Kentucky currently has five waivers that are open to children. All are HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers. Four of these programs waive parental income; we have not been able to obtain information about the other. For information on Kentucky’s programs, visit their Home and Community Based Services page.

Kentucky recently introduced a new waiver, the Community Health for Improved Lives and Development (CHILD) Waiver, that targets children with a psychiatric hospital or ICF/DD level of care, prioritizing those with complex needs who are in state custody, face homelessness, or are leaving institutional settings.

Kentucky’s Advocacy Organizations:

Last updated 3/24/26

Programs in Kentucky

  • Target Population: Children and adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
  • Ages: all ages
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 11,350
  • Expiration Date: 4/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day health, case management, community access, day training, personal assistance, respite, shared living, supported employment, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, community guide, goods and services, natural supports training, transportation, assessment/reassessment, community transition, consultative clinical and therapeutic service, environmental accessibility adaptation services, person centered coaching, positive behavior supports, specialized medical equipment and supplies, and vehicle adaptation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
  • Online State Information: Michelle P Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: You must apply for Medicaid using the Kynect self-service portal or in person at your local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Office. Then apply for the waiver through the Kynect self-service portal or at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) or an Aging and Disability Resource Center.
  • Waiting List: Program is full with a waiting list. There are 13,026 people with intellectual disabilities on the state’s waiting list.

Also called CHILD Waiver

  • Target Population: Children with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or with serious emotional disturbance. Priority is given to those who are currently unhoused or at risk of being unhoused, have had at least two different foster placements in the last year, at least five contacts with law enforcement in the last year due to the intensity of his or her disability, or is discharging from an inpatient psychiatric hospital, ICF/IID, or similar institution within the next 45 calendar days and requires the level of support offered through the CHILD waiver.
  • Ages: 0-21
  • Levels of Care: Hospital, ICF
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 100
  • Expiration Date: 12/31/2030
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides case management, clinical therapeutic services, respite, supervised residential care, community living supports, and environmental and minor home modifications to individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or with serious emotional disturbance ages 0-21 years who meet a hospital or ICF/IID level of care.
  • Online State Information: CHILD Waiver
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: You must also apply for Medicaid using the Kynect self-service portal or in person at your local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Office. Then apply for the waiver at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) or an Aging and Disability Resource Center.
  • Waiting List: There are 13,026 people with intellectual disabilities on the state’s waiting list.
  • Target Population: Children and adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
  • Ages: 3+
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 5416
  • Expiration Date: 4/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides case management, consultative clinical and therapeutic – nutritional services, consultative clinical and therapeutic – psychological services, consultative clinical and therapeutic services – positive behavior supports, day training, personal assistance, residential support level I, respite, shared living, supported employment, financial management services, community access, community guide, community transition, environmental accessibility adaptation services, goods and services, natural supports training, positive behavior supports, residential support level II, specialized medical equipment and supplies, technology assisted residential, transportation, and vehicle adaptation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities ages 3 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
  • Online State Information: Supports for Community Living Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: You must apply for Medicaid using the Kynect self-service portal or in person at your local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Office. Then apply for the waiver through the Kynect self-service portal or at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) or an Aging and Disability Resource Center.
  • Waiting List: There are 13,026 people with intellectual disabilities waiting for services in KY.

Also called Home and Community Based Services or HCB.

  • Target Population: Children and adults with physical or other health disabilities.
  • Ages: all ages
  • Levels of Care: 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: 17,800
  • Expiration Date: 7/31/2030
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day health, case management, specialized respite, financial management services, attendant care, environmental and minor home adaptation, goods and services, home delivered meals, and non-specialized respite services to individuals with physical or other disabilities ages 0-64 years and individuals ages 65 or older who meet a nursing facility level of care.
  • Online State Information: HCB Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: You must apply for Medicaid using the Kynect self-service portal or in person at your local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Office. Then apply for the waiver through the Kynect self-service portal or at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) or an Aging and Disability Resource Center.
  • Waiting List: Yes, but length is unknown. There are 13,026 individuals with developmental disabilities and 4177 with physical disabilites on the waiting list.

Additional Information

  • In the Home and Community Based Services Waiver, Michelle P. Waiver, and Supports for Community Living Waiver parents/guardians may be paid to provide attendant care for their minor children in Kentucky under special circumstances. Typically, parents must have a specific skillset or the child must not have another option for care. Parents are limited to 40 hours per week and must complete CPR training, among other requirements. See this info on Michelle P. and this manual on Participant Directed Services in the Home and Community Based Services Waiver.
  • We also have reports that parents who are nurses (RN or LPN) can provide services to minor children.