Does Medi-Cal pay for home care? IHSS in Los Angeles County

What IHSS is

The California Department of Social Services describes IHSS as in-home assistance for eligible aged, blind and disabled people as an alternative to out-of-home care.¹ Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Social Services runs it locally and describes it as help for low-income older, blind or disabled people.²

Who qualifies

• You live in California and in your own home.¹
• You have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination. Los Angeles County says applicants who are low income must apply for Medi-Cal.¹²
• A county social worker assesses the kinds of services you need and how many hours the county will authorize.¹ According to Disability Rights California, the maximum is 283 hours a month.⁴

Who can be paid, and how much

• You hire, train, supervise and can fire your provider. Providers can be family members, friends, neighbors or registered providers.²
• The Los Angeles County IHSS provider wage is $19.64 an hour.³
• Providers complete an orientation and then visit an IHSS office to enroll.³

How to apply in Los Angeles County

• Call (888) 944-IHSS (4477) toll free or (213) 744-IHSS (4477).²
• Apply online or by mail through the Department of Public Social Services. The details are on the county page.²

Other Medi-Cal help at home

Medi-Cal managed care plans in California may offer “Community Supports” under CalAIM. One of them, Personal Care and Homemaker Services, can supplement IHSS when more support is needed than the authorized hours provide, and a short-term version, for up to 60 days, can help someone avoid a short-term nursing facility stay. People enrolled in the Home and Community Based Alternatives waiver who receive its personal care services cannot receive it too. Community Supports are offered at the option of the health plan and the member, so availability varies by plan.⁵

Two other state programs are worth asking about. Community-Based Adult Services is a day health program for adults on Medi-Cal, held at a center rather than at home.⁶ The Multipurpose Senior Services Program provides care management and in-home support for people 60 and older on Medi-Cal who are certified or certifiable for placement in a skilled nursing facility.⁷