Iowa currently has five waiver programs that serve children. All are 1915(c) HCBS waivers. We do not know if most waivers count parental income or not. General information about waivers in Iowa can be found on the Iowa Home and Community Based Services page. A chart comparing waivers from 2021 is also available. Waiting list information for Iowa waivers can be found here. Iowa is planning on combining several of its waivers in the near future, and this information will be updated when it becomes available.

Iowa Advocacy Organizations:

Last updated 2/24/26

Programs in Iowa

  • Target Population: Children and adults with physical or other medical disabilities.
  • Ages: 0-64
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility, Nursing Facility
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 3619
  • Expiration Date: 9/30/2027
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day, homemaker, respite, home health aide, nursing, financial management services, independent support broker, self-directed community support and employment, consumer directed attendant care-skilled, consumer-directed attendant care-unskilled, counseling service, home and vehicle modification, home delivered meals, individual directed goods and services, interim medical monitoring and treatment, nutritional counseling, personal emergency response system, and self-directed personal care services to individuals with physical disabilities ages 0-64 years who meet a nursing facility or ICF/IID level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: Health and Disability Waiver Information
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS. Children will then be assessed by Child Health Specialty Clinics.
  • Waiting List: 11,580 individuals
  • Target Population: Children with serious emotional disturbance.
  • Ages: 0-17
  • Levels of Care: Hospital – inpatient pyschiatric unit
  • Income Waiver: unknown
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 1860
  • Expiration Date: 9/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides family and community support service, respite, environmental modifications and adaptive devices, in-home family therapy, and medical day care for children to individuals with serious emotional disturbance ages 0-17 years who meet a hospital level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: Children’s Mental Health Waiver Information
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.
  • Waiting List: 833 children
  • Target Population: Children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
  • Ages: all ages
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
  • Income Waiver: unknown
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 14,780
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day care, day habilitation, prevocational services, residential based supported community living, respite, supported employment, home health aide services, nursing, financial management services, independent support broker, individual directed goods and services, self-directed community support and employment, self- directed personal care, consumer directed attendant care (CDAC) – skilled, CDAC – unskilled, home and vehicle modification, interim medical monitoring and treatment, personal emergency response or portable locator system, supported community living, and transportation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: Intellectual Disabilities Waiver
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.
  • Waiting List: 8099 individuals

Also known as AIDS/HIV or AH Waiver

  • Target Population: Children and adults with AIDS or HIV.
  • Ages: all ages
  • Levels of Care: Nursing Facility, Hospital
  • Income Waiver: unknown
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 50
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2030
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day care, homemaker, respite, counseling, home health aide, nursing, financial management services, independent support broker, self-directed personal care, attendant care, consumer-directed attendant care – skilled, consumer-directed attendant care – unskilled, home delivered meals, home maintenance support, individual directed goods and services, self-directed community support and employment, and skilled attendant care services to individuals with HIV/AIDS ages 0 or older who meet a hospital or nursing facility level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: AH Waiver Information
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.
  • Waiting List: none

Also known as BI Waiver

  • Target Population: Children and adults with brain injury.
  • Ages: all ages
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility, Nursing Facility
  • Income Waiver: unknown
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 1747
  • Expiration Date: 9/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day care, case management, prevocational services, respite, supported employment, specialized medical equipment, financial management service, independent support broker, individual directed goods and services, self-directed community support and employment, self-directed personal care, behavioral programming, consumer directed attendant care unskilled, consumer directed attendant care – skilled, family counseling and training services, home and vehicle modification, interim medical monitoring and treatment, personal emergency response system or portable locator system, supported community living, and transportation services to individuals with brain injury ages 0 or older who meet a nursing facility or ICF/IID level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: BI Waiver Information
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.
  • Waiting List: 4067 individuals

Additional Information

  • As of June 2024, parents/guardians of minors, as well as parents/guardians of adults are allowed to be paid to care for their children in the AIDS/HIV, BI, HD, ID, and PD waivers. They can provide Supported Community Living (SCL), Consumer Directed Attendant Care (CDAC), and Consumer Choices Option (CCO) services. More information is available in INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2588-MC-FFS.
  • Iowa has also added a new service to waivers, Medical Day Care for Children, which will allow parents of minors to be paid for care in the home. It is limited to children who are medically fragile or have complex behavioral issues. Information is available here.