Medical Assistance: Home & Community Based Services

Participants in the HCBS Waiver are developmentally disabled individuals of any age. HCBS participants are usually already involved with ARC (Alternatives Resources Choices) or OMRDD (Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities), and new contacts will be referred to MRDD.

Regarding eligibility – children are treated as separate and apart from their parents and only the child’s income and resources (if any) are documented.

For eligibility participants must:

• have a diagnosis of TBI or a related diagnosis
• be eligible for nursing facility level of care
• have an in-patient stay of at least 30 days
• be enrolled in the Medicaid program
• be 18-64 years old
• choose to live in the community rather than a nursing facility
• have or find a living arrangement that meets the person's needs
• be able to be served with the funds and services available under the HCBS/TBI waiver and New York State Medicaid.

HCBS/TBI waiver services include:

• service coordination
• independent living skills training and development
• structured day programs
• substance abuse programs
• intensive behavioral programs
• community integration counseling
• environmental modifications
• respite care
• assistive technology
• transportation
• community transition services