DDS Comprehensive Supports Waiver

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Home and Community-based (HCBS) Waivers assist individuals with intellectual disabilities and are designed to maximize a person’s potential, increase their independence and promote meaningful community connections. These waivers provide in-home, employment/vocational, and family support services for people who live in their own home or family home or licensed settings.

The DDS Comprehensive Supports (COMP) Waiver provides services to individuals who live in licensed Community Living Arrangements (CLA), Community Companion Homes (CCH) or in Assisted Living Facilities (ALF). It can also be used to provide services to individuals who live in their own home or in their family home and who are in need of a comprehensive level of support, usually because of significant physical, behavioral or medical support needs.

Note: There may be a waiting list for this program.

See Also: There are two other DDS Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waivers to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities. The services provided for each are similar, but there are some differences.

• DDS Individual and Family Supports (IFS) Waiver supports individuals who live in their own home, in their family home and who need less extensive supports than individuals on the Comprehensive Waiver.
• DDS Employment and Day Support (EDS) Waiver supports individuals who live with family or in their own home and have a strong natural support system. It targets young adults transitioning from school to work with similar services as the other DDS waivers

To be eligible for the DDS Comprehensive Supports Waiver, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must be deemed eligible for DDS services first, before receiving any waiver services. Find the DDS eligibility requirements here.
• Need an ICF/IID level of care. That is, the person must have a level of need which would necessitate the level of services provided in an institution.
• Is willing to or has a desire to live in a community setting.
• Be within the income and asset limits specified for the waiver.

A person’s assets must be less than $1,600 and their income and entitlements less than three times their Supplemental Security Income payment. Working individuals may be eligible for the Working Disabled (SO5) Medicaid program which has higher income and asset limits. Only the assets of the applicant are considered, not the assets of family members.

Spend Down

Individuals who cannot afford the cost of care, but are over Medicaid’s limits may still qualify. The state has a spend down program that evaluates an individual’s care costs and their income. If it is calculated that an individual cannot meet their care costs, they can qualify for Medicaid by spending-down their income over the limit on their medically-necessary care costs.

Alternatively, the individual can also privately pay for services out-of-pocket until they become eligible.

Appeals

Individuals who are denied enrollment into one of the DDS waivers or who are denied requested waiver services have the right to request a hearing from the Department of Social Services. Notice of Fair Hearing Rights and the Hearing Request Form are provided to the individual with the written denial of enrollment or service.

Services offered through the Comprehensive Supports Waiver include:

• Licensed Residential Services: Community Living Arrangements (CLA)/Group Homes, Community Companion Homes (CCH) and Assisted Living.

• Residential and Family Support Services: Continuous Residential Services (CRS), Shared Living; Individualized Home Supports (IHS), Personal Support, Adult Companion, Respite Care, Live-in Caregiver, Personal Emergency and Response Systems (PERS) and Environmental and Vehicle Modifications.

• Vocational and Day Services: Adult Day, Individual and Group Supported Employment, Group Day Supports, Prevocational, Individualized Day and Senior Supports.

• Specialized Support Services: Healthcare Coordination, Behavior Consultation, Nutritional Consultation, Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies, Interpreters, Transportation, Individual Goods and Services, Independent Support Broker, Parenting Support, Assistive Technology, Peer Support and Training and Counseling for unpaid caregivers.