A Medicaid Waiver is money that can pay for services for people with developmental disabilities. These services can take place in the person’s home or in the community. Both children and adults can be supported by Medicaid Waiver services.
Medicaid usually pays for doctor appointments, hospital expenses, medicine, therapy and some adaptive equipment. The Medicaid Waiver allows for Medicaid to be used to pay for additional services. The state writes a plan that tells what kind of services will be provided under their Medicaid Waiver program. The federal government has to approve the Medicaid Waiver plan. The Medicaid Waiver dollars are part state and part federal money.
The Office of Developmental Disabilities has written two new waivers. These new waivers are designed to give people more control over how their service dollars are spent. The NOW waiver will provide support to people who do not need 24 hour care. The COMP waiver will provide support to people who need 24 hour care. -(Understanding The Medicaid Waiver, published by The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, Fall 2006).
