Home and Community Based Services provide eligible individuals with disabilities or chronic health care needs with the care, supports, and services they need to remain at home and to age in place. In Pennsylvania, Home and Community Based Services may be available through 12 Medicaid Waiver programs or through a handful of state-funded programs.

The 12 Medicaid HCBS Waiver programs provide eligible individuals with supportive services plus full Medicaid coverage. This means that consumers get an array of supportive services plus comprehensive healthcare through the Medicaid program (including prescription drug coverage, coverage for all Medicare cost-sharing, transportation to medical appointments, and durable medical equipment).

Some of the waivers allow family members to be paid for providing services to the consumer. For more information on which waivers allow this, click here for the Department of Public Welfare Operations memo addressing family caregivers.

These 12 programs are:

Waivers for Persons Age 60+
Aging Waiver
LTCCAP

Waivers for Persons with Physical Disabilities
AIDS Waiver
Attendant Care Waiver
COMMCARE Waiver
Elwyn Waiver
Independence Waiver
Michael Dallas Waiver

Waiver for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
OBRA/CSPPPD Waiver

Waivers for Persons with Mental Retardation
Infants/Toddlers Waiver
Consolidated Waiver
Person/Family Directed Support Waiver

For more information about eligibility and available services, go to our HCBS Brochure.

The state-funded programs are:

State Programs for Persons Age 60+
Options program for persons age 60+
Bridge program for persons age 60+

State Programs for Persons with Physical Disabilities
Act 150 Attendant Care program
Head Injury Program

For more information about eligibility and available services, go to our HCBS Brochure.
If you have questions about home and community based services programs or need assistance in enrolling in or obtaining services from these programs, please contact the Pennsylvania Health Law Project at (800)274-3258.