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 has several adult-only waivers, including Community Pathways, Community Supports, Home and Community Based Options (Older Adults) and Brain Injury (TBI).
It 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 10/17/2022
Programs in Maryland
MODEL WAIVER FOR FRAGILE CHILDREN
- 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: 222
- Expiration Date: 6/30/2023
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides case management, certified nursing assistant, medical day care, principal physician's participation in the plan of care meeting, private duty nursing for medically fragile individuals, ages 0 - no max age.
- 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.
FAMILY SUPPORTS WAIVER
- 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: 400
- Expiration Date: 6/30/2024
- 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, nurse case management and delegation services** ending March 2021**, nurse consultation**ending March 2021**, nursing support services, participant education, training and advocacy supports, transportation, and vehicle modifications for individuals with developmental disabilities, ages 0 – 21 years of age.
- 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.
WAIVER FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
- 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.
MEDICAL DAY CARE SERVICES
- 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: 6623
- Expiration Date: 6/30/2021; renewal pending
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides medical day care for aged individuals (65 yrs - no max age) and physically disabled (16-64).
- 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.
COMMUNITY PATHWAYS (NOW CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
- 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: 16,055
- Expiration Date: 6/30/2023
- 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 ** ending June 30, 2019**, assistive technology and services, behavioral support services, community development services, community living--enhanced supports **beginning July 1, 2019**, employment discovery and customization ** ending June 30, 2019**, employment services ** beginning July 1, 2019**, environmental assessment, environmental modifications, family and peer mentoring supports, family caregiver training and empowerment, housing support services, individual and family directed goods and services, nurse case management and delegation, nurse consultation, nurse health case management, participant education, training and advocacy supports, remote support services, shared living, supported living ** beginning July 1, 2019**, transition services, transportation, vehicle modifications for individuals with DD ages 0 - no max age, ages 0 - no max age.
- 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.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS WAIVER (NOW CLOSED TO CHILDREN)
- 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: 3050
- Expiration Date: 12/31/2022
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides day habilitation, medical day care, personal supports, respite care services, supported employment, support broker services, assistive technology and services, behavioral support services, career exploration, community development services, employment discovery and customization, 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, nurse case management and delegation services, nurse consultation, nurse health case management, participant education, training and advocacy supports, transportation, vehicle modifications for individuals with DD, ages 0 – no max age.
- 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.
OTHER PROGRAMS
- Maryland's Early Intervention Program: Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program
- Maryland's Title V Program: Children's Medical Services Program
PAID FAMILY CAREGIVING
Legally responsible individuals, including parents and guardians, are able to provide up to 40 hours a week of Habilitation/Personal Supports in the Family Supports Waiver, according to the most recently approved Waiver Application. This may include delegated nursing tasks, as well as nursing by a parent who is an RN, LPN, or CNA.