Adult Medicaid Manual N MA-2180 HEALTH COVERAGE FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

II. Background

North Carolina is authorized to provide Medicaid for disabled/blind workers under the Health Coverage for Workers with Disabilities Act (G.S. 108A-54.1). Health Coverage for Workers with Disabilities (HCWD) provides an incentive for persons with disabilities to go to work or to increase their hours of work while protecting their Medicaid eligibility.

HCWD covers blind or disabled workers age 16 through 64 with incomes equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The resource limit is the minimum community spouse resource allowance (See MA-2231, Community Spouse Resource Protection). HCWD recipients are entitled to full Medicaid coverage under MAB or MAD. Recipients age 16 through 20 are also entitled to additional services provided under EPSDT (See MA-2905, Medicaid Covered Services, XXXVIII.). HCWD recipients can not be receiving under any CAP program. HCWD consists of two groups, the Basic Coverage Group and the Medically Improved Coverage Group.