Discover how the Supported Living Services Waiver empowers adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities while acknowledging and compensating family caregivers.
The Home and Community-Based Supported Living Services (HCBS-SLS) Waiver is a significant program within Colorado's Medicaid system, specifically tailored to provide essential support and services to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This waiver is crucial in helping individuals remain in their homes and communities while promoting independence and choice. By offering a range of personalized services and supports, the HCBS-SLS waiver not only complements existing natural and community resources but also recognizes the indispensable role of family caregivers in the care and well-being of their loved ones.
Overview of Supported Living Services Waiver
The Home and Community-Based Supported Living Services (HCBS-SLS) Waiver is a critical component of Colorado's Medicaid program, dedicated to providing crucial support and services to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Its primary purpose is to enable eligible individuals to remain in their homes and communities with minimal disruption to their social support systems. The waiver achieves this by offering extra benefits beyond the standard Medicaid coverage, designed to address the unique needs and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.
Eligibility for the HCBS-SLS waiver is based on meeting specific criteria, including the diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability and the need for ongoing support and services to maintain community living. The waiver specifically targets individuals who may require assistance with activities but do not require 24-hour supervision.
The HCBS-SLS waiver is deeply committed to promoting individual choice and decision-making. Through a personalized planning process, services and supports are tailored to address each participant's prioritized, unmet needs. The waiver aims to enhance the individual's independence and overall quality of life by supplementing existing natural supports and traditional community resources.
The program operates with the understanding that family caregivers are vital in caring for individuals with disabilities. The waiver acknowledges and values the essential contributions of family caregivers, recognizing them as an integral part of the healthcare system. In addition to specialized services, participants on this waiver retain eligibility for all Health First Colorado covered services, provided there is no duplication of benefits.
Eligibility Requirements for Supported Living Services Waiver
To enroll in the HCBS-SLS waiver, individuals must meet specific financial and program criteria, ensuring that the services are directed to those who genuinely need them and can benefit from the support provided.
- Level of Care: Eligibility for the HCBS-SLS waiver requires individuals to meet the Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) level of care. This determination is based on a functional needs assessment outlined in 42 CFR § 440.150. The evaluation aims to evaluate an individual's functional limitations and identify the support needed to maintain their well-being in a community setting.
- Eligibility Group: To qualify for the HCBS-SLS waiver, individuals must be determined by a Community Centered Board (CCB) to have a developmental disability. Additionally, they must be 18 or older, emphasizing the program's focus on supporting adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Financial Criteria: Eligibility for the HCBS-SLS waiver is subject to economic considerations to ensure that those needing the waiver's services can access them without significant financial barriers. The individual's income must be under three times the Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limit per month, with the specific limit subject to change and available on the SSI website. A single person's countable resources must be under $2,000; for a couple, it must be under $3,000.
- Alternate Options: If an individual does not meet the financial requirements for the HCBS-SLS waiver, other options may be available, such as the Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities.
Services and Supports under Supported Living Services Waiver
The Home and Community-Based Supported Living Services (HCBS-SLS) Waiver offers comprehensive waiver services and supports meticulously designed for the needs of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. These services promote independence, community integration, and overall well-being while recognizing the significance of individual choice and decision-making in planning.
The range of services available under the HCBS-SLS Waiver includes:
- Assistive Technology: Providing individuals access to devices and tools that enhance their abilities and support daily living tasks.
- Behavioral Services: Special assistance and interventions to address behavioral challenges and foster positive development.
- Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS): Granting participants the authority to direct their care by choosing and managing their attendants.
- Day Habilitation Services (Specialized Habilitation, Supported Community Connections): Facilitating skill-building and social engagement in both facility-based and community settings.
- HCBS Dental Services: Ensuring access to essential dental care services to maintain oral health.
- Health Maintenance Activities: Supporting individuals in maintaining their health through various activities and interventions.
- Home Delivered Meals: Providing nutritious meals delivered to individuals' homes to support their dietary needs.
- Home Modifications: Adjust individuals' homes to enhance accessibility and safety.
- Homemaker Services (with Remote Supports options): Assisting with household chores and daily tasks, complemented by remote support options.
- Life Skills Training: Equipping individuals with essential life skills to enhance their independence and self-sufficiency.
- Mentorship: Offering guidance and support through mentorship relationships.
- Non-Medical Transportation: Assisting individuals in accessing critical services and community activities.
- Peer Mentorship: Encouraging social connections and support among peers.
- Personal Care Services (with Remote Supports options): Assisting with personal care needs and remote support options.
- Personal Emergency Response System (PERS): Equipping individuals with emergency response systems for enhanced safety.
- Prevocational Services: Preparing individuals for employment opportunities through skill development.
- Professional Services (Includes Hippotherapy, Massage & Movement Therapy): Access to specialized therapies to improve physical and emotional well-being.
- Respite Services: Offering temporary relief to caregivers to prevent burnout and ensure continuity of care.
- Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies: Providing necessary equipment and supplies to support medical needs.
- Supported Employment: Assisting individuals in gaining and maintaining employment in integrated work settings.
- Transition Set Up: Facilitating transitions from one living arrangement to another or from institutions to community settings.
- Vehicle Modifications: Making necessary adaptations to vehicles for improved accessibility and transportation.
- Vision Services: Ensuring access to vision-related care and support.
Compensation for Caregivers
The Supported Living Services Waiver offers compensation for caregivers, including unpaid family caregivers, through the Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) option. This self-directed option allows eligible participants to have greater control over their care by directly hiring and managing their caregivers, including family members.
Caregivers under CDASS receive payment for the services they provide to the individual with intellectual or developmental disabilities, acknowledging the critical role they play in the participant's care and support. This approach empowers both individuals and their caregivers, ensuring personalized and compassionate care while recognizing the invaluable contributions of family members within the healthcare system.
A Note from Givers:
If you have further questions about this waiver, please contact your local Community Centered Board (CCB) or the Member Contact Center.
If you or someone you care for has intellectual or developmental disabilities, take a moment to see if you're eligible for compensation through the HCBS-SLS waiver. Fill out this form and discover how to access the support you deserve.
