Oregon Medicaid in-home care: homecare workers, Independent Choices and how to apply

Oregon pays for in-home care through Medicaid long-term services and supports run by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). You can hire your own worker, including a family member in some programs, or use an agency. The Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 855-673-2372 is the starting point.

Ways to get in-home help

ODHS's page on hiring a home care worker lists these options.

• Consumer Employer Program. Run through the Oregon Home Care Commission and available if you have Medicaid long-term services and supports, OPI or OPI-M. ODHS says you are the employer but the program pays your workers directly, and the Commission can help you find workers.
• Independent Choices Program. Available only with Medicaid long-term services and supports. ODHS says you get a monthly cash benefit and pay your workers yourself.
• In-home care agency. The agency screens, interviews and hires, and you choose from its employees.
• Agency with Choice. For Medicaid long-term services and supports only. ODHS says an agency handles hiring, background checks, taxes and payroll while you select and train your worker.
• Registry. ODHS links to an online care matching service called Carina.

Oregon Project Independence

ODHS's long-term care page says OPI is state-funded for people without Medicaid long-term care, with a sliding-scale share of cost and a waiting list in some areas. OPI-M is Medicaid-funded for people with limited income and resources and, ODHS says, is free if you qualify, with no estate recovery. The page labels its OPI-M income and asset figures as 2025 amounts, so we do not repeat them. Ask your local office for current figures. To apply for either, call or visit your local Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) or Area Agency on Aging office.

How to apply for Medicaid long-term care

ODHS lists three ways: call the ADRC at 855-673-2372, apply online at one.oregon.gov with a ONE Online account, or contact your local Benefits office for an appointment. To apply or update benefits, ODHS lists 800-699-9075, the same number Medicaid.gov lists for OregONEligibility. For local help, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898211.

Paying a family member

ODHS's hiring page says that under Independent Choices you can hire who you want, including home care workers, your spouse or other family members. Our Spousal Pay Program page covers the separate rule for spouses in the Consumer Employer Program. ODHS's rules define a "relative" as a person other than the spouse related by blood, marriage or adoption, and treat a relative paid for Medicaid in-home services to someone living in the relative's home as a homecare worker. See paid family caregiver in Oregon.

What we have not described

We did not read ODHS pages on PACE, adult foster homes, assisted living, or the services for people with developmental disabilities, which ODHS's rules treat separately. We state no pay rates and no income or asset limits. ODHS publishes a rate schedule that we did not read.

Where Carevo fits

Carevo is a connection platform and directory. We do not run these programs, assess eligibility or vouch for providers. For paid help now, see home care in Oregon, home health in Oregon, nursing homes in Oregon and developmental disability services in Oregon.

Programs in Oregon

• Spousal Pay Program: Oregon's Spousal Pay Program lets a spouse be paid as a homecare worker if the person receiving care meets strict conditions. ODHS caps spousal pay at 60 hours per week and reviews each case centrally.

Find providers in Oregon

• Home care in Oregon
• Home health care in Oregon
• Nursing homes in Oregon
• Intellectual and developmental disability services in Oregon
• Paid family caregiver in Oregon