DMMA Delaware Medicaid: How the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance Works
What DMMA Does
The Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is the arm of Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) that runs the state's Medicaid program. If your parent needs long-term care coverage through the Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus), DMMA is the agency that sets the eligibility rules, contracts with the managed care organizations, and oversees the clinical assessment process.
DMMA handles the policy and operational side — the income and asset limits ($2,485/month income cap, $2,000 asset limit), the nursing-home level-of-care requirements, the MCO contracts with Highmark Health Options, AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware, and Delaware First Health, and the estate recovery program after a Medicaid recipient dies.
What DMMA does not do is take your parent's application directly. That function belongs to the Division of Social Services.
DMMA vs. DSS: Who Does What
Families frequently confuse DMMA with DSS because both sit under the Department of Health and Social Services and both deal with Medicaid. Here is the split:
Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA):
- Sets Medicaid eligibility policy for Delaware
- Operates the Central Intake Unit that processes PAE Tool-001 clinical assessments
- Contracts with and oversees MCOs for DSHP-Plus service delivery
- Administers estate recovery after a Medicaid recipient's death
- Publishes the annual income limits, CSRA figures, and MMMNA allowances
Division of Social Services (DSS):
- Accepts and processes Medicaid applications (both online through ASSIST and in person)
- Verifies income, assets, and identity documentation
- Issues approval or denial letters
- Handles annual eligibility redeterminations
- Operates the county-level service centers where families submit paperwork
When you walk into a county office to file a Medicaid long-term care application, you are dealing with DSS staff. When the clinical assessment results come back determining whether your parent meets the nursing-home level of care, that decision comes from DMMA's Central Intake Unit.
County Medicaid Offices
Delaware has three counties, and DSS operates service centers throughout the state. The following are representative offices where families can ask about Medicaid and other DSS services; confirm the current location and hours before visiting.
New Castle County: Robscott Building (Newark) 153 East Chestnut Hill Road, Newark, DE 19713 This office provides Medicaid and other DSS services.
Kent County: Williams (James W.) State Service Center (Dover) 805 River Road, Dover, DE 19901 This office provides Medicaid and other DSS services.
Sussex County: Adams (Thurman) State Service Center (Georgetown) 546 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947 This office provides Medicaid and other DSS services.
Eligibility rules are statewide. Confirm which service center handles the application before visiting.
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How to File
You can file through the Delaware ASSIST portal (assist.dhss.delaware.gov), which allows online submission of the Medicaid application. You will still need to upload or mail supporting documents: 60 months of bank statements, income verification, property records, and the Miller Trust agreement if applicable.
In-person filing at a county office can help when you have questions about what documentation is needed or when the applicant's situation is complex (multiple properties, recent asset transfers, or spousal impoverishment calculations). A DSS caseworker can explain what documentation is needed.
Regardless of filing method, timing depends on the financial and clinical reviews rather than a single fixed interval. Coverage for a period before the application date depends on the applicant's eligibility and the applicable Delaware rules; do not assume a private-pay period will be reimbursed.
Contacting DMMA Directly
For questions about Medicaid policy (not individual application status), DMMA can be reached through DHSS's main line or the DHSS website's Medicaid section. For questions about a pending application, contact the DSS office in the county where the application was filed.
The Delaware Medicaid Long-Term Care & Asset Protection Guide walks through the full application process — what documentation to prepare, how the clinical assessment works, and how to navigate the approval timeline — so you arrive at the county office or ASSIST portal with everything ready.
Get Your Free Delaware — Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility Checklist
Download the Delaware — Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.