When someone you love begins needing more help at home, one of the first questions is often financial:
How are we going to pay for this?
For some Omaha families, Nebraska Medicaid may be part of the answer.
Nebraska offers programs that can help eligible individuals receive services in their own homes and communities. One of those programs is the Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver, which uses Medicaid funding to provide home and community-based services for people who meet certain eligibility requirements.
At AmanaCare, we know Medicaid terminology can get confusing quickly. So, here’s a simpler explanation of how Medicaid home care in Omaha may work and where families can begin.
What Is Nebraska’s Aged and Disabled Waiver?
The Nebraska Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver is designed to help eligible older adults and people with disabilities receive services in their homes and communities rather than receiving all of their care in an institutional setting.
To qualify for the AD Waiver, Nebraska DHHS says an individual must:
- Have Nebraska Medicaid
- Be over age 65 or have a qualifying disability
- Meet the state’s Nursing Facility Level of Care requirements
- Have a need for waiver services
Being enrolled in Medicaid alone does not automatically mean someone qualifies for the AD Waiver. The waiver has its own application and eligibility process.
What Can the AD Waiver Help With?
Depending on the individual’s needs and approved person-centered plan, the AD Waiver offers a variety of services designed to support living safely in the community.
Personal Care, for example, can include assistance with activities of daily living and certain health-related tasks. Assistance may be hands-on or may involve prompting someone to complete a task independently. Nebraska’s waiver also includes services such as Companion, Respite, Non-Medical Transportation and other supports when authorized.
For families, that can mean getting additional support with some of the everyday activities that have become difficult for a loved one while allowing that person to continue living at home.
How Does the AD Waiver Process Work?
This is where families sometimes become overwhelmed—and understandably so.
Applying for the AD Waiver is separate from applying for Medicaid. Once an application is received, DHHS verifies Medicaid eligibility and, when appropriate, schedules a Level of Care assessment.
For adults, that assessment considers areas such as activities of daily living, health status, medications and medical equipment, nutrition, cognition, housing and other factors.
Once an individual is determined eligible, a Service Coordinator helps develop a person-centered plan identifying the services the participant needs and who will provide them. Services can begin after eligibility has been established and an approved plan is in place.
In other words, it isn’t necessarily an overnight process.
But that doesn’t mean families have to figure it out alone.
Can a Family Member Provide the Care?
Sometimes—and this is something many families are surprised to learn.
Nebraska’s AD Waiver allows certain relatives to provide some approved waiver services when program requirements are met. Nebraska also has LRI Personal Care, which creates an option for certain Legally Responsible Individuals to provide approved personal care services.
The rules depend on factors such as the family relationship, service being provided, participant’s assessed needs and person-centered plan. That’s why it’s important to look at each family’s circumstances individually rather than assuming a particular relative will or won’t qualify.
We explain this option in greater detail in our guide, “Can I Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in Nebraska?”
What If I’m Not Sure Whether My Loved One Qualifies?
You don’t need to understand every Medicaid rule before asking questions.
If you’re looking into Medicaid home care in Omaha, AmanaCare can help you understand the general process, discuss the services we provide and help you identify appropriate next steps.
Ultimately, Nebraska DHHS determines Medicaid and AD Waiver eligibility and authorizes waiver services. But having someone explain the process in plain English can make taking that first step feel considerably less intimidating.
Start the Conversation
If you or someone you love needs additional help at home in the Omaha area, don’t wait until you understand every acronym and requirement before reaching out.
Start with a conversation.
AmanaCare provides in-home assistance throughout the Omaha area and works with Nebraska’s Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver. Our team can help answer questions about home care and explain what working with an agency like AmanaCare may look like.
Because sometimes the hardest part of finding help is simply figuring out where to begin.
Looking for home care in Omaha or have questions about the Nebraska Medicaid AD Waiver? Contact AmanaCare’s Omaha team to learn more about your options.
Eligibility for Medicaid and the AD Waiver, the amount and type of services authorized, and payment for those services are determined by Nebraska DHHS. Contacting AmanaCare does not guarantee program eligibility or authorization.
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