Kansas Home & Community Based (HCBS) Waivers
Kansas HCBS waivers help children and adults with disabilities receive supports at home and in the community instead of in institutional settings. This section explains eligibility, services, and how to begin.
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✓ Overview ✓ Eligibility ✓ How to Apply ✓ Helpful Resources
Kansas Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers help children and adults with disabilities receive the supports they need while living at home and being part of their community — rather than in a hospital or institution. These programs are made possible through federal Medicaid law, including the Social Security Amendments of 1981, and are overseen nationally by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In Kansas, they are managed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
Each waiver is designed to support different needs — including intellectual and developmental disabilities, medical complexity, serious emotional disturbance, or individuals who need some help to live independently. While each program has its own eligibility rules and services, they all share one goal: helping Kansans live safely, successfully, and with greater independence in their own homes and communities.
Kansas Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Waiver (Age 5+)
About
The Social Security Amendments of 1981 (P.L. 97-35), passed by the 97th Congress, gave states the option to create Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. In 1991, Kansas created the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Waiver. This Medicaid program provides services to eligible individuals who might otherwise need to live in an Intermediate Care Facility, helping them live and thrive in their homes and communities.
Services available through the IDD Waiver may include:
Adult Day Supports
Children's Integrated Community Supports
Enhanced Care Services
Financial Management Services
Home and Environmental Modifications
Medical Alert - Rental
Overnight Respite
Personal Care Services
Residential Supports for Adults
Residential Supports for Children
Specialized Medical Care
Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
Supported Employment
Wellness Monitoring
Vehicle Modification Services
The IDD Waiver is federally overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and managed at the state level by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
Eligibility
To qualify for the Kansas IDD Waiver, individuals must:
Be five years of age or older
Have an Intellectual Disability that began before the age of 18
Have a diagnosis of a Developmental Disability that began before the age of 22
Be determined to be eligible by the Community Developmental Disability Organization
Meet the Medicaid long-term care threshold: the minimum care needs required of an individual to qualify for nursing home-level support
Be financially eligible for Medicaid
How To
To apply for the IDD waiver, individuals must contact their Community Developmental Disabilities Organization (CDDO) from their region. The CDDO will determine program eligibility and work with the individual and their families to access services from various community service providers in the local area.
If found eligible, individuals may be placed on the IDD waitlist. Applicants have the right to choose whether or not they would like to have a targeted case manager (TCM) while on the waitlist. TCM's help individuals on the waitlist:
Connect with available community resources
monitor their needs
Assist them and their families in navigating the system until they receive complete waiver services.
When a waiver slot becomes available, the applicant will be notified by mail and must return the completed offer letter to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services within 15 days. Following this, the applicant will work with their local CDDO, Medicaid, and chosen Managed Care Organization (MCO) to complete necessary assessments and begin receiving services.
Criteria for the Crisis and Exception
Additionally, individuals may qualify for a crisis exception, allowing them to be moved to the top of the Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Waiver waitlist to receive needed services. An individual is considered to be in crisis with documentation provided by their CDDO from law enforcement or the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) supporting the need for protection from:
confirmed abuse,
neglect,
exploitation (ANE),
or documentation showing the individual poses a serious risk of harm to themselves or others, with evidence that community resources have been exhausted.
Crisis exceptions are available for specific situations, including:
individuals in or transitioning from DCF custody,
those transferring from a PRTF or WORK program,
individuals needing ongoing support after Vocational Rehabilitation, and
those meeting Military Inclusion criteria,
Each exception requires the appropriate documentation from the relevant agency.
To begin the process, a request for review must be submitted to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) for consideration.
Kansas Technology Assistance (TA) Waiver (under the age of 22)
About
The Social Security Amendments of 1981 (P.L. 97-35), passed by the 97th Congress, gave states the option to create Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. In 2008, Kansas created the Kansas Technology Assistance (TA) Waiver. This Medicaid program provides financial assistance and support services for people who require technology-dependent care under the age of 22.
Services available through the TA Waiver may include:
Health Maintenance Monitoring
Home Modification
Financial Management Services (FMS)
Intermittent Intensive Medical Care
Personal Care Services
Medical Respite
Specialized Medical Care
The TA Waiver is federally overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and managed at the state level by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
Eligibility
To qualify for the Kansas TA Waiver, individuals must:
Live in Kansas
Be financially eligible for Medicaid.
Be under 22 years of age
chronically ill or medically fragile
require one or more medical technology(ies)
meet nursing level-of-care requirements for their age group
How To
To apply for the TA Waiver, individuals should contact Family Waiver Care by phone at (785) 296-9551 or by email at tawaiver@family-waiver-care.com. Applicants will need to complete the TA Waiver application form.
Family Waiver Care will help determine eligibility and work with you and your family to access the medical and technological supports needed to safely remain at home and in the community. Unlike the I/DD Waiver, the TA Waiver does not have a waiting list, allowing eligible individuals to begin receiving services more quickly.
Kansas Community Supports Waiver (CSW)
About
The Social Security Amendments of 1981 (P.L. 97-35) allowed states to create Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers to support people outside of institutions. In 2022, the Kansas Legislature formed the Special Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disability Waiver Modernization. The committee reviewed ways to improve and update the current I/DD waiver system.
One major result of this effort was the initiative of the Community Support Waiver (CSW). This Medicaid program helps Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities who do not need 24-hour care, but still need some support to live independently in their communities.
Services available through the CSW may include:
The CSW is federally overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and managed at the state level by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
Eligibility
To qualify for the Kansas CSW, individuals must:
have a documented intellectual or developmental disability that began before age 22,
meet Medicaid financial eligibility,
and require supports to live independently, but not need 24-hour care.
How To
The new Kansas waiver is expected to be available in 2026. For a complete timeline of the approval process, please visit the CSW website for updates and additional details.
Resources
Community Supports Waiver Website (WEBSITE EXPIRED)
Kansas Serious Emotional Disturbance Waiver (SED) (Between ages 4-18)
About
The Social Security Amendments of 1981 (P.L. 97-35), passed by the 97th Congress, gave states the option to create Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. In response, Kansas created the Kansas Serious Emotional Disturbance Waiver (SED). This Medicaid program provides children who have some mental health conditions with special intensive support so they may remain in their homes and communities.
Services available through the SED Waiver may include:
Parent Support and Training: Help and education for parents to better support their child’s needs.
Independent Living/Skills Building: Help for children and teens to learn life skills and become more independent.
Short Term Respite Care: Provides temporary care for a child with special needs in a safe setting.
Wraparound Facilitation: A team-based approach that brings people together to support the child and family.
Professional Resource Family Care: certified families or individuals who provide specialized care to children with significant emotional and behavioral needs in their own homes.
Attendant Care: provides support with daily living activities.
Targeted Case Management: A case manager helps plan and connect your child to needed services. (This service is not part of the waiver and may have a cost if you don’t have KanCare.)
The SED Waiver is federally overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and managed at the state level by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
Eligibility
To qualify for the Kansas SED Waiver, individuals must:
Be between 4 to 18 years old
Be financially eligible for Medicaid
Have a diagnosed mental health condition that substantially disrupts their ability to function socially, academically, and/or emotionally
Be at risk of inpatient treatment
Meet CAFAS assessment threshold for eligibility
How To
To apply for the SED Waiver in Kansas, families should begin by contacting their local Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). The CMHC will help guide them through the process, including completing the SED Waiver application and scheduling an evaluation with a licensed mental health professional to determine if the child qualifies. The CMHC will also conduct a functional assessment to better understand the child’s needs. Once all required documents are submitted and reviewed, families who are approved will work with a case manager to create a service plan and begin accessing support available through the SED Waiver.