Assisted Living Waiver
The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) is a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that was created by legislation that directed the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to develop and implement the project to test the efficacy of assisted living as a Medi-Cal benefit.
COVID-19 Hotspot Enrollment
On September 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) authorized California’s request to temporarily
modify 1915(c) Waiver enrollment policy for the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) to
prioritize intake processing of waiver applicants residing in hospitals and
skilled nursing facilities in areas of the state identified as “hotspots.” The
temporary enrollment flexibility is available waiver-wide but only applies to
individuals within counties with the highest rates of new COVID-19 infections. For more information on the
Appendix K temporary authorization of prioritized enrollment of applicants in
COVID-19 “hotspots,” please visit DHCS’
COVID-19
Information for Providers & Partners webpage.
| County | Designated COVID-19 "hotspot: as of | Care Coordination Agency |
| Alameda | 12/01/2020 | - Blossom Ridge
- NorCal Care
- Star Nursing
|
| Contra Costa | 11/16/2020 | - NorCal Care
- Rehab Services of CA
- Star Nursing
|
| Fresno | 10/13/2020 | - All Hours
- Libertana
- Star Nursing
|
| Kern | 10/13/2020 | - All Hours
- Star Nursing
|
| Los Angeles | 10/27/2020 | - A-Biz Health Systems
- Access TLC
- All Hours Adult Care
- Archangel Home Health
- Calstro Hospice
- Concise Home Health
- Guidant Care Management
- Home Health Service of CA
- Huntington Home Care
- Huntington Hospital Senior Care
- Jewish Family Services
- Libertana
- Matrix Home Health
- Media Home Health
- Partners in Care
- Star Nursing
- Steward Hospice Care
- The Caring Connection
- True Care Home Health
- Universal Home Care
- Vigilans Home Health Services
|
| Orange | 11/17/2020 | - Access TLC
- All Hours Adult Care
- Calstro Hospice
- Concise Home Health
- Home Health Service of CA
- Huntington Home Care
- Libertana
- Media Home Health
- Star Nursing
- The Caring Connection
- True Care Home Health
- Universal Home Care
- Vigilans Home Health Services
|
| Riverside | 10/13/2020 | - All Hours Adult Care
- Archangel Home Health
- Calstro Hospice
- Home Health Service of CA
- Huntington Home Care
- Libertana
- Partners in Care
- Star Nursing
- Steward Hospice Care
- The Caring Connection
- Vigilans Home Health Services
|
| Sacramento | 11/10/2020 | - Blossom Ridge
- Guidant Care Management
- Elder Options
- HHCM
- NorCal Care
- Senior Care Solutions
- Star Nursing
|
| San Bernardino | 10/13/2020 | - All Hours Adult Care
- Archangel Home Health
- Calstro Hospice
- Concise Home Health Services
- Home Health Service of CA
- Libertana
- Media Home Health
- Partners in Care
- Star Nursing
- Steward Hospice Care
- Vigilans Home Health Services
|
| San Diego | 11/10/2020 | - All Hours Adult Care
- Huntington Home Care
- Institute on Aging
- Libertana Home Health
- Star Nursing
|
| San Francisco | 12/15/2020 | - NorCal Care
- Star Nursing
|
| San Joaquin | 10/13/2020 | - Guidant Care Management
- HHCM
- Infinity Care Services
- NorCal Care
- Star Nursing
|
| San Mateo | 12/01/2020 | - Institute on Aging
- NorCal Care
- Star Nursing
|
| Santa Clara | 12/01/2020 | - Institute on Aging
- NorCal Care
- Star Nursing
|
| Sonoma | 10/13/2020 | - NorCal Care
- Star Nursing
|
The pilot program was determined to be successful during the first three years in a limited trial in three counties. In March 2009, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a waiver renewal for an additional five years and expansion of the program into additional counties. The current,
five-year waiver term is approved for March 1, 2019 – February 28, 2024.
To be eligible to receive services as an ALW Participant, an individual must meet all of the following ALW eligibility criteria:
- Age 21 or older;
- Have full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility with zero share of cost;
- Have care needs equal to those of Medi-Cal-funded residents living and receiving care in Nursing Facilities;
- Willing to live in an assisted living setting as an alternative to a Nursing Facility;
- Able to reside safely in an assisted living facility or public subsidized housing;
- Willing to live in an assisted living setting located in one of the following counties providing ALW services: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties.
The goal of the ALW is to:
1) facilitate a safe and timely transition of Medi-Cal eligible seniors and persons with disabilities from a nursing facility to a community home-like setting in a Residential Care Facility (RCF), an Adult Residential Care Facility (ARF), or public subsidized housing, utilizing ALW services; and
2) offer eligible seniors and persons with disabilities, who reside in the community, but are at risk of being institutionalized, the option of utilizing ALW services to develop a program that will safely meet his/her care needs while continuing to reside in a RCF, ARF, or public subsidized housing.
Medi-Cal Member Enrollment Information
Provider Enrollment Information
Provider Resources, Forms, and Memorandums
Assisted Living Waiver Current Enrollment
Current enrollment and waitlist information for the Assisted Living Waiver can be found on the enrollment dashboard, which is updated monthly. New applicants to the ALW should be aware the number of available slots is limited and there is a waitlist. Open waiver slots are release to Care Coordination Agencies on a regular basis. Please contact the Care Coordination Agency of your choice for the information. A current listing of Care Coordination Agencies can be found here.
Additional Program Resources:
