What Are Medicaid Waivers?
Medicaid Waivers enable states to come up with ways to use Medicaid funds beyond the traditional hospital and long-term care facilities. This creates opportunities for disabled individuals to stay in their homes or in their communities, while receiving services on par with those available in a hospital or long-term care facility. Waivers have strict criteria, only being available to certain individuals who are on Medicaid. Waiver programs are considered short-term, with a life of up to five years, but can get renewed if they are found to be effective.
How to Apply for Waivers
The waivers are administrated by either the Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) or the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration(ALTSA). If you have found a waiver program that you would like to be a part of, contact or fill out an application with the applicable agency. You can only be enrolled in one waiver program at a time.
Medicaid and Long-Term Care Services for Adults (Spanish) (Chinese) (Vietnamese) (Russian)
Home and Community Based Waiver Services from the DDA
Request for Enrollment in DDA Waiver (Spanish) (Chinese) (Vietnamese) (Russian)
Available Waivers
Descriptions below are provided by medicaid.gov
Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavioral Support (CIIBS) (40669.R02.01) administered by DDA
FAQ Available Here
Provides respite, assistive technology, behavioral health stabilization services-crisis diversion bed services, behavioral health stabilization services-positive behavior support and consultation, environmental adaptations, nurse delegation, positive behavior support and consultation, risk assessment, specialized clothing, specialized medical equipment and supplies, staff/family consultation and training, therapeutic equipment and supplies, transportation, vehicle modifications for individuals with autism, ID, DD ages 8 – 20
WA COPES (0049.R08.00) administrated by ALTSA
Provides adult day health, adult day care, client support training & wellness education, community choice guiding, community support: goods and services, environmental modifications, home delivered meals, skilled nursing services, specialized medical equipment and supplies, transportation for aged individuals ages 65 – no max age and physical and other disabilities ages 18-64
Core Waiver (0410.R03.04)administered by DDA
Provides community inclusion, individual supported employment/group supported employment, prevocational services, residential habilitation, respite, behavioral health stabilization services-specialized psychiatric services, specialized psychiatric services, behavioral health stabilization services-behavioral health crisis diversion bed services, behavioral health stabilization services-positive behavior support and consultation, chemical extermination of bed bugs, community guide, community transition, environmental adaptations, individualized technical assistance, occupational therapy, physical therapy, positive behavior support and consultation, risk assessment, skilled nursing, specialized medical equipment and supplies, speech, hearing, and language services, staff family consultation and training, transportation, wellness education for individuals with autism, ID, DD ages 0 – no max age
Individual and Family Services (1186.R01.00) administered by DDA
Provides respite, behavioral health stabilization services – specialized psychiatric services, specialized psychiatric services, assistive technology, behavioral health stabilization services – crisis diversion bed services, behavioral health stabilization services – positive behavior support and consultation, community engagement, environmental adaptations, nurse delegation, occupational therapy, peer mentoring, person-centered plan facilitation, physical therapy, positive behavior support and consultation, risk assessment, skilled nursing, specialized clothing, specialized medical equipment and supplies, speech, hearing and language services, staff/family consultation services, supported parenting services, transportation services, vehicle modifications, wellness education for DD individuals ages 3 with no maximum age
New Freedom (0443.R03.00) administrated by ALTSA
Provides personal assistance services, environmental and vehicle mods, individual directed goods/services and supports, training and educational supports, treatment and health maintenance for aged individuals ages 65 – no max age, physically disabled and disabled other individuals ages 18-64
Residential Support Waiver (1086.R01.00) administrated by ALTSA
Provides adult day health, adult family home specialized behavior support service, client support training and wellness education, enhanced residential services, expanded community services, nurse delegation, skilled nursing, specialized medical equipment and supplies for aged individuals 65 with no max age and physical/other disabilities ages 18-64
Basic Plus Waiver administered by DDA
Provides community inclusion, individual supported employment/group supported employment, personal care, prevocational services, respite, behavioral health stabilization services-specialized psychiatric services, specialized psychiatric services, behavioral health stabilization services-behavioral health crisis diversion bed services, behavioral health stabilization services-positive behavior support and consultation, chemical extermination of bed bugs, community guide, emergency assistance, environmental adaptations, individualized technical assistance, occupational therapy, physical therapy, positive behavior support and consultation, risk assessment, skilled nursing, specialized medical equipment and supplies, speech, hearing and language services, staff/family consultation and training, transportation, wellness education for individuals with autism, ID, DD ages 0 – no max age
Community Protection Waiver (0411.R03.03) administered by DDA
Provides individual supported employment/group supported employment, prevocational services, residential habilitation, behavioral health stabilization services – specialized psychiatric services, specialized psychiatric services, behavioral health stabilization services – behavioral health crisis diversion beds, behavioral health stabilization services – positive behavior support and consultation, chemical extermination of bed bugs, community transition, environmental adaptations, individualized technical assistance, occupational therapy, physical therapy, positive behavior support and consultation, risk assessment, skilled nursing, specialized medical equipment and supplies, speech, hearing, and language services, staff/family consultation and training, transportation for individuals with autism, ID, DD ages 18 – no max age
Medicaid Waiver Videos