What is Managed Long Term Care (MLTC), and is it mandatory?
Short answer: MLTC is New York's managed-care model bundling home care, personal care, adult day health care, and nursing home care through DOH-approved plans. It has been mandatory since 2012 for dual-eligible adults 21+ needing more than 120 days of community-based long-term care.
If your family member is enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid and needs ongoing (more than 120 days) community-based long-term care in Erie or Niagara County, MLTC enrollment isn't optional — it's how New York coordinates and pays for that care going forward. Enrollment is assessed through the NY Independent Assessor Program using the state's Uniform Assessment System (UAS-NY). Available MLTC plans vary by county and change periodically as plan contracts are re-competed, so confirm which specific plans currently serve Erie or Niagara County before assuming a plan you've heard of elsewhere is available locally.
