Home and Community Based Waivers (HCBS)

Waiver Overview

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.

DDA received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 5 year renewals of the following 4 waivers:  Basic Plus, Core, Community Protection (CP) and Children’s Intensive In-home Behavioral Support (CIIBS).  DDA also received approval of the Individual and Family Services (IFS) waiver amendment. 

Current Approved Waivers

Waiver Renewal

The waiver renewal application for the Individual and Family Services (IFS) Waiver was approved by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 30, 2019.

Approved changes to the five-year IFS waiver renewal, effective September 1, 2019:

  • Removed the client age limit of three years of age or more in order to be eligible for this waiver
  • Expanded provider types for the waiver service Peer Mentoring        
  • Changed the waiver calendar year from June 1 through May 31 to September 1 through August 31 to match the calendars of DDA’s other four waivers         
  • Added Behavioral Health Stabilization Services – Crisis Diversion Bed Services      
  • Removed Therapeutic Equipment and Supplies and add these benefits to a renamed Specialized Equipment and Supplies
  • Technical changes to performance measures, rate methodologies, and service definitions

Waiver Amendments

DDA Waiver Amendment Stakeholder Summary

In June, 2018 DDA representatives met with stakeholders across Washington State to discuss amendments to DDAs five HCBS waiver programs.  The amendments would help redefine DDA services to make the pathway to access between AppleHealth behavioral health and DDA waiver services more transparent and easier for a waiver participant to navigate. Stakeholder feedback summary

Documents

Resources