This page provides basic information about being certified as a Medicare and/or Medicaid Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICFs/MR) provider and includes links to applicable laws, regulations, and compliance information.    

The ICF/MR benefit is an optional Medicaid benefit.  The Social Security Act created this benefit to fund "institutions" (4 or more beds) for people with mental retardation, and specifies that these institutions must provide "active treatment," as defined by the Secretary. Currently, all 50 States have at least one ICF/MR facility. This program serves approximately 129,000 people with mental retardation and other related conditions. Most have other disabilities as well as mental retardation. Many of the individuals are non-ambulatory, have seizure disorders, behavior problems, mental illness, visual or hearing impairments, or a combination of the above. All must qualify for Medicaid assistance financially.

Since the implementation of the current regulations in 1988, there has been a major shift in thinking in the field of developmental disabilities.  Emphasis is now on people living in their own homes, controlling their own lives and being an integral part of their home community. CMS recognized that the current 1988 ICF/MR regulations and survey process needed to be updated and therefore, undertook several major tasks in this program. This web site includes current CMS initiatives for the ICF/MR program.

Downloads
ICFMR Background (PDF, 25KB) ICFMR Glossary (PDF, 41KB) ICFMR Organizations (PDF, 9KB) ICFMR Trends (PDF, 21KB)
Related Links Inside CMS
State Operations Manual, Chapter 1, Section 1018J State Operations Manual, Chapter 2, Section 2130-2141, 2716, 2728, 2736 Guidance for Laws and Regulations for ICFs/MR Survey and Certification General Enforcement Information
Related Links Outside CMS
Section 1905(a)(15) and (d) of the Social Security Act   Section 1902(a)(33) and (i)(1) of the Social Security Act   Section 1922 of the Social Security Act   42 CFR 435.1009   42 CFR 440.150 and 440.220   42 CFR 442.118-119   42 CFR 483.400-480   42 CFR 498.3-5

Page Last Modified: 05/31/2006 2:00:00 PM
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