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Does Rhode Island Pay for Home Health Care?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
The Home and Community Care Co-Pay Program for Medicaid Beneficiaries
Medicaid funds that would otherwise go to support a nursing home placement can be used to pay for home health aide visits, home visits by nurses, wound care, home testing and other medical services. The waiver also covers much of the cost of durable medical equipment and consumable materials, such as bandages, along with some non-medical supports, such as caregiver and chore assistance.
The Home and Community Care Co-Pay Program for Non-Medicaid Beneficiaries
Seniors who need home health support services but who don’t meet the income and asset eligibility guidelines for Medicaid can still get help paying for necessary services through Rhode Island’s other Home and Community Care Co-Pay program. This program is operated directly by the state, without Medicaid funds, and it’s open to seniors who are not able to enroll in Medicaid.
The state program’s income and asset limitations are more generous than the Medicaid system allows, though new applicants may still be required to demonstrate a financial and medical need for home health assistance. Like the Medicaid program, the non-Medicaid Home and Community Care Co-Pay program imposes a maximum income cap as well as charges an increasing share of cost for senior beneficiaries with greater ability to pay.