Maryland currently has four waivers that are open to children. All are HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers. Three waive parental income but one does not. Previously, the Community Pathways and Community Supports Waivers accepted children; however, the most recent federal documents specifies these programs are for those over age 18, though those under age 18 currently in these programs can remain in the programs. For an overview of Maryland’s programs, see Maryland’s Home and Community Based Services page or this booklet on home and community based programs.

Maryland also participates in the Community First Option, which allows states to provide assistant services through Medicaid without a waiver, and has a state-based waiver program (1915(i)) for children with behavioral issues. The latter replaced a 1915(c) waiver that previously served the same population.

Maryland Advocacy Organizations:

Last updated 9/19/23

Programs in Maryland

  • Target Population: Children and adults who are medically fragile and technology dependent.
  • Ages: all, as long as services begin before age 22
  • Levels of Care: Nursing Facility, Hospital
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only. Parent income is not counted.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 220
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides case management, medical day care, principal physician’s participation in the plan of care meeting, and private duty nursing services to individuals who are medically fragile ages 0 or older who meet a hospital or nursing facility level of care.
  • Online State Information: Model Waiver Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Contact Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care (CCHCC) at 410-987-1048 (Baltimore) or 301-621-7830 (Washington).
  • Waiting List: There are 9715 people with developmental disabilities and 155 children who are medically fragile on Maryland’s waiting lists.
  • Target Population: Children with developmental disabilities.
  • Ages: 0-21
  • 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: 525
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides personal supports, respite care services, support broker services, assistive technology and services, behavioral support services, environmental assessment, environmental modifications, family and peer mentoring supports, family caregiver training and empowerment services, housing support services, individual and family directed goods and services, nursing support services, participant education, training and advocacy supports, transportation, and vehicle modification services to individuals with developmental disabilities ages 0-21 years who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
  • Online State Information: Family Supports Waiver
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply through your Developmental Disabilities Administration Regional Office, with application instructions on this page.
  • Waiting List: There are 9715 people with developmental disabilities and 155 children who are medically fragile on Maryland’s waiting lists.
  • Target Population: Children with autism.
  • Ages: 1-21
  • 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: 1400
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2024
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides residential habilitation, respite, adult life planning, environmental accessibility adaptations, family consultation, intensive individual support service, therapeutic integration for individuals with autism, ages 1 – 21.
  • Online State Information: Autism Waiver Information
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Contact the Maryland State Department of Education at 410-767-1446 or the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at 410-767-5220. To get on the waiting list, call 1-866-417-3480.
  • Waiting List: Waiver is currently full. There are 9715 people with developmental disabilities and 155 children who are medically fragile on Maryland’s waiting lists.
  • Target Population: Teens and adults with physical or other health disabilities.
  • Ages: 16+
  • Levels of Care: Nursing Facility
  • Income Waiver: No
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 8521
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides medical day care services to individuals ages 65 or older and individuals with physical or other disabilities ages 16-64 years who meet a nursing facility level of care.
  • Online State Information: Medical Day Care Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-767-1444 and the local health department AERS (Adult Evaluation and Review Services) Program in your county.
  • Waiting List: There are 9715 people with developmental disabilities and 155 children who are medically fragile on Maryland’s waiting lists.
  • Target Population: Adults with developmental disabilities.
  • Ages: 18+ for new applicants; children under 18 already in the program may remain in the program
  • 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: 16,875
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides career exploration, community living-group home, day habilitation, live-in caregiver supports, medical day care, personal supports, respite care services, supported employment, support broker services, assistive technology and services, behavioral support services, community development services, community living–enhanced supports, employment discovery and customization, employment services, environmental assessment, environmental modifications, family and peer mentoring supports, family caregiver training and empowerment services, housing support services, individual and family directed goods and services,  nursing support services, participant education, training and advocacy supports, remote support services, shared living, supported living, transition services, transportation, and vehicle modification services to individuals with developmental disabilities ages 18 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
  • Online State Information: Community Pathways Page
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply through your Developmental Disabilities Administration Regional Office, with application instructions on this page.
  • Waiting List: There are 9715 people with developmental disabilities and 155 children who are medically fragile on Maryland’s waiting lists.
  • Target Population: Adults with developmental disabilities.
  • Ages: 18+ for new applicants; children under 18 already in the program may remain in the program
  • 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: 6038
  • Expiration Date: 6/30/2028
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides career exploration, day habilitation, medical day care, personal supports, respite care services, support broker services, assistive technology and services, behavioral support services, community development services, employment discovery and customization, employment services, environmental assessment, environmental modifications, family and peer mentoring supports, family caregiver training and empowerment services, housing support services, individual and family directed goods and services, nursing support services, participant education/training and advocacy supports, supported employment, transportation, and vehicle modification services to individuals with developmental disabilities ages 18 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
  • Online State Information: Community Supports Waiver
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply through your Developmental Disabilities Administration Regional Office, with application instructions on this page.
  • Waiting List: There are 9715 people with developmental disabilities and 155 children who are medically fragile on Maryland’s waiting lists.

Additional Information

  • Legally responsible individuals, including parents and guardians, are able to provide up to 40 hours a week of Community Development Services or Personal Supports in the Family Supports Waiver, according to the most recently approved Waiver Application. These are also available in the Community Pathways and Community Supports Waivers. This may include delegated nursing tasks, as well as nursing by a parent who is an RN, LPN, or CNA. Parents/guardians are limited to 40 hours per week and cannot also be the participant’s Support Broker