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Support at Home Through the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver

Nursing homes are not the only choice for people who need help caring for themselves. The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program can allow you or your loved one to get care services at home instead. The program is funded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is available throughout Michigan. AgeWays provides MI Choice services in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties. The program can assist with activities like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, personal care, and toileting. Complex nursing care, transportation, and respite care may also be provided. All services are paid for through the program, and there will be no cost for you or your loved one. You can get care at a private home or in a participating senior living facility.

Services May Include:

Who Qualifies?

To be eligible, you must:

Not sure if you qualify? Our team is here to help walk you through the process.

Apply for the MI Choice Program

Start by calling us at 800-852-7795 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get in touch with you. We’ll ask some initial screening questions to see if you might qualify. If so, we will get you started on the next steps. We will need to do to a care assessment to confirm eligibility and also make sure you meet financial requirements before you can be enrolled. Once you are enrolled, we will work with you to understand your needs, develop a plan of care and put services in place.

Program Availability and Wait Times

Some of our government-funded programs, including our Community Living offerings, may have wait lists. Wait times can vary. We understand the urgency of your needs and do our best to connect you with services as quickly as possible.

Featured Story

Hear Katy’s story and see how the MI Choice program empowers participants to navigate challenges, access essential services, and build a safer, more independent life at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the qualification/enrollment process work for the program?

Qualifying for and becoming fully enrolled in the program is a multi-step process that often can take several months. AgeWays staff will work with you throughout the process to help answer questions and assist. Seeing if you or your loved qualifies for the program will start with a conversation with one of our clinical screeners who will ask questions about the financial situation and type of care needed by the person applying. This initial conversation can take 30 -45 minutes. You will need to have detailed information regarding the finances of the person needing care. This includes information on both income and assets. If you are the power of attorney for the person needing care, we will need verification of your power of attorney status before gathering information. If our clinical screeners confirm that you or your loved one pass the Michigan Intake Guidelines and may qualify for the program based on the answers given regarding care needed and finances, you will be added to the wait list for the program. For most people, your placement on the waitlist is based on when you contacted the program. The program is a Medicaid program, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) makes decisions regarding financial eligibility. Our staff will work with you to assist with the Medicaid application, but you may receive communication and questions from MDHHS regarding your application. When your name comes up on the waitlist, an assessment team from AgeWays will come to your home to determine if the level of care you need meets the "nursing home level" needed to qualify for the program. This team will include a nurse and a social worker. This assessment usually takes 2-3 hours to complete includes a standardized set of questions. Once it's determined that you qualify for the program, you will be assigned a "supports coordinator" who will create a plan of care based on the needs of you or your loved one. AgeWays will then work to set up needed care.

Who provides care?

AgeWays works with a pool of well-vetted direct service providers who provide care for individuals enrolled in the MI Choice program. These include home care agencies, transportation providers, and more. Your supports coordinator will work with you or your loved one to develop a plan of care and then work with the appropriate providers to put care services in place.

Who pays for care?

All services provided by the MI Choice program are paid for via Medicaid funding.

Can I get paid to provide care for a loved one through the program?

It is possible to be paid to care for a loved one using an element of the program called self-determination or be hired through a provider agency to deliver care. Please note that there are specific requirements related to when a spouse or legally responsible person can be paid to care for a program participant. Your supports coordinator will walk you through both options and help determine what best meets your needs and circumstances.

Is AgeWays the only organization who provides the MI Choice program in the region?

No. Easterseals MORC is also a MI Choice Waiver Agent and provides care in the 6-county region also served by AgeWays. Individuals can work through either organization to access the program.

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You can either call us directly at (800) 852-7795

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