Community Choices Waiver vs Wyoming Home Services
Wyoming has two programs that can help pay for in-home care for aging parents, and families regularly confuse them or apply to the wrong one first. The Community Choices Waiver (CCW) and Wyoming Home Services (WyHS) serve different populations, have different financial rules, and cover different services. Picking the wrong one wastes weeks of application time your parent may not have.
Eligibility at a Glance
| Criterion | CCW | WyHS |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical requirement | Nursing facility level of care — LT101 score ≥ 13 points | "At risk of premature institutionalization" — AGNES assessment |
| Age | Older adults (65+) | 60+ (or 18+ with a disability) |
| Income limit | Hard cap: $2,982/month | No income cap — sliding-fee scale |
| Asset limit | $2,000 individual | No asset limit |
| Funding source | Federal Medicaid (Section 1915(c)) | State general fund |
| Enrollment | ~3,500 capped slots; waitlist possible | County-by-county; depends on local funding |
The core distinction: CCW is for parents who clinically qualify for a nursing home but want to stay home. WyHS is for parents who aren't that impaired yet but need enough help that without it, they'd end up in a facility prematurely.
What Each Program Covers
CCW services include personal care assistance, homemaker services, non-medical transportation, adult day care, skilled private-duty nursing, assistive technology, environmental modifications, and respite care. CCW also allows participant-directed care — your parent can hire a family member or friend as their paid caregiver.
WyHS services are more limited: personal care, chore services, homemaker help, respite care, and minor home modifications. The program is delivered through county senior centers and Area Agencies on Aging.
Cost to the Family
Under the CCW, your parent pays nothing for covered services — standard Medicaid cost-sharing rules apply. However, the $2,000 asset limit means most liquid assets must be spent down before approval, and parents with income over $2,982/month need a Miller Trust.
Under WyHS, services are charged on a sliding-fee scale based on net household income. Below 100% of the federal poverty level, services are free. Above that, copayments increase gradually. The program can't deny services due to inability to pay when local program funds are available, but local funding can run out.
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Which One to Apply for First
Apply for CCW if your parent scores 13+ on the LT101, has limited assets, and needs substantial daily care — especially if they need skilled nursing at home or want to hire a family member as a caregiver.
Apply for WyHS if your parent doesn't meet the nursing facility level of care threshold, has assets above $2,000, or needs lighter-touch support like housekeeping and occasional personal care to stay independent.
Contact both programs if your parent is borderline on the LT101 — ask whether WyHS can provide interim services while the CCW application processes, and confirm whether the programs can overlap.
One important operational detail: if WyHS services are interrupted for 30 consecutive days, the program formally discharges your parent. If your parent is hospitalized for a month, notify the WyHS provider immediately to discuss their return-to-service policy.
The Wyoming Hospital Discharge Transition Guide includes application checklists for both programs, an LT101 prep guide to maximize your parent's clinical score, and a sliding-fee estimator for WyHS copayments.
Get Your Free Wyoming — Hospital Discharge Checklist
Download the Wyoming — Hospital Discharge Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.