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Wisconsin’s Family Care and Family Care Partnership Programs
Overview of Wisconsin’s Family Care and Partnership Programs
The Family Care and Family Care Partnership programs are unique, long-term care programs for Wisconsin residents. Although they share many of the same eligibility requirements, these are not Medicaid programs. They are offered as an alternative to Medicaid Home and Community Based Services. One cannot concurrently receive benefits from both Medicaid CIP and COP waivers and the Family Care programs for overlapping care service areas.
The Family Care and Partnership programs offer long term care support services designed to help participants achieve their goals by giving them greater control over what services they receive and who provides those services. This concept is based on the Cash and Counseling model and is generically referred to by many names including, self determination, consumer direction and participant direction. In the Family Care and Partnership programs specifically, there is a concept called Self-Directed Supports or SDS.
Under SDS, program participants a given access to the funds that would otherwise be spent on their care services and empowered to purchase goods and the hire care services providers of their choosing. In this case, program participants act as the “employer”. Their “employees” are referred to as Care Service Providers, Personal Care Attendants or Direct Service Professionals. The programs help participants in their role as “employers” by providing payroll and other administrative services.
Program participants hire their caregivers. They are free to choose home care agencies or hire friends, neighbors and even some family members to provide care. To be clear, these individuals must work as “employees”, they must work for an hourly wage that is consistent with the market rate and they must pay taxes on the wages they receive. Typically, spouses and legal guardians are not eligible but the adult children can be paid caregivers.
As mentioned previously, there are two programs: Family Care and Family Care Partnership (often shortened to just Partnership). The main difference between these programs is the Family Care program is for personal (non-medical) care and the Partnership program is more comprehensive, includes full medical care and prescription drugs.
Under SDS, program participants a given access to the funds that would otherwise be spent on their care services and empowered to purchase goods and the hire care services providers of their choosing. In this case, program participants act as the “employer”. Their “employees” are referred to as Care Service Providers, Personal Care Attendants or Direct Service Professionals. The programs help participants in their role as “employers” by providing payroll and other administrative services.
Program participants hire their caregivers. They are free to choose home care agencies or hire friends, neighbors and even some family members to provide care. To be clear, these individuals must work as “employees”, they must work for an hourly wage that is consistent with the market rate and they must pay taxes on the wages they receive. Typically, spouses and legal guardians are not eligible but the adult children can be paid caregivers.
As mentioned previously, there are two programs: Family Care and Family Care Partnership (often shortened to just Partnership). The main difference between these programs is the Family Care program is for personal (non-medical) care and the Partnership program is more comprehensive, includes full medical care and prescription drugs.
Qualifications for the Family Care and Partnership Programs
There are geographical, financial and functional requirements to participate in the Family Care and Partnership Programs.
1) Geographically, as of April 2011, the program was available in 57 of 72 Wisconsin counties. See an updated map of available counties here.
2) Functionally, participants must either be 18-64 years old and have a physical disability or 65+ years old and considered a “frail elder” meaning they have a disability or dementia that requires them to receive to manage with their activities of daily living and continue living independently.
3) Financially, the requirements are similar to Medicaid. Typically monthly income for an individual cannot exceed $2,000 and the “countable asset” limit, excluding the car and home, is approximate $2,000. The rules become more complicated when the individual has a healthy spouse or when they place excessive income and assets in trusts. If one exceeds the $2,000 / $2,000 limits, it is strongly advised that they speak with a Medicaid Planner prior to application for the program. Find a Medicaid Planner. It is also worth noting that the Family Care program does a cost-share arrangement for individuals whose financial resources exceed the program’s thresholds.
1) Geographically, as of April 2011, the program was available in 57 of 72 Wisconsin counties. See an updated map of available counties here.
2) Functionally, participants must either be 18-64 years old and have a physical disability or 65+ years old and considered a “frail elder” meaning they have a disability or dementia that requires them to receive to manage with their activities of daily living and continue living independently.
3) Financially, the requirements are similar to Medicaid. Typically monthly income for an individual cannot exceed $2,000 and the “countable asset” limit, excluding the car and home, is approximate $2,000. The rules become more complicated when the individual has a healthy spouse or when they place excessive income and assets in trusts. If one exceeds the $2,000 / $2,000 limits, it is strongly advised that they speak with a Medicaid Planner prior to application for the program. Find a Medicaid Planner. It is also worth noting that the Family Care program does a cost-share arrangement for individuals whose financial resources exceed the program’s thresholds.
Benefits / Services Covered by the Family Care and Partnership Programs
Each participant has their own care plan which can include any of the following services. Family Care does not include medical care but the Family Care Partnership program does.
-Adaptive Aids
-Adult Day Care
-Alcohol and Drug Abuse Day Treatment Services
-Daily Living Skills Training
-Durable Medical Equipment
-Home Health
-Home Modifications
-Meals Delivery
-Nursing Services
-Personal Care
-Personal Emergency Response Services
-Prevocational Services
-Occupational Therapy
-Physical Therapy
-Relocation Services
-Respite Care
-Specialized Medical Supplies
-Transportation Assistance
-Vehicle Adaptive Aids
-Adaptive Aids
-Adult Day Care
-Alcohol and Drug Abuse Day Treatment Services
-Daily Living Skills Training
-Durable Medical Equipment
-Home Health
-Home Modifications
-Meals Delivery
-Nursing Services
-Personal Care
-Personal Emergency Response Services
-Prevocational Services
-Occupational Therapy
-Physical Therapy
-Relocation Services
-Respite Care
-Specialized Medical Supplies
-Transportation Assistance
-Vehicle Adaptive Aids
How to Apply for the Family Care and Partnership Programs
Interested individual should contact their local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRCs) to begin the application process. A downloadable PDF file of local Wisconsin ADRCs is available here. One can also learn more about these programs on the Family Care website.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
