LRI Personal Care in Nebraska

What is LRI Personal Care?

LRI stands for Legally Responsible Individual. In Nebraska, the Medicaid HCBS waiver programs recognize that some participants receive extraordinary hands-on care from a spouse or the parent of a minor child. LRI Personal Care may compensate that caregiver for qualifying tasks when the service is available through the participant's waiver and authorized in the person-centered plan. Nebraska DHHS and the service coordinator determine eligibility and authorization; the provider agency does not.

Who may qualify for LRI Personal Care?

Requirements vary by waiver. Current Nebraska DHHS materials emphasize these core conditions:

• •The participant must be enrolled in a Nebraska HCBS waiver that offers LRI Personal Care and have qualifying Extraordinary Care needs included in an authorized person-centered plan.
• •The caregiver must meet the waiver's definition of a Legally Responsible Individual — a spouse or the natural or adoptive parent of a minor child — and complete applicable provider requirements.

If you are unsure whether you qualify, Golden Years Health can help you understand common requirements, prepare questions, and coordinate the care-provider side of the process.

Which needs may be authorized?

Only hands-on needs scored as qualifying on the Extraordinary Care assessment and included in the person-centered plan may be authorized. Depending on waiver rules, age, and caregiver relationship, examples can include:

• •Bathing, showering, and personal hygiene assistance
• •Dressing and grooming support
• •Medically necessary feeding or food-texture preparation
• •Mobility, transfer, turning, and positioning assistance
• •Certain health-related tasks when the waiver and caregiver-relationship rules allow them

Nebraska's current Extraordinary Care process generally requires qualifying needs in at least three areas. Current materials also describe a 40-hour weekly limit across LRI providers. Families should confirm the rules that apply to their waiver with the service coordinator.

How the process works

Nebraska DHHS and the participant's service coordinator lead eligibility, assessment, and service authorization. The usual sequence is:

1. 1Start with official eligibility — Apply for Medicaid and the appropriate HCBS waiver or confirm current enrollment with Nebraska DHHS.
2. 2Complete the assessment — The service coordinator works with the family to identify Extraordinary Care needs and develop the person-centered plan.
3. 3Choose an enrolled provider — Confirm that the provider supports the participant's waiver and complete applicable caregiver onboarding.
4. 4Receive written authorization — The approved plan identifies qualifying tasks, hours, goals, and the service start date.
5. 5Document authorized care — Paid care begins only after provider enrollment and service authorization; services cannot be backdated.

How Golden Years Health can help

We can explain our provider-onboarding process, help families prepare questions for DHHS or the service coordinator, support required caregiver documentation, and explain how authorized care is recorded. Nebraska DHHS determines Medicaid and waiver eligibility, while the service coordinator assesses Extraordinary Care and develops and authorizes the person-centered plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About LRI Personal Care