Revealing the Best Kept Secrets about Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver Programs

Revealing the Best Kept Secrets about Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver Programs

March 5, 2025

10 AM - 12 PM

Registration Fees:

Member: $50   Non-member: $75

Location: Virtual

Few topics in the disability service system breed more confusion and misinformation than the Medicaid requirement for Medicaid Waiver programs.  Medicaid Waiver programs provide intensive services in the community to certain groups of people with disabilities as an alternative to institutional services.  Five Waiver programs in particular are vital to many Marylanders with disabilities:

• Community Pathways Waiver (for people with developmental disabilities)
• Community Supports Waiver (for people with developmental disabilities)
• Family Supports Waiver (for people with developmental disabilities)
• Community Options Waiver (for adults with physical disabilities)
• Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver (for people age 22 and older with traumatic brain injury)

A person must be eligible for Medicaid in order to enroll in a Medicaid Waiver program.  So far, this sounds simple and straightforward.  So why all the confusion?

There are many ways to qualify for Medicaid, but only a handful of them are compatible with each Waiver program.  The allowable ways a person may get Medicaid are somewhat different for different Waiver programs.  Each way to get Medicaid (called a “coverage group”) has different eligibility criteria.  So it’s complicated!

This webinar explains the process and dispels key myths.  You’ll learn:

• That the Waiver programs themselves do NOT have financial eligibility criteria – only the Medicaid coverage groups have limits on income and assets
• Which Medicaid coverage groups are allowed for each Waiver (Community Pathways, Community Supports, Family Supports, Community Options and Traumatic Brain Injury)
• Eligibility criteria for each of the key coverage groups
• How a person can go to work and remain eligible for Medicaid and a Waiver program
• How a person with assets over $2,000 or income over $2,901 per month may still qualify for Medicaid and a Waiver program
• How a person who loses eligibility for one coverage group (i.e., by exceeding the financial limits) can enroll in a different coverage group to keep Medicaid AND Waiver services
• How a person who does not currently have Medicaid may qualify for it

This session is highly recommended for all professionals who serve people in Medicaid Waiver programs, including Coordinators of Community Services, Benefits Planners, residential and vocational service providers, personal attendant service providers and other advocates.