Community HealthChoices in Philadelphia — What Families Need to Know in 2026

Community HealthChoices is the program that connects most Philadelphia families to Medicaid-funded home care — but understanding how it actually works can feel like deciphering a new language. If your loved one needs daily help at home, CHC is likely the program that will make it happen.

What Is Community HealthChoices?

Community HealthChoices, or CHC, is Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed care program for long-term services and supports. In plain language, CHC is the system that decides what home care services your loved one qualifies for, pays for those services, and coordinates the care.

How CHC Works in the Southeast Zone

Philadelphia falls within CHC’s Southeast Zone, which also includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Three MCOs operate the program:

AmeriHealth Caritas Community HealthChoices has deep roots in the Philadelphia healthcare community. Keystone First Community HealthChoices is part of the Independence Blue Cross family. PA Health & Wellness is part of the Centene Corporation.

When your loved one enrolls in CHC, they will either be assigned to one of these MCOs or given the opportunity to choose.

What Services Does CHC Cover?

CHC’s home and community-based services include personal care assistance, homemaker services, adult day services, respite care, assistive technology, home modifications, transportation, and personal emergency response systems.

For families interested in providing care themselves, the most important category is Participant-Directed Services (PDS). Under PDS, your loved one chooses their own caregiver — and that caregiver can be a qualifying family member, hired through the Agency with Choice model.

Who Qualifies for CHC in Philadelphia?

Financial eligibility means being enrolled in Medicaid. Functional eligibility means demonstrating a need for nursing-facility level of care. In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) at (215) 765-9040 is a key resource for assessments and referrals.

What Philadelphia Families Often Get Wrong

Many families don’t realize they can choose their MCO. Others don’t know about Participant-Directed Services. Some wait too long, assuming their loved one “isn’t sick enough.” The most common misconception is that Medicaid home care is only for people who are bedridden.

Get started with CareChoice → Contact our Philadelphia team