District of Columbia Adult Day Health Program (ADHP)

DC Medicaid’s Adult Day Health Program (ADHP) pays for a structured day program at a certified center for adults who need supervision, health monitoring and help with daily activities, so they can keep living at home. For the wider picture, see our District of Columbia Long-Term Care Medicaid guide.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

At a glance

Item	Details
Type of program	Medicaid adult day health benefit
Who runs it	DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)
Age	Adults with DC Medicaid
Care need	Meets the ADHP care criteria (needs supervision or help during the day)
District of Columbia 2026 income rule (long-term care)	$2,982 a month (special income standard)
District of Columbia 2026 asset limit (single applicant)	$4,000
Waiting list	Depends on center capacity

ADHP in brief

To sum up, DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) oversees ADHP. It serves adults with DC Medicaid, and the care requirement is: Meets the ADHP care criteria (needs supervision or help during the day). Waiting list status in 2026: Depends on center capacity. The sections below repeat these points with more detail, and our state guide covers the District of Columbia rules that apply to every long-term care program. Families weighing ADHP against other District of Columbia options can use the related pages at the end to compare programs side by side.

What the program is

ADHP is a DC Medicaid state plan service. Centers provide nursing oversight, meals, activities and personal care during the day, and the participant returns home in the evening. DHCF uses an assessment to decide whether a person meets the criteria and how many days are authorized.

In adult day health, the person spends part of the day at a licensed center and sleeps at home. Unlike a social day program, it includes health services such as nursing oversight, medication help and therapy, along with meals, activities and supervision. For working caregivers, this daytime coverage often keeps a parent at home. See Adult day care.

Who qualifies in 2026

To get ADHP, a person generally has to meet each of these:

Has DC Medicaid
Is assessed as needing ADHP services
Lives in DC
Can safely attend a day program

The money test. The person must have DC Medicaid. DC’s income and asset rules are in our state guide. The income and asset figures in the table above are District of Columbia’s 2026 Long-Term Care Medicaid figures from our state guide. Exempt items generally include the home within the equity cap, a car, household goods and a modest burial fund. When one spouse applies for ADHP and the other stays at home, the spouse at home keeps a protected share of the couple’s assets and may receive part of the applicant’s income. See Spousal impoverishment rules.

What the care test means in practice. For ADHP, an assessor checks how much help the person needs with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility and medications, and whether memory loss calls for supervision. A nurse or social worker working with DC DHCF usually does it in person, wherever the person is living. Families should describe the worst days honestly and bring a list of conditions and medicines. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.

What services it can pay for

Services depend on the person’s assessed needs and written care plan. Depending on the plan, they can include:

Nursing oversight and health monitoring
Personal care
Meals and snacks
Therapeutic activities
Social services
Transportation in many cases

Not every participant gets every service; the plan reflects assessed need and the help family already gives. A change in health is a reason to request a reassessment.

How to apply

Applying usually involves two decisions: one about money (financial eligibility for Medicaid) and one about care needs. In plain terms, the steps are:

Make sure the person has DC Medicaid.
Contact a certified ADHP center or the ADRC.
Complete the assessment to confirm eligibility and days.
Start attending under a plan of care.

Before contacting DC DHCF, see Applying for a waiver and the documents checklist for what to gather.

Waiting lists

There is no program-wide waiting list, but centers can be full.

More on how lists work: Waiver waiting lists.

How it relates to nursing home Medicaid

ADHP supports people at home during the day. It can delay or prevent a nursing home move and can be combined with PCA services or the EPD Waiver.

Rules shared with nursing home Medicaid. Most money rules carry over from nursing home Medicaid. The five-year look-back still matters: a transfer for less than fair value can delay payment for long-term care services. DC DHCF can also use estate recovery to seek repayment for long-term care services received after 55. Some participants pay a monthly share of income toward services.

If a nursing home becomes necessary. A District of Columbia nursing home resident keeps a 2026 personal needs allowance of $109 a month, and most other income goes to the facility. The state guide explains the nursing home side.

Tips for families

Do not wait for a crisis. Lists and assessments for ADHP take time, and the start date is usually when you first request help.
Document everything, from forms and letters to who you spoke with at DC DHCF and when.
Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
Report changes in income, assets, address or living situation to DC DHCF when they happen.
Expect yearly reviews of both Medicaid eligibility and the care assessment. See Renewals.
Think about the spouse at home. Couples have extra protections, but they have to be claimed. A certified Medicaid planner or a legal aid office can explain how the rules apply to a particular family.

Common questions

Is ADHP the same as EPD adult day health? ADHP is a state plan benefit. EPD also offers adult day health for waiver participants.

Is transportation included? Many centers provide transportation.

Can I attend part-time? Days are set by the assessment and plan.

Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.