Caregiver Support and Resources

Medicaid Recipients and Their Caregivers

Some Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCS) recipients may qualify for respite. Contact your HCS program case manager or service coordinator to learn more.

The Medicaid Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program helps families pay for employer-sponsored health insurance premiums. People of all ages enrolled in any Medicaid program, besides STAR Health, can be eligible for HIPP. Learn more on the HIPP webpage.

Contact your Managed Care Organization (MCO) to learn about these Medicaid services and benefits:

• Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers (PPECC): For young people who meet medical necessity criteria and are available as an alternative to private duty nursing. PPECCs can include caregiver training to optimize the recipient’s health status and outcomes and promote and support family-centered, community-based care.
• Member Advisory Groups: STAR+PLUS and STAR Kids require MCOs to establish advisory groups consisting of members, caregivers and advocates who meet quarterly in each service area. This would provide caregivers with a forum to raise programmatic issues and concerns.
• Changes in Condition and Service Planning (for STAR+PLUS HCBS and Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) (STAR Kids and STAR Health)): A change in caregiver supports is considered a “change in condition,” requiring the MCO to review the individual service plan and authorize appropriate services. In other words, the MCO is required to adjust needed services, if the level of caregiver support changes.
• State Plan Long-term Services and Supports (for STAR+PLUS HCS services and MDCP [STAR Kids and STAR Health]): Offers services to members who may provide some indirect relief to caregivers. Examples include home-delivered meals, attendant care, minor home modifications and day activity health services.
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT): Covers medical and dental appointments. NEMT can also pay for gas money if a caregiver drives a member to an appointment.

Caregivers in Specific Populations or Circumstances

• Veterans and their caregivers.
• Kinship caregivers.
• Long-distance caregivers.
• Caregivers of people seeking admission to a Medicaid-certified long-term care facility.
• People with complex needs. Community Resource Coordination Groups work with parents, caregivers, youth and adults with complex needs to identify and coordinate services and supports.

Older Adults and Their Caregivers

Texas’ 28 AAAs provide information and assistance to help people age 60 and older, their family members and caregivers locate and access community services. Family members and other caregivers may receive information and services on behalf of the older person they are providing care for. Examples of caregiver supports available through AAAs include:

• Information about available services.
• Assistance applying for services.
• Individual counseling, organization of support groups and training.
• Respite care.
• Supplemental services on a limited basis.

Find out which AAA serves your area.

People with Specific Medical Conditions and Their Caregivers

• People with dementia and Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
• People with cancer and their caregivers.
• People who have end-stage renal disease and their caregivers.
• Children with special health care needs, anyone with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers.
• People with epilepsy and their caregivers.
• The Children’s Autism Program provides focused applied behavior analysis treatment services to children with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Email the Children's Autism Program to learn more.

People of All Ages with Disabilities and Their Caregivers

• Resources for children with disabilities and their parents and caregivers.
• Resources for people with developmental disabilities.
• Alternatives to facility-based care for children with developmental disabilities.
• Education information for caregivers and parents of children with disabilities.
• Service coordination helps people with IDD access medical, social, educational, and other services and supports. Use this search tool to help you find the LIDDA serving your area.