State programs
Medicaid personal care services
Medicaid personal care services are hands-on help with daily activities that Medicaid pays for. States may offer them as an optional state plan benefit. They may also pay through waivers. Help usually covers bathing, dressing, toileting, and moving, and sometimes meal preparation or shopping.
Why it matters for your family
Personal care is the benefit most families want. CMS says the definition differs by authority, and each state sets its own rules for who qualifies, how many hours are approved, and who may be paid. Some states allow family members to be paid caregivers, and others do not. A common mistake is to assume the approved hours match the need. Hours are set by an assessment. Keep notes of daily needs and ask how to appeal if the hours are too low. State examples include Texas Primary Home Care and North Carolina Personal Care Services.
Source: medicaid.gov
Related terms
- Texas Primary Home CareTexas Primary Home Care, or PHC, is a Medicaid-funded personal care program run through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
- North Carolina Personal Care Services (PCS)North Carolina Personal Care Services, or PCS, is a Medicaid state plan benefit that pays for in-home help with daily activities.
- Michigan Home Help programThe Michigan Home Help program is a Medicaid-funded program that pays for in-home personal care for eligible people.
- Participant-directed Medicaid programA participant-directed Medicaid program lets a person, or a representative, direct their own Medicaid-funded services.
- Activities of daily living (ADLs)Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the basic self-care tasks people do each day.
- Personal care aide (PCA)A personal care aide (PCA) is a non-medical caregiver who helps with daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, and errands, and often provides company.
