Pennsylvania does pay for in-home care in some cases. The state’s Community HealthChoices home care program pays caregivers to provide in-home care for enrolled seniors, including family members and personal friends. This is a recipient-directed program, with beneficiaries in control of verifying hours worked and authorizing payments to caregivers.

What is Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices Program?

The Community HealthChoices program is Pennsylvania’s long-term services and support waiver. Under this program, beneficiaries are assigned a set number of hours each month that the state will pay for in-home caregiver services. Caregivers may be the beneficiary’s family members, but they also must be registered with the program and pass a background check. Benefits are linked to the beneficiary, who can choose their own caregiver or ask for a certified caregiver from the state’s registry through an authorized in-home caregiver agency.

Who is Eligible for the Program?

To sign up for the Pennsylvania Community HealthChoices program, applicants must be eligible and enrolled in Medicaid, live at home and have a disability that qualifies them for caregiver support. During the intake assessment, enrollees must show that their disability requires in-home assistance, but that all of their needs can be met outside of a residential care facility or nursing home.

 Applicants may earn up to 380% of the Federal benefits rate and must be permanent residents of Pennsylvania with a legal residency status in the United States. A HealthChoices worker may visit the applicant’s home to verify residency and safe conditions, and a doctor’s certification of mental or physical disability is usually required before approval can be granted.

Other Community HealthChoices Benefits

The Pennsylvania HealthChoices program helps pay for more than just caregiver assistance for seniors who wish to age in place. Qualified beneficiaries can also reach out through the program to get help with home modifications, assistive technology, meals and nutritional consulting, transportation services and counseling. Program staff can also assist with referrals and some cost support for nursing and rehab services, plus a limited amount of respite care.