MI Choice Waiver Program

Mother and daughter spending time together.

The MI Choice Waiver Program is a Medicaid program that provides home and community-based long term care services to individuals who are elderly or physically disabled. The program is designed to allow eligible adults to receive Medicaid covered services outside of a nursing home. The program was expanded in July of 2009 to allow Medicaid dollars to be used in licensed residential settings, such as Adult Foster Care (AFC) and Home for the Aged (HFA). This allows a Medicaid beneficiary who qualifies for long term care services to receive Medicaid assistance in a variety of housing options. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the MI Choice Waiver Program.

The MI Choice Waiver program is overseen statewide by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is administered by local waiver agencies. In Genesee County, it is the Valley Area Agency on Aging. The eligibility requirements for the program are:

1. Financial

The financial eligibility requirements for the waiver program are the same for nursing home residents with one significant exception; the MI Choice applicant’s income is limited to $2742.00 per month for 2023.

2. Medical

To be medically eligible, the waiver applicant must meet the Nursing Facility Level of Care Determination (LOCD) criteria which includes seven domains of need including Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Cognitive Performance, Physician Involvement, Treatments and Conditions, etc.

3. Must need at least two waiver services These MI Choice Waiver Services may include services such as: Adult Day Health Care, Community Living Supports, Home Delivered Meals, Private Duty Nursing, etc.

With so many residents needing nursing home level of care, the MI Choice Waiver Program has become more important than ever before. Unfortunately, due to the high demand for the program, there is likely a waiting list for applicants. To find out more about the program, contact your Waiver Agent or an experienced elder law attorney.

This blog post is written by Brett A. Howell, Certified Elder Law Attorney. The blog is written as a service of The Elder and Estate Planning Law Firm, P.L.L.C. This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For a consultation to address specific questions, please call (810) 953-3846.