DHS rejects request for grandfathered Elderly Waiver services

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has nixed a request from local officials that would have returned vital in-home health care services to elderly residents across the state.
     In August, the board of supervisors and other public health officials met with DHS Director Chuck Palmer to discuss modifications to the state’s Elderly Waiver program. Changes to the eligibility criteria have booted some Iowans from the service, which provides funding support to keep Medicaid-eligible resident over the age of 65 in their homes rather than nursing facilities.
     Multiple residents were deemed ineligible following the changes. Franklin County Board of Health member Shawn Dietz suggested that DHS grandfather those individuals into the program and apply the altered criteria to new applicants. However, Palmer recently informed Dietz that wouldn’t be possible.
    Read the full article in the September 30 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.