Short answer: the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) can pay for non-medical home care, such as attendant care, personal care, homemaker services and respite, for Arizonans who meet both a medical and a financial test. Here is what it covers, who qualifies and how families in Phoenix and across the Valley can apply.
What Is ALTCS?
ALTCS is the long-term care program run by AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency. Its goal is to help people who need a nursing-facility level of care receive that support in the setting they prefer, which for many families means staying at home instead of moving into a nursing facility. For seniors who want to age in place in Phoenix, it can make non-medical home care far more affordable.
Who Qualifies For ALTCS?
Eligibility has two parts, and an applicant has to meet both:
- Medical need. The applicant must need a nursing-facility level of care because of an age-related, physical or intellectual condition. People with developmental disabilities generally enroll through the Division of Developmental Disabilities rather than the standard ALTCS route.
- Financial eligibility. Income and resource limits apply, and they are reviewed as part of the application. The limits change over time, so check the current figures with AHCCCS before you apply.
Non-Medical Home Care Services ALTCS May Cover
Once someone is enrolled, a case manager works with the family to decide which services are needed. Non-medical home care support commonly includes:
- Attendant care: help with homemaking, personal care and general supervision
- Personal care: assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting and moving around safely
- Homemaker services: cleaning, laundry and other household tasks
- Respite care: short-term relief so family caregivers can rest
- Home-delivered meals for eligible members
Every service has to be authorized by the ALTCS case manager based on a needs assessment, so the exact mix of help varies from person to person.
What ALTCS Does Not Pay For
It helps to know the boundaries up front. Skilled nursing and therapy at home fall under home health care rather than non-medical home care. ALTCS can help pay for assisted living services, but not for room and board, and it does not cover everything a family might want. Planning for the gaps early avoids surprises later.
How To Apply For ALTCS
- Submit an application through Health-e-Arizona Plus or the AHCCCS application process.
- Complete the financial review and the medical assessment.
- Enroll with an ALTCS program contractor and meet your case manager.
- Take part in a needs assessment, after which your case manager creates a service plan listing the approved services.
Gather income, bank, insurance and medical records before you start. Missing paperwork is the most common reason applications stall.
Three Ways Care Can Be Delivered
- Agency care: an agency employs, schedules and manages the caregiver.
- Agency with Choice: you share employer duties with the agency, including choosing and supervising your caregiver.
- Self-directed attendant care: you or your guardian act as the employer, with help from a fiscal agent.
These options are generally for people who live in their own home, and each comes with different responsibilities, so ask your case manager which fits your family.
Limits And Requirements To Keep In Mind
- Caps apply to paid caregiver hours and to respite hours, so ask your case manager for the current limits.
- Caregivers must meet training and certification requirements, and family caregivers have their own training rules.
- Care is expected to take place in the most integrated, least restrictive setting that meets the member’s needs.
- Rules, income limits and benefits change over time. Confirm current details with AHCCCS or your case manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ALTCS pay for in-home care in Phoenix? It can for eligible members. Services are authorized by a case manager, and eligibility depends on both medical need and financial limits.
Can a family member be paid to provide care? In some situations, yes, usually with training requirements and limits on hours. Your case manager can explain what applies to your family.
Is ALTCS the same as Medicare? No. Medicare generally does not cover long-term custodial care, while ALTCS is Arizona’s Medicaid long-term care program for people who qualify.
Does ALTCS help with memory care? It may help eligible members with care services. Read how to pay for memory care and our Dementia Guide for more.
Next Steps
If you are weighing home care for a parent or spouse, our advisors at Senior Patient Navigator can help you understand your options and what to prepare before you apply. You can check your eligibility or learn more about in-home senior care in Phoenix. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.