New York currently has two Medicaid waivers that accept children. Both waivers are HCBS 1915(c) waivers and waive parent income. Since 2019, NY has had a unified children’s waiver program. For general information on children’s waiver programs in New York, see this brochure on Children’s HCBS or access New York’s gateway to services for people with developmental disabilities.

Advocacy Organizations in New York:

Last updated 5/29/2026

Programs in New York

Note: This waiver is a merged waiver of the Bridge waivers, Care at Home waivers, and OMH SED waiver.

  • Target Population: Children with physical or medical disabilities (including brain injury, HIV/AIDS, medically fragile, and technology dependent) mental health, or intellectual/developmental disabilities, including autism.
  • Ages: 0-20
  • Levels of Care: Hospital, Nursing Facility, 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) with 1115 waiver managed component
  • Spots: 17,379
  • Expiration Date: 3/31/2027
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides community habilitation, day habilitation, prevocational services, respite, supported employment, adaptive and assistive technology, caregiver/family advocacy and support services, environmental modifications, non-medical transportation, palliative care – expressive therapy, palliative care – counseling and support service, palliative care – massage therapy, palliative care – pain and symptom management, vehicle modifications for individuals with physical and other disabilities ages 0-20, with brain injury ages 0-20, with HIV/AIDS ages 0-20, who are medically fragile ages 0-20, who are technology dependent ages 0-20, with autism ages 0-20, with developmental disabilities ages 0-20, with intellectual disabilities ages 0-20, with mental illness ages 18-20, and individuals with serious emotional disturbance, ages 0-18 years.
  • Online State Information: Children’s Waiver Brochure or Children’s Waiver information
  • Official Federal Information: 1915(c)
  • How to Apply: Children without Medicaid should follow the instructions on this page or call 833-861-4467. Children already enrolled in Medicaid will be evaluated through a Health Home.
  • Waiting List: There are 867 children who are medically fragile or technology dependent on New York’s waiting list.

This waiver is now more commonly called OPWDD Comprehensive Waiver and is also being called the People First Waiver

  • Target Population: Children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism.
  • Ages: all
  • Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
  • Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child’s income only.
  • Waiver Type: 1915(c)
  • Spots: 114,007
  • Expiration Date: 9/30/2029
  • Description from medicaid.gov: Provides day habilitation, live-in caregiver, prevocational services, residential habilitation, respite, supported employment, community transition services, fiscal intermediary, individual directed goods and services, support brokerage, assistive technology/adaptive devices, community habilitation, environmental modifications (home accessibility), family education and training, intensive behavioral services, pathway to employment, and vehicle modification services to individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(a)(1)(a) and 1915(b)(4) authority.
  • Online State Information: Waiver Information or OPWDD Front Door
  • Official Federal Information
  • How to Apply: Apply at your local Developmental Disabilities Regional Office.
  • Waiting List: none

Additional Information

  • In the OPWDD waiver, parents/guardians of adult children over age 21 may provide personal care services as long as they are not the individual’s designated representative. Under extraordinary circumstances, parents/guardians may provide respite or habilitation services for those over 18. See this clarification for more information.
  • Two bills pending in the legislature would create a Complex Care Assistant Program, allowing parents to be paid caregivers for children who are medically fragile. Click for the Assembly bill and the Senate bill.