How do Medicaid Home Care Programs Support Family Caregivers?

(By Alice Burns, Abby Wolk, Molly O’Malley Watts, and Maiss Mohamed for The Kaiser Family Foundation Published: Jan 13, 2025)

KFF estimates that 4.5 million people use Medicaid home care, which provides medical and supportive services to help people with the activities of daily living (such as eating and bathing) and the instrumental activities of daily living (such as preparing meals and managing medications). Medicare generally does not cover home care (also known as home- and community-based services or HCBS), and Medicaid paid for two-thirds of home care spending in the United States in 2022. In Medicaid home care, many people “self-direct” their services, giving them greater autonomy over the types of services provided and who they are provided by; and in some cases, allowing payments to family caregivers. Beyond paying for their caregiving, Medicaid supports family caregivers with services such as training, support groups, and respite care (which is paid care that allows family caregivers to take a break from their normal responsibilities). According to a document made public by Politico, House Republicans are considering reducing Medicaid spending by $2.3 trillion over 10 years, which represents a nearly one-third reduction in Medicaid spending. Cuts of that magnitude would limit states’ ability to continue supporting family caregivers. Continue reading here…

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