Ask Mike - Can a parent be paid to stay home and care for their child with a disability?

Dear Mike,

I have a question regarding consumer-directed attendant care services for children in West Virginia. I had heard from a parent that I work with in Virginia that parents in West Virginia can be the paid caregiver of a child with a disability receiving waiver services. This is the opposite of Virginia and I was just wondering if there was any truth to that. Can a parent/primary caregiver in West Virginia be paid to stay home and care for their child with a disability if that child is receiving waiver services?

Thank you,

A caring parent

Dear Caring Parent,

The basic rule of Medicaid is that parents of minor children CANNOT be paid caregivers unless they are so rural and/or the services are so technical and specialized that no other provider is available. This is almost a case-by-case situation.

So, unless West Virginia has a new DRA self-directed program or has an 1115 demonstration waiver (very doubtful on both), parents would not be able to be paid. Maybe the issue is parents of adult children. If this is the case, then fine, they could be paid. The nut of the question is not "parents", but whether the children have reached majority or are still minors. Parents of adult children can be paid under federal rules. States can further restrict parents being paid, but the feds are ok with it.

Best of luck to you.

Mike Oxford

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