Washington Medicaid Rate Estimator
See the estimated DSHS daily payment rate for adult family home care in any Washington county — in under 3 minutes. No sign-up required.
⚠️ You'll be redirected to our partner site, Seattle Assisted Living Network, to use the estimator tool.
What Is the Medicaid Rate Estimator?
Planning for Medicaid-funded care? Our free online tool helps families and providers understand what DSHS pays for adult family home care based on the resident's care needs and county.
The Washington Medicaid Rate Estimator walks you through the key factors that determine a resident's CARE classification — the activities they need help with, their cognitive function, medical conditions, and behavioral health needs. The estimate is based on the same criteria (WAC 388-106) that DSHS case managers use during official assessments.
Whether you're planning for a loved one's care or evaluating your adult family home's revenue potential, this tool gives you instant insight into what Medicaid will pay.
What You'll Get
- Estimated daily rate — the base DSHS payment for the CARE classification in any county
- Community Integration add-on — shows if the resident qualifies for the ~$5/day CI add-on
- Monthly and annual projections — estimated totals based on the daily rate
- Printable PDF report — a downloadable summary with full details
How It Works
Three simple steps to get your estimate — no account, no email, no personal information required.
1. Select a County
Choose the Washington county where care will be provided. Rates vary significantly by county — the tool covers all 39 counties across the state.
2. Answer Questions
Answer 5 quick questions about the resident's care needs across daily activities, cognitive function, medical complexity, and behavior.
3. Get Your Estimate
Instantly see the estimated daily rate and CARE classification, with monthly and annual projections. Download the PDF for your records.
Why Use the Rate Estimator?
For Families
- Understand what Medicaid will pay before making care decisions
- Compare estimated rates across different Washington counties
- Plan financially for both Medicaid-funded and private-pay options
- Know what questions to ask when touring adult family homes
For AFH Providers
- Estimate payment rates for prospective residents before move-in
- Understand how CARE classifications translate to daily rates
- Identify which care levels offer the best revenue potential
- Combine with CBHS add-on payments for behavioral health residents
Understanding CARE Classifications
DSHS uses the Comprehensive Assessment Reporting Evaluation (CARE) tool to classify residents into payment groups. Each classification has a corresponding daily rate that varies by county.
The CARE tool measures five key areas: cognitive performance, clinical complexity, mood and behaviors, activities of daily living (ADLs), and exceptional care needs. Based on these criteria, residents are placed into one of 17 classification groups ranging from A Low (lower care needs) to E High (exceptional care needs like ventilator or tracheostomy care).
Each group and sub-level has a specific daily payment rate set by DSHS that varies by county. The rate estimator uses the same criteria to give you an accurate estimate before the official DSHS assessment.
Classification Groups at a Glance
- Group A — Lower care needs, minimal assistance ($132–$150/day)
- Group B — Behavioral health needs, mood/behavior criteria ($135–$165/day)
- Group C — Clinically complex, mild cognitive impairment ($150–$182/day)
- Group D — Clinically complex, significant cognitive impairment ($160–$215/day)
- Group E — Exceptional care needs, ventilator/trach ($234–$251/day)
Ready to Estimate Your Rate?
Get an instant, free estimate of the daily DSHS payment rate for adult family home care in any Washington county — no sign-up required.
⚠️ You'll be redirected to our partner site, Seattle Assisted Living Network, to use the estimator.