In addition to services provided in nursing facilities, State of Iowa’s Medicaid program offers 7 waiver programs to provide home and community based services. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services oversees these HCBS waiver programs. These programs provide caregiving services for recipients who would otherwise require a nursing facility level of care. Care can be provided in-home, in an adult day care, or in an assisted living facility. Individuals wishing to utilize these waiver services must show Iowa Medicaid eligibility, including being under the asset limit.
The Elderly Waiver provides a variety of services to individuals 65 and older who would otherwise require care in a medical institution. These services include homemaker, day habilitation, home delivered meals, senior companion, and consumer-directed attendant care (CDAC – both skilled and unskilled). These Medicaid members are also often enrolled in Medicare, which pays for most basic healthcare expenses.
Other HCBS waivers provide care for people with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, brain injuries, HIV/AIDS, and children with severe mental health challenges. Services provided by these waivers include many of the services listed above, as well as case management, vehicle modification, nutritional counseling, adaptive devices, and family therapy.
Iowa HCBS waivers are not entitlement programs, meaning that although an individual might meet the eligibility criteria for care, there are a limited number of enrollment slots. If an individual successfully completes the application process, but is unable to obtain an enrollment slot, they will be placed on a wait list. For a more comprehensive description of the HCBS waivers available to Iowans, please visit hhs.iowa.gov.