Homemaker Service 525-05-30-35

(Revised 1/1/15 ML #3428)

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Purpose

The purpose of Homemaker Service is to complete intermittent or occasional environmental tasks that an elderly or disabled individual is not able to complete him or herself in order to maintain that individual's home.

Service Eligibility Criteria for

The individual receiving homemaker service will meet the following criteria:

1. Must be eligible for the Medicaid Waiver for Home and Community Based Services, SPED,  or ExSPED.
2. Needs assistance with environmental tasks that are within the scope of this service.
3. Has no informal network or other agency available/capable/willing to complete environmental task(s)/activities. The client must live-alone or the person(s) living with the client is/are not capable or obligated to complete the task(s). Homemaking services cannot be approved when they are completed for the benefit of both the client and the provider.

If the live-in provider is a relative as defined in the definition of "family home care", or is a former spouse. the tasks of laundry, shopping, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management or communication CANNOT be authorized; except the department may provide essential homemaking activities such as meal preparation if the adult not receiving care who resides in the home is unavailable due to employment The department may provide shopping assistance only if at least one other activity is performed and no other shopping assistance is available through informal networks or other community providers.

4. For a client who lives with a capable person or a provider, prior approval for Homemaker Service must be obtained from the HCBS Program Administrator.
5. The need for environmental tasks/activities is intermittent or occasional.
6. Occasionally the provision of Homemaker Service tasks/activities may impact other family members. When this occurs it must be considered insignificant or must be inseparable from tasks/activities provided to the client (e.g. cooking, cleaning).
7. The department may provide essential homemaking tasks such as meal preparation if the adult not receiving care who resides in the home is unavailable due to employment. Prior approval for these tasks must be obtained from the HCBS Program Administrator.
8. The funding cap applies to a household and may not be exceeded regardless of the number of clients reside in the home.

EXAMPLE: If a husband and wife both qualify for homemaker services and the max funding cap must be shared by both clients. The total number of units should be divided between the individuals in the home and included on each individual care plan but the cap cannot be exceeded.

Service Tasks/Activities

1. Housework
2. Meal Preparation
3. Laundry
4. Shopping

1. If shopping is the only identified Homemaker Service, Homemaker Service should not be authorized.
2. Transportation or escorting of the client are unallowable.

5. Communication
6. Managing Money

Services Activities, Authorized and Limits

1. The service tasks/activities within the scope of this service chapter are defined on page 2 of the Authorization to Provide Service, SFN 1699.
2. When a client receives assistance with laundry, shopping, housekeeping, under medicaid state plan personal care (MSP-PC) in excess of the funding cap allowed for homemaker services under SPED, EXSPED, or HCBS Wavier, additional tasks may not be authorized under Homemaker Services.

Examples:

1. A client is receiving MSP-PC 480 unit per month, 96 units are allocated to L/S/H, the total cost of the 96 units provided by a individual provider is over the cap for Homemaker Services allowable under this chapter and the client therefore is not eligible for Homemaker Service, see Maximum Monthly Amount - Aggregate and Per Service 525-05-35
2. A client is receiving MSP-PC 960 unit per month, 20 units are allocated to L/S/H, the total cost of the 20 units provided by an agency is under the cap for the Homemaker Services allowable under this chapter. This client would be eligible for Homemaker Services up to the allowable cap (the cost of the 20 units of service would need to be subtracted from the Homemaker Service cap and the client would be eligible for additional units of service up to the Homemaker Service cap), see Maximum Monthly Amount - Aggregate and Per Service 525-05-35.
3. If a client is receiving MSP-Personal Care assistance for meal prep, communication, and money management, these tasks are not allowable homemaker tasks unless approval is obtained from a HCBS Program Administrator.