Home Modification and Assistive Technology Initiative (HMAT)

The Home Modification and Assistive Technology Initiative (HMAT) is funded through the Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) as part of its efforts to rebalance the portion of Medicaid-funded services provided to participants in their own homes instead of institutional settings. Targeted participants are seniors and people with disabilities that are served by OLTL programs.

The goals of HMAT are to increase the number of participants who are living safely and independently in their homes; improve quality and quantity of the home modifications and the use of appropriate assistive technology across PA; and, maximize the financial and technical resources available for home modifications in order to contain costs in Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).

Activities include:

• The Home Modification Construction Officer (HMCO) Pilot Grant. This competitive grant supports service coordination organizations in developing the business relationships that they need to provide their consumers with HMAT services. The resulting partnerships provide design, contracting, construction management, and potentially, vendor payment assistance to the service coordination entities so that their consumers receive useful, cost-effective HMAT services that help them live independently and safely in their homes and communities.
• Service Coordination, Management, and HMCO Training. The trainings explain how HMAT services can help consumers meet their Service Plan goals as independently and safely as possible; what OLTL looks for when reviewing HMAT service requests; and what skills service coordination entities need to access to provide HMAT successfully. These trainings are delivered through the Long Term Living Training Institute.
• Technical assistance to OLTL regarding HMAT policy development and limited direct assistance to service coordinators submitting challenging housing and HMAT service requests to OLTL.

If you are a Service Provider or Area Agency on Aging representative interested in learning more about other PHFA-OLTL partnership programs, such as the Regional Housing Coordinator and Rental Assistance programs, please view the Housing Services Web page.