In addition to services provided in nursing homes, MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) offers a variety of Medicaid waiver programs for adults living in-home or in intermediate care facilities. Known as Home and Community Based Waivers (HCBS), these comprehensive waiver programs provide caregiving services for recipients whose care needs would otherwise force them into nursing facilities. Some of these programs are overseen by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), while others are managed by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
For example, the Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) provides respite care, homemaker services, adult day care, and home-delivered meals to adults 65+ and individuals with physical disabilities 63+. The ADW is not an entitlement program, meaning that although an individual might meet the eligibility criteria for care, there are a limited number of enrollment slots.
The Adult Day Care Waiver provides adult day care services to individuals 18-63 who would otherwise require a nursing home level of care. This waiver program provides assistance with activities of daily living, food services, group activities, transportation, and other forms of day habilitation.
The Missouri Independent Living Waiver provides personal care, case management, and specialized medical equipment and supplies to adults 18-64 who qualify for a nursing home level of care. It is similar to the Consumer-Directed State Plan Personal Care program in that the eligibility criteria are the same, but the Waiver offers additional services.
MO Healthnet also offers waiver services for Missouri children, including those with autism, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities. These Medicaid services include the MO Children with Developmental Disabilities Waiver, Comprehensive Waiver, Community Support Waiver, and the Partnership for Hope Waiver. For more comprehensive descriptions of waivers for Missouri children, please visit https://mydss.mo.gov/mhd/waiver-programs.