

New Freedom has the state and the individual in need of care working collaboratively to determine the care needs and the budget to fulfill those needs. “Under New Freedom, even family members can be hired as caregivers.” (With the New Freedom program, participants may elect to have a representative, who is not also their paid caregiver, to direct their care). This model of program is based on the Medicaid principle of Cash and Counseling, which is also referred to as consumer direction and participant direction. (Financial Management Services are in place to provide budget assistance, help with accounting, and to pay for services / goods). This program allows residents to safely continue residing at home while providing them a care services budget and a great deal of flexibility with regards to its allocation.

The goal of this pilot program is to prevent costly institutionalization of the elderly and disabled. The New Freedom (NF) Medicaid waiver program is for individuals who require a nursing home level of care, but choose to receive in-home services instead of moving into a skilled nursing facility. Waiver DescriptionĪging residents and disabled individuals of King and Pierce Counties have an additional option to help pay for home care. It does this through “Medicaid Waivers,” which are also called Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers or Waiver Funded Services. For those who wish to live at home or in assisted living, sometimes Medicaid will pay for care in those locations if it can be obtained at a lower cost than in a nursing home. For persons with limited financial resources, Medicaid pays for nursing home care.
