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Maine’s Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Waiver: Qualifications and Services
What are Medicaid Waivers?
Medicaid pays for long term care services in nursing homes. For nursing home qualified persons that choose to live at home or in a residential community, Medicaid will pay for those services if they can be obtained at a lower cost. These are called Home and Community Based Services, Waiver Funded Services, Medicaid Waivers or simply Waivers.
Overview of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Waiver
This Maine Medicaid waiver is designed to help the elderly by funding services and support to allow nursing home qualified individuals to remain living at home or in their community. This waiver is also referred to as ME Elderly and Adults with Disabilities waiver.
Individuals choosing this waiver can have the state manage their care services or they can choose Consumer Direction under the Family Provider Service Option (FPSO). Consumer Direction is a concept based on the Medicaid model called Cash and Counseling in which the participant is given the flexibility to choose their own personal care providers. Some family members, including the adult children of aging parents, can be hired to provide personal care; they can be paid caregivers. The FPSO Program requires participants to use a 3rd party financial management company to assist participants in their role as “employers”. The financial management company helps with activities such as managing payroll and paying employer taxes.
Individuals choosing this waiver can have the state manage their care services or they can choose Consumer Direction under the Family Provider Service Option (FPSO). Consumer Direction is a concept based on the Medicaid model called Cash and Counseling in which the participant is given the flexibility to choose their own personal care providers. Some family members, including the adult children of aging parents, can be hired to provide personal care; they can be paid caregivers. The FPSO Program requires participants to use a 3rd party financial management company to assist participants in their role as “employers”. The financial management company helps with activities such as managing payroll and paying employer taxes.
Qualifications for the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Waiver
In addition to being 65 years or older and requiring nursing facility level of care, Maine residents must be financially qualified to receive Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change by state and there are many exceptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Qualifying for Medicaid is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change by state and there are many exceptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying for Medicaid can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance applying for Medicaid.
Services Provided under the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Waiver
- Adult Day Health
- Care Management/Coordination
- Environmental Modi?cations
- Home Health Services
- Homemaker
- Independent Living Assessment
- Personal Care
- Personal Emergency Response Systems
- Respite Care
- Transportation
Availability of the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Waiver
This waiver is available in all Maine counties.
Use our Locator Tool to Find Other Options for which You're Eligible
