Gets HHS Approval

Nevada Program Helps Disabled Live At Home

November 27, 2002
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved Nevada's plan to expand the help it provides to disabled adults so they can remain in their homes and out of nursing facilities. With the change, Nevada will increase the number of people served under its home- and community-based waiver five-fold -- from 304 to 1,716 people.

Nevada's newly amended home and community-based services waiver will provide services to persons of any age who otherwise would require care in a nursing home. Previously, the waiver was limited to people ages 64 and older. Those served under this waiver will receive home support, personal care services, respite care, transportation, home delivered meals and other services to keep them at home. Nevada is also revising its waiver to include participant self-direction in choosing, training and supervising personal care providers.

"This latest waiver will give many more Nevada residents the kind of benefits that they need to stay out of nursing homes and remain a part of their communities," Secretary Thompson said. "President Bush and I are encouraging these kinds of better options for people with disabilities nationwide."

Medicaid is a state and federal matching program to provide health care services to certain low-income populations, primarily children, disabled adults and the elderly. States and the federal government share the cost of the Medicaid program.

As former governors, President Bush and Secretary Thompson have made it a priority to make it simpler and easier for governors to submit Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program waiver requests and to have those requests considered promptly. Since January 2001, HHS has approved waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to more than 2 million people and enhanced benefits for more than 6 million people.