The HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is a Medicaid program that allows individuals to receive services in their own homes or other community settings instead of an institution. The program also allows individuals to choose their own service providers, including family, friends, or other qualified professionals.
The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is a Medicaid program that allows individuals with developmental disabilities to receive services and supports in their own homes or other community settings instead of being placed in an institution. The program also allows individuals to choose their own service providers, who can be family members, friends, or other qualified professionals. The HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities pays providers an hourly rate that varies by service and county and provides them with training and oversight.
Overview of HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities
The HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is one of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers offered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). HCBS Waivers are programs that allow states to provide Medicaid services to individuals who would otherwise require institutional care. The HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities was established in 1993 and is currently approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) until June 30, 2027. The purpose of the HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is to promote the independence and well-being of individuals who have a developmental disability, such as intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or other conditions. The target population of the HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is regional center consumers. Regional centers are nonprofit organizations that coordinate and purchase services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities, an individual must meet the following requirements:
- Be a California resident and a U.S. citizen or qualified alien.
- Be eligible for Medi-Cal with no share of the cost.
- Have a formal diagnosis of developmental disability and be a regional center consumer.
- Undergo an evaluation that determines a level of care based on their disabilities that would be available in a licensed healthcare facility for people with an intellectual disability.
- Live at home or an abode of their choosing (not in an acute care hospital, long-term care facility, or licensed community care facility).
- Submit a completed Health Care Certification form.
- Be assessed by a regional center service coordinator to determine the need and amount of HCBS services.
- Be at risk of institutionalization without HCBS services.
Services and Supports
The HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities provides various services and supports to help individuals remain safely in their homes or other community settings. These include:
- Behavioral intervention: assistance with managing challenging behaviors that interfere with daily functioning or pose a risk to self or others.
- Community living arrangements: residential services offering 24-hour support and supervision in small group homes or apartments.
- Day service: activities that promote skill development, socialization, community integration, and employment opportunities.
- Home health aide: assistance with personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, and toileting.
- Homemaker: help with household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and shopping.
- Prevocational services: training and support that prepare individuals for paid or unpaid employment.
- Respite care: temporary relief for caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
- Supported employment: assistance with finding and maintaining paid work in integrated settings.
- Chore: help with minor home maintenance tasks such as yard work, painting, or repairs.
- Communication aids: devices or software that facilitate communication for individuals who have speech impairments.
- Community-based training: instruction on how to use public transportation or other community resources.
- Dental: preventive and corrective dental services that Medi-Cal does not cover.
- Environmental accessibility adaptations: modifications to the home environment that are necessary to ensure the health and safety of the individual.
- Financial management services: assistance with managing the payroll and taxes of service providers.
- Non-medical transportation: transportation to access HCBS services or other community activities.
- Nutritional consultation: assessment and guidance on dietary needs and preferences.
- Optometric/optician services: eye exams, glasses, and contacts that Medi-Cal does not cover.
- Personal emergency response system: a device or service that allows individuals to call for help in an emergency.
- Prescription lenses and frames: prescription eyewear that Medi-Cal does not cover.
- Psychology services: counseling, assessment, and treatment for mental health issues.
- Skilled nursing: medical services that a registered nurse or a licensed vocational nurse provides.
- Specialized medical equipment and supplies: items that are necessary to treat a medical condition or disability.
- Specialized therapeutic services: therapies not covered by Medi-Cal, such as music therapy, art therapy, or animal-assisted therapy.
- Speech/hearing and language services: evaluation and treatment for speech, hearing, and language impairments.
- Transition/set up expenses: one-time costs associated with moving from an institution to a community setting
- Vehicle modifications and adaptations: changes to a vehicle that are necessary to accommodate a disability.
Compensation for Caregivers
One of the benefits of the HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities is that it allows individuals to choose their own service providers, who can be family members (except spouses), friends, neighbors, or other qualified professionals. This gives individuals more control over their care and enables them to receive services from people they trust and prefer. Service providers who work under the HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities are paid an hourly rate that varies by service and county, depending on the regional center’s rate schedule. Service providers can work up to the maximum number of hours authorized by the regional center service coordinator for each individual based on the individual’s assessed needs and preferences. Service providers also receive training and oversight from the regional center or other agencies to ensure quality and safety standards are met.
A Note from Givers
If you are interested in applying for the HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities or finding out more information, please complete this form.
