Medicaid Waiver

“What are we going to do about Mom?” Nothing quite brings home the concerns of the elderly as when our own loved ones grow older and find themselves in need of professional care. The decision to place a loved one in a long-term care institution or nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions many of us will ever make. The Medicaid Waiver program, called MI Choice in Michigan, can reduce the stress of this difficult situation by allowing your loved one to stay at home and receive the care they need.

Under the waiver program, a recipient must pass income and asset tests similar to those for Medicaid and will then be eligible for services Medicaid provides in their own home or another residential setting. Some of the services unique to the MI Choice waiver are:

Preventative nursing services
Respite services
Chore assistance
Private nursing
Meal delivery

In addition to the above, the program offers a wide variety of counseling and transitional services, medical information and personal services.

Like any Medicaid related program, MI Choice has financial and asset tests that must be met and has a detailed and lengthy application process. We are ready to assist you in obtaining the proper documentation, gaining eligibility, and, if necessary, appealing an adverse decision.

The MI Choice program is an excellent way to ensure your loved ones are cared for without the anguish that can accompany placement in a nursing home. Let us ensure it works for you.

Northern Michigan Elder Law PLC can help with applying for

WAIVER or MI CHOICE WAIVER, so….

Call us for more information on how we might help you qualify – (231) 715-1401

(Below is information off the state of Michigan website)

The MI Choice waiver program provides Medicaid-covered long term care services and supports in a home or residential setting for participants meeting the medical/functional criteria for nursing facility level of care. Services are provided through MI Choice waiver agencies.

MI Choice Waiver Program

Click here to access the MI Choice Waiver Amendment Documents

Nursing homes used to be the only choice for older or disabled persons who needed help caring for themselves. Today there may be the choice to stay in your home or a community setting, but you or a family member may need assistance in doing so.

One program run by Michigan Medicaid is the MI Choice Waiver Program. It began in 1992 as the Home and Community Based Services for the Elderly and Disabled (HCBS/ED) waiver program. We now know it as the MI Choice Waiver Program, or simply, “the waiver.”

Through this program, eligible adults who meet income and asset criteria can receive Medicaid-covered services like those provided by nursing homes, but can stay in their own home or another residential setting. The waiver became available in all Michigan counties October 1, 1998. Each participant can receive the basic services Michigan Medicaid covers, and one or more of the following services unique to the waiver:

Community transition services
Community living supports
Nursing services (preventative nursing)
Respite services
Adult day health (adult day care)
Environmental modifications
Non-medical transportation
Medical supplies and equipment not covered under the Medicaid State Plan
Chore services
Personal emergency response systems
Private duty nursing
Counseling
Home delivered meals
Training in a variety of independent living skills
Supports coordination
Fiscal intermediary
Goods and services

The Waiver Agency Region Map and list of Waiver Agents below will make it easier to contact the MI Choice Waiver Agency in your community who can provide you with more information. To identify the waiver agency in your community, see the Waiver Agency Region Map. After finding your region on the map, refer to the List of Waiver Agents by Region.

Region 1A

Detroit Area Agency on Aging
Paul Bridgewater, President & CEO
Sylvia Brown, Director, Long Term Care Services
1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200
Detroit, Michigan 48207
Tele: 313-446-4444
Fax: 313-446-4446

Region 1B

Area Agency on Aging 1B
Jim McGuire, Interim CEO
Marie Baloga, Program Director
29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 400
Southfield, Michigan 48034
Tele: 248-357-2255
Fax: 248-948-9691

Macomb-Oakland Regional Center Home Care, Inc.
Dennis M. Bott, COO
Lori Mathes, Program Director
16200 Nineteen Mile Road
PO Box 380710
Clinton Township, Michigan 48038-0070
Tele: 586-263-8953
Fax: 586-228-7029

Region 1C

The Senior Alliance
Bob Brown, Executive Director
Kelly Faber, Program Director
5454 Venoy Road
Wayne, Michigan 48184-1755
Tele: 734-722-2830
Fax: 734-722-2836

The Information Center
Edward D’Angelo, Executive Director
Susan Zanley, Program Director
20400 Superior Road
Taylor, Michigan 48180
Tele: 734-282-7171
Fax: 734-282-7105

Region 2

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging
Julie Wetherby, Executive Director
Tim Niyonsenga, Deputy Director
102 North Main Street
PO Box 189
Brooklyn, Michigan 49230
Tele: 800-335-7881
517-592-1974
Fax: 517-592-1975

Region 3

Region 3B Area Agency on Aging
Karla Fales, Executive Director
Linda Frost, RN, Care Management Director
200 West Michigan Avenue, Suite 102
Battle Creek, Michigan 49017
Tele: 269-966-2450
Fax: 269-966-2493

Senior Services, Inc.
Robert W. Littke, President & CEO
John Grib, Program Director
918 Jasper Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001
Tele: 269-382-0515
Fax: 269-382-3189

Region 4

Region IV Area Agency on Aging
Lynn Kellogg, Chief Executive Officer
Theresa Uhrich, Care Management Director
2900 Lakeview Avenue
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
Tele: 269-983-0177
Fax: 269-983-5218
Region 3B Area Agency on Aging
Karla Fales, Executive Director
Linda Frost, RN, Waiver Director
200 West Michigan Avenue, Suite 102
Battle Creek, Michigan 49017
Tele: 269-966-2450
Fax: 269-966-2493

Region 5

Valley Area Agency on Aging
Kathy Boles, Executive Director
Lea Quinn, Waiver Director
225 East Fifth Street
Flint, Michigan 48502
Tele: 810-239-7671
Fax: 810-239-8869

Region 6

Tri-County Office on Aging
Marion Owen, Executive Director
Carlton Nogle, Program Director
5303 South Cedar Street
Lansing, Michigan 48911-3800
Tele: 517-887-1440
Fax: 517-887-8071

Region 7

A&D Home Health Care, Inc.
Roselyn Argyle, Executive Director
Holly Willett, Program Director
3150 Enterprise Drive, Suite 200
Saginaw, Michigan 48603
Tele: 1-800-884-3335
989-249-0929
Fax: 989-249-1147 / 989-249-1153 – Roselyn Argyle

Region VII Area Agency on Aging
Andrew Orvosh, Executive Director
Kerry Williams, Program Director
1615 S. Euclid Avenue
Bay City, Michigan 48706
Tele: 989-893-4506
Fax: 989-893-2651

Region 8

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, Inc.
Jackie O’Connor, Executive Director
Suzanne Filby-Clark, Program Director
3215 Eaglecrest Drive NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525
Tele: 616-456-5664
Fax: 616-456-5692

Reliance Community Care Partners
Steven Velzen-Haner, Executive Director
Mary VanSingel, Waiver Director
2100 Raybrook SE, STE 203
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Tele: 800-447-3007
616-956-9440
Fax: 616-954-1520

Region 9

Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency (NEMCSA)
Lisa Bolen, Executive Director
Laurie Sauer, Program Director
2375 Gordon Road
Alpena, Michigan 49707
Tele: 989-356-3474
Fax: 989-354-5909

Region 10

Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan
Robert Schlueter, Executive Director
Denise Plakmeyer, SW Supervisor
1609 Park Drive
P. O. Box 5946
Traverse City, Michigan 49696-5946
Tele: 231-947-8920
Fax: 231-947-6401

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
Karl V. Kovacs, Chief Executive Director
Sherrie Moseler, RN, Program Director
105 Hall Street, Suite D
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Tele: 231-922-4850
Fax: 231-995-7900

Region 11

UPCAP
Jonathan Mead, Executive Director
Mark Bomberg, Program Director
P.O. Box 606
2501 14th Avenue South
Escanaba, Michigan 49829
Tele: 906-786-4701
Fax: 906-786-5853

Region 14

Senior Resources
Pam Curtis, Executive Director
Sheyenne Cole, Care Connections Director
560 Seminole Road
Muskegon, Michigan 49444
Tele: 231-739-5858
Fax: 231-739-4452