Medicaid Consumer-Directed Home Care Waivers State by State Guide

Directory of Medicaid HCBS waivers with a focus on Medicaid consumer-directed home care.
As a person with a disability who is living independently, traveling and thriving thanks to Medicaid consumer-directed home care services, many people ask me, “What Medicaid personal care attendant programs are available in my state?” Unfortunately, this information isn’t always easy to find, so I’ve compiled a list of national and state resources on Medicaid waiver home and community-based services.
 
I’ve chosen to focus this directory on Medicaid consumer-directed services rather than agency-based Medicaid home care because I believe self-directed waiver programs offer the best path to independent living and gaining control over your own life as a person with a disability. With consumer-directed (also known as self-directed) programs, you choose, hire and if necessary fire your own personal care attendants, home health aides, nurses and/or other kinds of caregivers, while the state Medicaid waiver program pays their wages. You can hire a friend or family member to be your caregiver; in some states, parents can be paid to care for their minor or adult child with a disability.
 
Consumer-directed Medicaid home care is not just for people with physical disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities or memory loss can still use consumer-directed programs with a loved one serving as an authorized representative to help them manage their home care.
 
To get the most out of Medicaid consumer-directed home and community-based services, it’s important to understand what services are covered, how many hours of home care you can get, and how to advocate for yourself when applying for services and interacting with caseworkers. Some programs are better than others, and some states have waiting lists so long, you may wish to consider moving. So before you apply, please check out my article How to Get Medicaid Personal Care Attendant Services If You Have a Disability.
 
This page represents hours of research, but is still not complete. Do you know of a Medicaid consumer-directed home care program not included here, or a better source for information on any of these programs? Do you have good or bad experiences to share about the self-directed care program in your state? Please contact me and I will update this list.
 

General Medicaid HCBS Waiver Information and Directories

 
Medicaid Home Care Waivers Facebook Group — I am the Admin for this group. Please feel free to join, ask questions and get support from other people who use PCA services.
Family Care Navigator — an excellent directory for finding resources in your state, focused on family members who want to care for loved ones using Medicaid home care services. Includes self-directed and non-self-directed programs.
Medicaid Waiver — directory, mostly covers waivers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Kids’ Waivers — directory of Medicaid waivers for medically fragile children and children with disabilities
Waiver Waiting Lists by State — list of states and waivers with waiting lists. You may wait years to receive services under these programs.
 

Directory of Medicaid Consumer-Directed Personal Care Attendant Programs

 
Alabama
 
Alaska
 
Arizona
 
Arkansas
 
California
IHSS Advocates Guide — long but a must-read
IHSS Information — from Disability Rights California, also a must-read
 
Colorado 
 
Connecticut
 
Delaware
 
Florida
Consumer-Directed Care Plus (CDC+) — note there is a multi-year waiting list for this program
Humana Long-Term Care — has a Participant Direction Option. There may be a waiting list for this program.
 
Georgia
Medicaid Waiver Programs — some are self-directed. There may be a waiting list.
 
Hawaii
Consumer-Directed Option — for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
 
 
Illinois
 
Indiana
 
Iowa
 
Kansas
 
Kentucky
 
Louisiana
 
Maine
Aging and Disability Services — offers consumer-directed option
 
Maryland
Attendant Care Program — for people with physical disabilities
Self-Directed Services — for people with developmental disabilities
 
Massachusetts
 
Michigan
 
Minnesota
 
Mississippi
 
Missouri
Home and Community-Based Services — has a consumer-directed care option
 
Montana
 
Nebraska
 
Nevada
 
New Hampshire
 
 
New Mexico
Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs — little information available
 
New York 
 
North Carolina
Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults — has a consumer-directed option
 
North Dakota
Home and Community-Based Long Term Care — multiple waiver options, some are self-directed
 
Ohio
Ohio Home Care Waiver — does not offer full consumer direction
 
Oklahoma
 
Oregon
 
Pennsylvania
 
 
South Carolina
 
South Dakota
 
Tennessee
 
Texas
Consumer-Directed Services — there may be a waiting list for one or more of these PCA programs
 
Utah
Home and Community Based Services Waiver Programs — several programs, some are self-directed
 
Vermont
 
Virginia
 
Washington
 
West Virginia
Aged and Disabled Waiver — offers self-directed option
 
Wisconsin
 
Wyoming

 

 

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Karin