To get Medicaid home care in New York City you need three things, in this order: active Medicaid (applied for through ACCESS HRA if you are 65 or older or have a certified disability, otherwise through NY State of Health), an assessment by the New York Independent Assessor Program at 1-855-222-8350, and a plan of care authorized by HRA or your managed long term care plan. For adults, that independent assessment now starts the home care process, not the old doctor’s form known as the M11q.
How do you apply for Medicaid home care in NYC?
There is no single “home care application.” You apply for Medicaid first, then get assessed for the kind and amount of care. Where you apply for Medicaid depends on who you are, according to the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA):
| Who is applying | Where to apply |
|---|---|
| NYC resident age 65 or older, or with a certified disability or blindness, or chronically ill | HRA: online on ACCESS HRA, by phone at the HRA Medicaid Helpline, 1-888-692-6116 (request an application kit), or at a Medicaid Community Office |
| Under 65 without a certified disability or chronic illness | NY State of Health, nystateofhealth.ny.gov or 855-355-5777 |
| Questions about housekeeping services or home care programs | The Home Care CASA Office in your borough, or the DSS OneNumber, 718-557-1399 |
The steps after that, based on the state’s 2022 directive and HRA’s pages:
- Apply for Medicaid. HRA’s Health Assistance page says to provide proof of residency, identity, income and immigration status, and not to send originals. If you cannot provide everything at once, the application is deferred to give you time. HRA also says proof of Medicare is now required, and people not enrolled in Medicare must enroll as a condition of eligibility.
- Call the Independent Assessor. The number is 1-855-222-8350. A representative confirms you have active Medicaid and schedules both a Community Health Assessment and a clinical appointment, to be completed within 14 calendar days of your call.
- Have the assessment. You can choose a telehealth or an in-person visit. Keep your medical records and a list of current prescriptions ready.
- Read the outcome notice. It explains the next steps, including whether you may be eligible for a managed long term care plan, and how to reach HRA to finish care planning.
- Plan of care and authorization. HRA or your plan reviews the assessment and the clinician’s order, builds the plan of care and authorizes services. The directive gives the local district seven business days from receiving the assessment and order.
Is there an online option, and can a family member apply for you?
Yes. HRA’s Medicaid FAQ says you can apply on ACCESS HRA, print the paper application from the state Department of Health site, call 888-692-6116 for a kit, or visit a Medicaid Community Office. You apply for yourself and your eligible spouse or children, and a legally responsible parent or an authorized representative can submit an application for an eligible person. For viewing a case or submitting a renewal, HRA says someone else needs your permission to create an account for you.
We found nothing on HRA’s or the state’s pages about biometric checks or real-time system links for home care applicants, so do not assume you need to prepare for either. The practical hurdles are paperwork, phone tag and waiting. Write down every call date and keep copies of what you send.
What is the M11q form, and do you still need it?
The M11q, the Medical Request for Home Care (HCSP-M11Q), used to be the doctor’s order that started a Medicaid home care case. For adults, the state’s 2022 directive says that practice was discontinued for personal care and CDPAP on and after May 16, 2022, and replaced by an order from the independent clinician at the assessment. HRA’s long term care page still lists the form, so ask your caseworker which paperwork your case needs before paying a doctor to complete it.
| Form | What it is | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| HCSP-M11Q or DOH-4359 | Physician’s order for home care | Replaced for adults by the assessment process in 2022; still used for children under 18 |
| Practitioner Order | Order issued by the independent clinician at the assessment | Adults seeking personal care or CDPAP |
| DOH-5779 | Practitioner Statement of Need, completed by an MD, DO, NP or PA | Adults with an immediate need |
| DOH-5786 (formerly OHIP-0103) | Attestation of immediate need | Immediate need requests; see our immediate need guide |
We keep a copy of the HCSP-M11Q form and a longer M11q guide. For the assessment itself, see our NYIA guide.
What happens at the independent assessment?
The state’s program page says the process has two parts: a Community Health Assessment by a registered nurse, and a clinical exam by a clinician such as an MD, DO, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who issues the order. For high-needs cases, where the plan includes more than 12 hours a day of care on average, an Independent Review Panel also reviews the plan.
Since September 1, 2025, adults 21 and over also have to meet the Minimum Needs Requirement: at least limited assistance with physical maneuvering for more than two activities of daily living, or for a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis, at least supervision with more than one. People already authorized or enrolled that day continue under the old criteria. If the assessment says you do not qualify, the outcome notice carries fair hearing rights. The assessment and the clinician’s order are valid for 12 months unless your condition changes.
How long does each step take?
| Step | Official timeframe |
|---|---|
| Assessment and clinical appointment (standard) | Scheduled to be completed within 14 calendar days of contacting the Independent Assessor |
| Care plan and authorization after assessment | Seven business days from receipt of the assessment and order |
| Assessment for an immediate need | Six calendar days; the local district has up to 12 calendar days overall |
| Medicaid application itself | HRA’s pages give no standard processing time for a regular application |
These are targets in state directives, not guarantees. If time is critical, read about the immediate need process.
What is the NYS Home Care Registry, and how does it fit in?
It is a different thing from your application. The state’s Home Care Registry lists home health aides, advanced home health aides and personal care aides who completed a state-approved training program. You can search by name (at least two letters of the last name) or by the worker’s Home Care Registry number. It is for checking a worker, not for finding care or applying.
The Department of Health warns that the information is limited, may be entered by third parties and may be outdated, so you should make additional reference checks, especially when employment status is anything other than “YES.” Our step-by-step guide is how to check the NY State Department of Health home care registry; for how aides get on it, see the HHA certificate guide.
What about VNS Health and other plans or agencies?
Two different things get mixed up here. A managed long term care plan, under the state’s MLTC program, is the insurer that authorizes your home care. To enroll, you must be assessed as needing community-based long term care for more than 120 days and meet the Minimum Needs requirements, and the state lists three lines: MLTC partial capitation, Medicaid Advantage Plus and PACE. A home care agency sends the aide. VNS Health, for example, presents home care and health plans as separate lines on its website. Ask which of the two you are dealing with before you compare, and check that your agency accepts your plan. Our guide on choosing a home care agency lists the questions to ask.
Getting ready for the assessment: advice from our nurse director
Anna Klyauzova, RN, MSN, MPA, Director of Patient Services at ProLife Home Care, on what she sees in practice:
I never promise a family a number of hours before the assessment. Two people with the same diagnosis can need very different amounts of help. The assessment looks at how they manage daily activities, their cognitive state and other individual needs. If the approved hours still look too low, ask for a reassessment.
At the needs assessment, someone asks, “Can your mother shower, dress and use the toilet on her own?” and the family says, “Yes, basically.” Meanwhile she is afraid of falling in the shower, has trouble getting out of bed and forgets her pills. Describe how the person really manages, bad days included. How well she handles daily activities affects eligibility, so the details count.
We are a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens, licence #2572L001, New York State Department of Health. We do not process Medicaid applications or run the assessment. For help working out your next step, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page. Our Medicaid home care guide explains what the program pays for.
Medicaid rules and forms change. Everything above was checked against nyc.gov, health.ny.gov, access.nyc.gov, apps.health.ny.gov and vnshealth.org on 9 October 2026. Some state pages cited, such as the NYIAP program page, show earlier revision dates, so confirm timelines and forms with HRA, the Independent Assessor or your plan.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for Medicaid home care in New York City?
Apply for Medicaid through ACCESS HRA if you are 65 or older or have a certified disability, otherwise through NY State of Health. Then call the NY Independent Assessor at 1-855-222-8350 for the assessment. HRA or your plan authorizes services afterward.
Do I still need the M11q form?
For adults starting personal care or CDPAP, the state’s 2022 directive says the physician’s order forms, including the HCSP-M11Q, were replaced by the Independent Assessor’s practitioner order. They remain in use for children under 18. HRA still lists the form, so confirm with your caseworker.
What is the New York State Home Care Registry?
It is a state database of home health aides and personal care aides who completed a state-approved training program. You can search by name or registry number. The Department of Health says the data is limited and may be outdated.
How do I search the NYS Home Care Registry?
Go to the Department of Health’s Home Care Registry page and search by name, entering at least two letters of the last name, or by the worker’s registry number. You can filter by county and by type of worker.
How long does it take to get an assessment?
The state directive says the assessment and clinical appointment are scheduled to be completed within 14 calendar days of contacting the Independent Assessor. Immediate need cases have a six-day target.
Is VNS Health a home care agency or a health plan?
Its website lists both home care and health plans as separate services. For a health plan question, use the number on your member card. To compare plans in general, start with the state’s MLTC page.
