Mi Via Waiver New Mexico: Self-Directed Services for Disabilities

What the Mi Via Waiver Actually Covers

Mi Via is New Mexico's self-directed Medicaid waiver for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and those classified as medically fragile. It runs under a traditional 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services waiver, separate from the state's managed care system.

That distinction matters because it often gets confused with the Self-Directed Community Benefit (SDCB) under Turquoise Care, which serves seniors and physically disabled adults. Same self-direction philosophy, different populations, different administrative tracks.

Under Mi Via, participants receive an individualized budget based on their assessed needs. They control that budget directly — hiring their own workers, purchasing goods and services, and managing their support plans with help from a consultant. The waiver covers personal care, homemaker services, respite, assistive technology, environmental modifications, transportation, and community integration activities.

The New Mexico Health Care Authority administers Mi Via. Palco provides financial management services, while Conduent supports the program's enrollment and forms process.

Who Qualifies for Mi Via

Eligibility requires meeting both disability and financial criteria:

Disability criteria: The applicant must have a documented intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) through the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division, or qualify as medically fragile. Mi Via does not serve seniors whose sole qualifying condition is age-related physical decline — that population goes through the Turquoise Care Community Benefit instead.

Financial criteria: Mi Via eligibility follows the Medicaid category and Mi Via waiver rules. Do not assume that the Turquoise Care Community Benefit's $2,982 income and $2,000 resource figures are the complete Mi Via test; confirm the current standards with HCA.

The allocation reality: Mi Via allocations are separate from the Community Benefit Central Registry. Enrollment depends on eligibility, available waiver funding, and federally authorized participant slots.

Mi Via vs. SDCB: The Key Differences

Both programs let participants direct their own care, but the structural differences are significant:

Population served. Mi Via is exclusively for IDD and medically fragile individuals. SDCB serves seniors (65+) and physically disabled adults who meet the nursing facility level of care standard.

Administrative structure. Mi Via operates as a standalone 1915(c) waiver. SDCB runs inside the Turquoise Care managed care system, meaning an MCO (Presbyterian, BCBS, Molina, or UnitedHealthcare) still coordinates the member's overall care even though the member self-directs their home support services.

Budget flexibility. Mi Via budgets tend to offer broader spending categories, including community integration and employment supports that SDCB does not cover. SDCB budgets focus on personal care, environmental modifications, and related goods.

Onboarding path. SDCB requires 120 days of Agency-Based Community Benefit (ABCB) before a member can elect self-direction. Mi Via has no such waiting period — once allocated and enrolled, the participant begins self-directing immediately.

Payroll processing. Palco provides financial management services for Mi Via and SDCB; Conduent supports the Mi Via and SDCB enrollment/forms process.

How to Apply

The application process starts with the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division (DDSD) if the applicant has an IDD diagnosis. For medically fragile individuals, the entry point is the HCA Medical Assistance Division.

Once the applicant is determined eligible for the waiver category, they go on the Mi Via allocation waitlist. When a slot opens, the HCA sends an allocation packet with enrollment forms and a deadline to return the completed paperwork.

After enrollment, a Mi Via consultant helps the participant develop a Service and Support Plan (SSP) and an individualized budget. The consultant is not the same role as a Turquoise Care support broker, though the function is similar.

What Families of Seniors Should Know

If your parent is 65 or older and needs home care support because of physical decline or dementia, Mi Via is almost certainly not the right program. The pathway for aging seniors in New Mexico runs through the Turquoise Care Community Benefit — either agency-based (ABCB) or self-directed (SDCB).

The exception is a senior who also has a longstanding IDD diagnosis and was already receiving Mi Via services before turning 65. In that case, they may continue on Mi Via rather than transitioning to Turquoise Care.

For families navigating the Turquoise Care system specifically, our complete New Mexico home care guide walks through every step from the ADRC intake call through SDCB enrollment and Palco payroll setup, with the exact financial thresholds and deadlines you need to meet.

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