Services / Waiver Program
Mental Health Waiver (MHW)
The waiver program, authorized in ยง1915(c) of the Social Security Act, permits
the State to furnish an array of home and community-based services to assist Medicaid
beneficiaries to live in the community and to avoid institutional care.
The State has broad discretion in designing its waiver program to address the needs
of the waiver's target population. Waiver services complement and/or supplement services
available to participants through the Medicaid State plan and other federal,
state and local public programs as well as natural supports that families and
communities provide. Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
(DMHAS) with oversight by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Connecticut's
Single State Agency for Medicaid will administer the Mental Health Waiver (MH Waiver)
program and the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program.
The Mental Health Waiver (MHW) authorized in Section 1915(c) of the Social Security
Act permits the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to set
aside Medicaid regulations and to allow funding to provide a variety of home and
community based services (excluding room and board) to individuals with serious mental
illness who would otherwise require nursing home care. This Mental Health Waiver enables
Medicaid to cover the cost of services designed to assist Participants in acquiring,
retaining and improving the self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary
to reside successfully in home and community based settings. MFP/MH Waiver Services
are available to adults with serious mental illness that are being discharged or
diverted from nursing home care and are receiving Connecticut Medicaid benefits.
*Per Mental Health Waiver Manual.
More Information
Download DMHAS Mental Health Waiver Request Form
Elder Care Waiver
To be eligible, applicants must be 65 years of age or older, be a Connecticut resident, be at risk of nursing home placement and meet the program's financial eligibility criteria. To be at risk of nursing home placement means that the applicant needs assistance with critical needs such as bathing, dressing, eating, taking medications, toileting. The CHCPE helps eligible clients continue living at home instead of going to a nursing home. Each applicant's needs are reviewed to determine if the applicant may remain at home with the help of home care services. For more information on eligibility criteria, please see the link below.
More Information
Download Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders (CHCPE) Request for Referral
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Waiver Program
Administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS),
PCA Waiver enables people with disabilities to employ personal care
attendants to help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing,
transfer, and toileting, as well as home chores, shopping, laundry,
and other activities that are essential for independence. The Medicaid
Waiver program allows a person with limitations in at least two
activities of daily living, and with a monthly income restriction,
to be eligible for Medicaid.
Under the PCA waiver, the consumer hires and trains the PCA. The
consumer fills out a time sheet for his/her PCA and submits it to
the state. The state will issue a check made out to the PCA and will
mail it to the consumer. Under the PCA waiver, a fiscal contractor
will handle the employer tax responsibilities, relieving the consumer
of the responsibility of filing employer related tax forms.
ELIGIBILITY
Adults, ages 18 through 64, with disabilities who are
institutionalized or who would be institutionalized without
PCA services, and who have deficits in at least two activities
of daily living, and who do not have community supports available
to live independently are eligible for a PCA waiver. Income must
be at or below 300% of the maximum SSI benefit and there are asset
restrictions. Applicants must have Medicaid, or must apply for
Medicaid and be pending or have a start date, or must spend down to
the Medicaid limit.
(People with disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid for the
Employed Disabled are NOT subject to income and asset restrictions
that are otherwise applicable to individuals receiving home and
community-based services under the waiver.)
More Information
Our Services
Below you will find our most common services.
For a complete summary of our services, please visit our
Services Page.