Which Medicaid programs pay for home care in [state]?
Most states pay for home care through a mix of the regular Medicaid plan and one or more waivers. Waivers serve groups such as older adults, people with disabilities, or children, and many cap how many people can enroll. Search ’[state] Medicaid waiver programs’ and read the list on the state Medicaid site.
Home and community based services (HCBS) are mostly offered through waivers, which let states choose who gets services and limit how many people enroll. That means waiting lists. KFF counted 40 states with waiver waiting or interest lists in 2024.
To find the programs in your state:
- Go to the state Medicaid agency’s "waiver programs" page.
- Note which agency runs each waiver. It may be the Medicaid agency, an aging agency, or a disability services agency.
- Note who the program serves: older adults, adults with physical disabilities, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or children with medical needs.
- Ask whether the state uses managed care plans for these services.
- Read the provider manual for each program you want to serve.
Example: Georgia lists six: CCSP and SOURCE (the Elderly and Disabled Waiver), ICWP, NOW, COMP and GAPP. DBHDD runs NOW and COMP day to day, and the Area Agencies on Aging handle CCSP entry.
Each program has its own rules, so choose where your agency fits before you apply.
Sources
- A Look at Waiting Lists for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services from 2016 to 2024 · KFF
- Waiver Programs · Georgia DCH
- NOW and COMP waiver Medicaid fact sheet · Georgia DCH
Reviewed by Beth Bledsoe, Care Business Advisor®, 28 Oct 2026. Rules change. Confirm with your state Medicaid agency before you act.
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