Minnesota's Home and Community-Based Waivers
Minnesotans with disabilities or chronic illnesses may be eligible for the state’s home and community–based waiver programs. Beyond Barriers, which is now part of Lifeway Mobility, has been a state provider of home modifications under the waiver services program for over 20 years. Our experience working closely with county social service agencies has allowed us to become extremely knowledgeable in navigating the waiver services program and to provide our customers with the high quality results they deserve. Let your social service agency know that you want to work with Lifeway Mobility!
If you have a question regarding Minnesota’s waiver services program, don’t hesitate to contact Lifeway Mobility Minneapolis at 651-462-3444.
Each waiver differs in the exact services and funding support available for those who qualify. Each of the waivers listed below cover environmental accessibility adaptations or modifications to the home. The Home and Community-Based Waivers currently available in Minnesota include:
Elderly Waiver (EW) Program
The Elderly Waiver (EW) program funds home and community-based services for people age 65 and older who are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) and require the level of medical care provided in a nursing home, but choose to reside in the community. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) operates the EW program under a federal waiver to Minnesota’s Medicaid State Plan. Counties administer the program.
Available Elderly Waiver Services
Covered services include visits by a skilled nurse, home health aide, homemaker, companion, personal care assistant, as well as home-delivered meals, adult day care, supplies and equipment, personal emergency response systems, caregiver assessment, home modifications, and certified community residential services (customized living services, foster care, residential care).
Elderly Waiver Eligibility
- Those eligible for the EW program are 65 or older, eligible for Medical Assistance, and need nursing home level of care as determined by the Long-Term Care Consultation process.
- The EW service cost for an individual cannot be greater than the estimated nursing home cost for that same individual.
If you’re interested in learning more about the program, call the Senior LinkAge Line® at (800) 333-2433. It’s a free call and a free service.
Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI) Waiver
The Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI) Waiver provides funding for home and community-based services for children and adults, who would otherwise require the level of care provided in a nursing facility. CADI Waiver services may be provided in a person’s own home, in his/her biological or adoptive family’s home, in a relative’s home (e.g. sibling, aunt, grandparent etc.), a family foster care home or corporate foster care home, a board and lodging facility or in an assisted living facility. If married, a person may receive CADI Waiver services while living at home with his or her spouse.
CADI Waiver Eligibility
Eligibility for CADI Waiver services is determined through a screening process. To be eligible for CADI Waiver services, a person must meet all these criteria:
- Be eligible for Medical Assistance
- Be certified disabled by the State Medical Review Team or by the Social Security Administration
- Be under the age of 65 years when the waiver is opened
- Be determined to require the level of care provided to individuals in a nursing facility
- Have an assessed need for supports and services over and above those available under other funding sources
- Choose care and services in the community instead of a nursing facility
Additional CADI Waiver Requirements
Once eligibility is determined for participation in the CADI Waiver, certain questions must be asked about services including:
- Are the services necessary to ensure the recipient’s health, welfare and safety?
- Is the service covered by any other funding source, for example, Medical Assistance state plan services, private health care coverage, Medicare, education or Vocational Rehabilitation Service funding?
- Have all options been assessed, and does this option meet the individual desires, needs and preferences of the person?
- Is the cost of the service considered reasonable and customary?
Available CADI Waiver Services
- 24-hour customized living
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Adult companion service
- Adult day care / adult day bath
- Caregiver living expenses
- Case management and case management aide services
- Chore service
- Consumer directed community supports (CDCS)
- Customized living services
- Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
- Extended home care services
- Family counseling and training
- Foster care
- Home delivered meals
- Homemaker
- Housing access coordination
- Independent living skills (ILS) training
- Prevocational services
- Residential care services
- Respite care
- Specialized supplies and equipment
- Supported employment services
- Transitional services
- Transportation services
Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver
The Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver provides funding for home and community-based services for children and adults who are chronically ill. The CAC Waiver is designed to serve persons with disabilities who would otherwise require the level of care provided in a hospital.
CAC Waiver services may be provided in a person’s own home, in his/her biological or adoptive family’s home, in a relative’s home (e.g. sibling, aunt, grandparent etc.), in a family foster care home or corporate foster care home. If married, a person may receive CAC Waiver services while living at home with his or her spouse.
CAC Waiver Eligibility
Eligibility for the CAC Waiver is determined through a screening process. To be eligible for the CAC Waiver, a person must meet all these criteria:
- Be certified as disabled by the Social Security Administration or the State Medical Review Team
- Be eligible for Medical Assistance
- Be under the age of 65 years when the waiver is opened
- Choose care in the community instead of a hospital
- Have a Community Support Plan, which includes assurances of the health and safety for the person
- Require the level of care provided in a hospital
Additional CAC Waiver Requirements
Once eligibility is determined for participation in the CAC Waiver, certain questions must be asked about services including:
- Are the services necessary to ensure the recipient’s health, welfare and safety?
- Have all options been assessed and does this option meet the individual desires, needs and preferences of the person?
- Is the cost of the service considered reasonable and customary?
- Is the service covered by any other funding source, for example, Medical Assistance state plan services, private health care coverage, Medicare, education or Vocational Rehabilitation Service?
Available CAC Waiver Services
- Case management and case management aide services
- Consumer directed community supports (CDCS)
- Environmental accessibility adaptations
- Extended home care services
- Family counseling and training
- Foster care
- Home delivered meals
- Homemaker
- Respite care
- Specialized supplies and equipment
- Transportation
- Transitional services
Developmental Disability (DD) Waiver
The DD Waiver provides funding for home and community-based services for children and adults with developmental disabilities or related conditions. Assessed waiver service needs, as identified in the person’s service plan, may be provided in a person’s own home, in his/her biological or adoptive family’s home, in a relative’s home (e.g., sibling, aunt, grandparent, etc.), in a family foster care home or corporate foster care home.
DD Waiver Eligibility
Eligibility for DD Waiver services is determined through a screening process. To be eligible for DD Waiver services, a person must meet all these criteria:
- Be determined to have a developmental disability or related condition
- Be determined to likely require the level of care provided to individuals in an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD)
- Be eligible for Medical Assistance
- Make an informed choice requesting home and community-based services instead of ICF/DD services
Additional DD Waiver Requirements
Once eligibility is determined for participation in the DD Waiver, certain questions must be asked about services including:
- Are the services necessary to ensure the recipient’s health, welfare and safety?
- Have all options been assessed and does this option meet the individual desires, needs and preferences of the person?
- Is the cost of the service considered reasonable and customary?
- Is the service covered by any other funding source, for example, Medical Assistance state plan services, private health care coverage, Medicare, education or Vocational Rehabilitation Service funding?
- Will the services address skill development and/or skill maintenance?
Available DD Waiver Services
- Adult day care
- Assistive technology
- Caregiver training and education
- Case management
- Chore services
- Consumer-directed community supports
- Consumer training and education
- Crisis services
- Day training and habilitation services
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Extended personal care assistant services
- Homemaker services
- Housing access coordination
- In-home family support services
- Live-in personal caregiver expenses
- Modifications to the home or vehicle
- Personal support
- Respite care
- Specialist services
- Supported employment services
- Supported living services
- Transitional services
- Transportation services
Brain Injury (BI) Waiver
Brain Injury waiver is for persons with acquired or traumatic brain injuries who need the level of care provided in a nursing facility that provides specialized (cognitive and behavioral supports) services for persons with brain injury or neurobehavioral hospital level of care.
The Brain Injury Waiver provides funding for home and community-based services for children and adults who have an acquired or traumatic brain injury. BI Waiver services may be provided in a person’s own home, in his/her biological or adoptive family’s home, in a relative’s home (e.g. sibling, aunt, grandparent etc.), in a family foster care home, in a corporate foster care home, in a board and lodging facility or in an assisted living facility. If married, a person may receive BI Waiver services while living at home with his or her spouse.
BI Waiver Eligibility
Eligibility for the BI Waiver is determined through a screening process. To be eligible for the BI Waiver a person must meet all these criteria:
- Be eligible for Medical Assistance
- Be certified as disabled by the State Medical Review Team or by the Social Security Administration
- Be under the age of 65 years when the waiver is opened
- Be determined to need the level of care available in a nursing facility or neurobehavioral hospital
- Choose services in the community instead of services in a nursing facility or neurobehavioral hospital
- Have a documented diagnosis of traumatic or acquired brain injury or degenerative disease diagnosis where cognitive impairment is present, provided the diagnosis is not congenital
- Experience significant/severe behavioral and cognitive problems related to the injury or disease
- Be assessed at Level IV or above on the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale
Additional BI Waiver Requirements
- Are the services necessary to ensure the recipient’s health, welfare and safety?
- Is the service covered by any other funding source, for example, Medical Assistance state plan services, private health care coverage, Medicare, education or Vocational Rehabilitation Service funding?
- Have all options been assessed and does this option meet the individual desires, needs and preferences of the person?
- Is the cost of the service considered reasonable and customary?
Available BI Waiver Services
- 24-hour customized living
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Adult companion
- Adult day care / adult day bath
- Behavior programming
- Caregiver living expenses
- Case management and case management aide services
- Chore service
- Consumer directed community supports (CDCS)
- Customized living
- Environmental accessibility adaptations
- Extended home care services
- Family counseling and training
- Foster care
- Home delivered meals
- Homemaker
- Housing access coordination
- Independent living skills (ILS) training
- ILS therapies
- Night supervision services
- Prevocational services
- Residential care services
- Respite
- Specialized supplies and equipment
- Structured day program
- Supported employment services
- Transitional services
- Transportation
How does a person apply for a waiver program in Minnesota?
You can apply for waiver programs at your local county social services agency. Eligibility for all waiver programs is determined through a screening process.
The DHS Disability Services Division administers the BI, CAC, CADI and DD waiver programs. Contact The DHS Disability Services Division at 1-800-747-5484.
The DHS Aging and Adult Services Division administers the Elderly Waiver (EW) waiver program. Contact The DHS Aging and Adult Services Division at (651) 431-2600.
Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services