Authorizations
How to Become a Medicaid Provider for Home Care
To bill Medicaid for home care you need a state license, a Type 2 NPI, state Medicaid enrollment and screening, waiver or managed care contracts, EVV and authorizations.
What are the Medicaid income and asset limits for home care in Tennessee?
Last verified October 17, 2026 · All Tennessee resources
In Tennessee, the income limit is $2,982/month and the asset limit is $2,000 single. TennCare CHOICES has an income limit of $2,982 a month in 2026, three times the SSI benefit. People with higher income may be able to set up a Qualifying Income Trust. The total value of what you own cannot be more than $2,000, but the home you live in does not count. TennCare also checks whether you gave away or sold anything for less than it was worth in the past five years.
| Program | TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports (nursing facility care and home and community-based services) and Employment and Community First CHOICES |
|---|---|
| Income limit (single applicant) | $2,982/month for a single applicant (three times the SSI benefit) |
| How income is counted | special income limit (300% SSI) |
| Qualified income (Miller) trust used | Yes |
| Asset limit (single) | $2,000 single |
| Look-back period | 60 months |
What if a married applicant's spouse stays at home?
Federal spousal impoverishment rules protect part of the couple's income and assets for the spouse who stays home. For 2026 the community spouse can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in assets, depending on the state.
Which programs pay for care at home?
Once someone is financially eligible, home care is usually paid through a waiver or state plan program. See the Tennessee Medicaid waivers that pay for home care.
How to apply in Tennessee (TennCare (Tennessee Division of TennCare))
More for Tennessee
Medicaid eligibility by state: other states
Related guides
Operations
Private Pay vs. Medicaid: Choosing Your Agency's Payer Mix
Private pay means higher rates and fast payment; Medicaid means steady volume at state-set rates with authorizations and EVV. Compare rates, cash timing and admin before you mix them.
These free tools are made by the team behind Caregiver Scheduling, caregiver scheduling software for home care agencies.
Simple pricing
From $199 /month
Up to 10 caregivers on Starter, 50 on Growth.
More than 50 caregivers? We'll put together a custom Scale plan for your agency.