Home page Photo Credits Stuff to know about . . . What states can offer now Medicaid personal care and related services are optional benefits that are provided at the discretion of each state. No new federal laws are needed for states to do this.
States already have the ability to offer in-home alternatives to institutions.
They can choose to provide Medicaid services under the Personal Care Services benefit. There are also waivers. There's a Nursing Home Bias , though. This option, once it's part of the State Medicaid Plan, makes unskilled personal care services a part of the state's Medicaid benefits package. The Personal Care Services Option was made available to states in 1975 by Medicaid.