It's the assessment DHS uses to determine whether someone is functionally eligible for Family Care, IRIS, or other long-term-care Medicaid programs, administered through the local ADRC as part of the enrollment process.
The detail behind the program
The functional screen looks at a person's ability to perform daily activities and their care needs, independent of their financial situation -- financial eligibility is assessed separately. Passing the functional screen doesn't automatically mean someone is financially eligible for Medicaid long-term-care programs, and vice versa; both pieces have to line up. If your loved one is being screened for the first time, ask the ADRC representative to walk through exactly what's being assessed and what happens if the result doesn't support the level of Family Care or IRIS services the family expected, since there may be an appeal or reassessment process worth understanding in advance rather than after a disappointing result.
