Home and Community Based Waivers (HCBS)

The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) offers five Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers:

  • Basic Plus
  • Children's Intensive In-home Behavioral Supports (CIIBS)
  • Community Protection         
  • Core
  • Individual and Family Services (IFS). 

Each of the five waivers provides an array of services tailored to the specific populations they serve. Waiver services provide additional support when Medicaid state plan services and other supports are not sufficient.  For more information about the waiver program, go to the Services and Information Request form, contact your Case Resource Manager, Social Worker, or regional DDA office.

For detailed information about all DDA services, please visit the Informing Families Website. 

Current Approved Waivers

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have approved DDA’s five HCBS Waiver Appendix K applications.  Appendix K provide the state flexibility in existing waiver programs.

Waiver Amendments

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Draft Waiver Amendments

Draft waiver amendments for the Individual and Family Services (IFS), Basic Plus, Core, Community Protection and Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavioral Support (CIIBS) Waivers are available for public comment April 15, 2021, through May 15, 2021:

Proposed Changes to the Individual and Family Services, Basic Plus, Core, Community Protection and Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavioral Support waivers effective October 1, 2021:

  • Modify how individual respite providers are contracted. In 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed Senate Bill 6199 authorizing DSHS to create a Consumer Directed Employer (CDE) Program. To implement this program, the State intends to file a concurrent §1915(b)(4) waiver application for Selective Contracting, which will apply to the IFS, Basic Plus, Core and CIIBS waivers;
  • Add limitations for waiver transportation to exclude CDE and Home Care Agency providers;
  • Add State-operated provider to Stabilization Services – Crisis Diversion Bed service;
  • Revise provider qualifications for Child Foster Home providers;
  • Add qualified Specialized Habilitation providers as qualified Staff/Family Consultation providers;
  • Add qualified Specialized Habilitation providers as qualified Stabilization Services – Staff/Family Home Consultation providers;
  • Increase IFS waiver annual budget allocations 30% for each level:
    • $1,200 annual allocation increase to $1,560;
    • $1,800 annual allocation increases to $2,340;
    • $2,400 annual allocation increases to $3,120; and
    • $3,600 annual allocation increase to $4,680.
  • Remove Speech, Hearing and Language Services, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy from waivers. All participants who are currently receiving services proposed to be removed will be transitioned to appropriate Medicaid State Plan services during their plan year 2021-2022.

The proposed change for contracting individual respite providers will have no negative impacts on participants on the IFS waiver as the proposed increased hourly rates paid to individual respite providers under the CDE will be paid from increased annual budget allocations. The proposed changes will have no negative impacts on participants on the Basic Plus, Core and CIIBS waivers as respite allocations on these waivers are calculated in hours rather than in dollars. The proposed change will have little or no negative impacts on respite transportation on the Basic Plus, Core and CIIBS waivers as waiver mileage will become a component of the respite provider’s rate. To view a draft amendment, click on the bolded name of the waiver amendment above.

Send your comments to DDAWaiverAmendments@dshs.wa.gov during the comment period.

Documents

Resources