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Does Maryland Pay for Home Health Care?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Maryland’s In-Home Aide Services (IHAS) Program
Maryland’s IHAS program is a non-Medicaid senior support program designed to help seniors who are at risk of nursing home placement get in-home health care services from a home health aide. The program pays for home health services, personal care, chore assistance, transportation and some personal support for shopping and other needs for seniors and adults with disabilities.
Covered Waiver Services for Older Adults in Maryland
IHAS is not the only senior support program in Maryland. Seniors who participate in the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance (MA) have a choice of four waivers that can help them remain safely in their own homes. Depending on the specific needs of the senior, one or more of these waivers might be preferable to the IHAS program. The four MA waivers in Maryland are:
- Community Options (CO)
- Community Pathways (CP)
- Medical Day Care Services (MDCS)
- Increased Community Services (ICS)
All of Maryland’s MA waivers offer similar supports to people with somewhat different living conditions and medical needs. Some offer facility-based care, such as the adult day health services provided under the CP waiver or the respite care available through the ICS waiver. MA beneficiaries who need home health services are required to first seek help from an MA waiver program before applying for a IHAS support.
Enrolling in Home Health Programs in Maryland
Maryland residents who wish to apply for an MA waiver must be enrolled in Medicaid and meet the income and residency requirements of the programs they’re applying for. There are additional disability-related criteria that affect participants’ eligibility, such as age, mental condition and the degree to which the applicant can look after their own needs at home. An intake worker will perform a needs assessment as part of the enrollment process to help find the right combination of waivers for each senior. The IHAS program does not have an income limit for applicants, though it does require seniors who might be eligible for MA to apply there first. If MA rejects the applicant’s request for support, seniors may apply to IHAS for similar home health services.