The purpose of this waiver is to keep children with life-limiting illnesses at home and out of the hospital whenever possible. This palliative care waiver enables children to receive services early in their diagnosis while allowing families to pursue curative treatments alongside palliative care. Unlike other programs, it does not require physician certification that death is expected within nine months. By combining curative and palliative care, the program provides continuous support throughout the child's life. The waiver serves Medicaid-eligible children from birth through age 18 who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
The waiver provides several in-home services: respite care (including personal care, nursing, or home health aide services based on the child's needs); expressive therapies (such as creative art, music, or play therapy); palliative/supportive care (including pain and symptom management and care coordination); massage therapy; and therapeutic grief support and bereavement services. While case management serves an administrative function, clients also have access to all Medicaid State Plan benefits, including hospice and home health services.
The Department oversees the waiver's administration, with County Departments of Human Services determining financial eligibility. Case Management Agencies (CMA) evaluate the level of care and target population criteria. Nurses at hospice or home health agencies assess each child's medical care needs based on physician orders and provide medical care coordination.