Shayne Nagel, right, comforts her daughter, Erin, who has autism. Erin lived at a state-run residential center for two years before moving into a triplex in the community with assistance from Washington state's Money Follows the Person program. (Bettina Hansen/The Seattle Times/TNS)

A proposal is before the U.S. Senate to reauthorize Money Follows the Person indefinitely and fund it for the next 10 years. The Medicaid program gives states funding to pay for employment supports, housing and other services so that people with disabilities can transition from nursing homes and other institutional facilities to homes in the community.