Louisiana Medicaid is a godsend for individuals and families who don’t have the means to get the healthcare they need. The enormous program distributes benefits to thousands of people with varying needs. One of the ways LA Medicaid tailors support to certain beneficiary populations is through waivers. If you want to know more about waivers and how they work, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover everything beginners need to know about Medicaid waivers in Louisiana.
What is a Medicaid Waiver? – LA Waivers Defined
We’ll start things off with a clear definition of what an LA waiver is. Waivers are Medicaid subprograms that target a specific group of individuals who need specialized support and benefits. They are separate from traditional Medicaid, which is relatively standardized and provides medically necessary coverage to eligible beneficiaries.
Types of Louisiana Medicaid Waivers and What They Cover
Now that we’ve gone over what a waiver is, it’s time to explore the types of waivers available through Louisiana Medicaid. Here are five of them:
- Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Waiver – This waiver was created for two groups of people: (1) adults who are 65 years old or older and (2) people who are 22-64 years old and have a qualifying disability. Benefits include adult day health care services, support coordination, transition services, and more.
- Children’s Choice (CC) Waiver – This waiver serves children up to 20 years old who have one or more developmental disabilities and currently live at home. Benefits include family training and support, center-based respite care, support coordination, certain therapies, and more.
- Community Choices (CC) Waiver – This waiver is offered to individuals with adult-onset disabilities and is meant to replace care provided in a nursing facility. Some services included under the waiver include home modifications, personal care, caregiver respite, and more.
- New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) – This waiver was created to help people with disabilities live more independent lives. To that end, it grants eligible beneficiaries services like day habilitation and transportation, housing stabilization services, skilled nursing services, and much more.
- Residential Options Waiver (ROW) – Louisiana created this waiver to help select people with developmental disabilities smoothly transition from intermediate care facilities into a home. Each beneficiary is granted a yearly budget based on their specific needs and the services they are expected to require. Some of the main services provided through this program include shared living, companion care, nursing services, dental services, and more.
*To learn more about LA Medicaid waivers, visit this resource.
Eligibility Requirements for Waivers
Each waiver has a unique set of requirements associated with it. Sometimes, there are five or more criteria you must meet. Most of the time, you’ll need to meet the general requirements for Medicaid and any age-based waiver requirements. Then, there are other criteria unique to the waiver you’re being considered for.
So, there you have it – a quick primer on Medicaid waivers. If you’re interested in learning more about waivers, feel free to call the Medicaid hotline at 1-888-342-6207 or go to the self-service portal. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you learn more about the potential benefits available to you.
