be claimed; a certified Medicaid planner or legal aid office can explain them for your family.
Common questions
How long must I have been in a facility? At least 90 days in a nursing facility or a chronic disease, rehabilitation or psychiatric hospital.
Can I move in with family? Yes. MFP-CL can serve people living in another person’s home.
What if I need 24-hour support? See the MFP Residential Supports Waiver.
Related pages
- Massachusetts Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
- MassHealth MFP-RS
- Money Follows the Person
- Three kinds of Long-Term Care Medicaid
- PACE programs
Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.