If you or your family member is on Wisconsin Medicaid and needs a ramp, a stair lift, or other accessibility work, the state funds it through two long-term care programs run by the Department of Health Services (DHS). You pick one: Family Care or IRIS. Both can pay for home modifications, but they work very differently.
What Wisconsin offers#
DHS runs two parallel long-term care programs for frail older adults and adults with physical disabilities: Family Care and IRIS, which stands for Include, Respect, I Self-Direct. Participants choose one program, not both.
Family Care is managed care. A Managed Care Organization (MCO) assigns you a care team, and that team authorizes and arranges services, including home modifications, as part of your overall care plan.
IRIS is self-directed. Instead of a care team choosing services for you, you manage your own budget with help from an IRIS consultant. You decide which modifications to buy and which contractor to hire, within program rules.
Both programs cover home modifications as a benefit: ramps, stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, kitchen or bathroom modifications, and other specialized accessibility or safety adaptations. Both also list voice-, light-, or motion-activated devices that increase self-reliance as fundable items. A related but separate benefit, adaptive aids, covers things like patient lifts, vehicle modifications, and control switches.
Family Care suits people who want someone else to coordinate the work. IRIS suits people who want to pick their own contractor and control the details.
Amounts and eligibility#
DHS does not publish a statewide dollar cap for home modifications under either program. There is no fixed per-project or annual limit printed on DHS pages. Checked against DHS public pages, July 2026.
IRIS does publish one important process rule. Any home modification, vehicle modification, or adaptive aid over $1,000 requires an independent assessment before it can be added to your plan. This is a review step, not a spending cap. Verified against the IRIS policy manual, July 2026.
Family Care does not publish an equivalent statewide threshold. Authorization for home modifications happens at the MCO level, through your assigned care team, and specific approval rules are not published on DHS's general program pages.
To use either program, you need to be functionally eligible under Wisconsin's long-term care functional screen, which confirms you need a nursing-home level of care to remain safely at home. You also need to be financially eligible for Medicaid long-term care, determined by your county income maintenance agency. DHS program pages do not print a specific consumer income figure.
Only DHS, your county income maintenance agency, or your Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) can confirm your eligibility. Nothing here is a guarantee of coverage.
How to apply in Wisconsin#
Start with your county Aging and Disability Resource Center, or, if you are a tribal member, your Tribal aging and disability resource specialist. The ADRC is the front door for both programs statewide. DHS maintains a locator for ADRCs on dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Your ADRC runs the functional screen against the nursing-home level of care standard, and staff explain the differences between Family Care and IRIS before you enroll.
Once you choose a program, enrollment moves forward through Family Care's contracted MCO in your area or through the IRIS consultant agency serving your county. DHS does not publish a consumer waitlist for either program. Enrollment is gated by the functional screen and financial eligibility determination, and timelines vary by county and by individual case. Avoid any source that quotes a specific wait time for Wisconsin.
If you choose IRIS and later want a home modification, work with your IRIS consultant to plan the purchase. Remember that anything over $1,000 needs an independent assessment first. If you choose Family Care, bring the need for a modification to your care team, and they will handle authorization through the MCO.
How it stacks with federal programs#
If the person needing modifications is a veteran, check VA housing grants alongside Wisconsin Medicaid. Programs like Specially Adapted Housing can fund larger projects and may work alongside Family Care or IRIS. See our VA home modification grants guide.
Original Medicare does not cover structural home modifications. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental benefits like grab bars or ramps, but this is plan-specific with no standard amount. Call your plan directly to ask what it covers.
Finding a provider who knows this program: Not every contractor has handled Family Care or IRIS paperwork. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' Medicaid Waiver Billing experience, so you can filter for pros who have done this before. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers with Medicaid Waiver Billing experience →
For the bigger picture on combining programs, see our national Medicaid waiver guide and our full guide to paying for home modifications.
FAQ#
Does Wisconsin Medicaid pay for home modifications like ramps or stair lifts?#
Yes. Both Family Care and IRIS list home modifications as a covered benefit, including ramps, stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, and kitchen or bathroom modifications. Voice-, light-, or motion-activated devices that increase self-reliance also qualify.
What is the difference between Family Care and IRIS for home modifications?#
Family Care is managed care. Your assigned MCO care team authorizes and arranges the modification for you. IRIS is self-directed. You manage your own budget with an IRIS consultant and choose your own contractor, though any modification over $1,000 needs an independent assessment first.
Who qualifies for Family Care or IRIS in Wisconsin?#
You need to meet Wisconsin's long-term care functional screen, which confirms you need a nursing-home level of care to stay home safely, and you need to be financially eligible for Medicaid long-term care through your county income maintenance agency. Your county ADRC can walk you through both steps.
How do I apply for home modification help in Wisconsin?#
Contact your county Aging and Disability Resource Center, or your Tribal aging and disability resource specialist if applicable. The ADRC runs the functional screen, explains the Family Care versus IRIS choice, and starts your enrollment.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers by state and filter for Medicaid Waiver Billing experience. Our stairlift cost guide and wheelchair ramp cost guide can help you budget while you go through the application process.
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application procedures change. Figures on this page were verified against official government sources on the date shown, but you should confirm current details at VA.gov or with the administering agency before making decisions. Adapta Home USA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.