Medicaid Waivers

Waivers enable States to cover a broad array of home and community-based services (HCBS) for targeted populations as an alternative to institutionalization. To be a waiver participant, an individual must be medically or clinically qualified, choose to enroll in the waiver as an alternative to institutionalization, and be financially eligible based on the individual's income and assets (parental income is excluded).

There are five (5) types of waivers in Virginia that apply to people with disabilities who are not elderly:

Mental Retardation (MR Waiver): This waiver allows children and adults with mental retardation who meet the ICF/MR level of care to remain living at home and in the community. Services offered under this waiver include: consumer-directed personal assistance, respite, day support, group home and in-home residential support, and therapeutic consultation.

Individual & Family Developmental Disabilities Support (DD Waiver): This waiver allows children over age 6 and adults with developmental disabilities who meet the ICF/MR level of care to remain living at home and in the community. Services offered under this waiver include: consumer-directed personal assistance services, in-home residential support, therapeutic consultation, and environmental modifications.

Elderly or Disabled with Consumer-Direction (EDCD Waiver): This waiver children and adults (not limited to adults over age 65) who meet the nursing facility level of care to remain living at home and in the community. Services offered under this waiver include: personal care, respite, adult day health care, and consumer-directed personal care.

Technology Assisted (Tech Waiver): This waiver allows persons who use technological assistance and meet the nursing facility or specialized care level of care to remain living at home and in the community. Services offered under this waiver include: private duty nursing, personal care, respite, environmental modifications and assistive technologies.

MR Day Support Waiver: This new waiver allows children and adults with mental retardation who meet the ICF/MR level of care to remain living at home and in the community. Day support is the only service available under this waiver.

For more information on Medicaid Waivers, please visit our Information and Advocacy section.