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Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) waivers

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services / Medicaid.gov. Public Medicaid.gov page on 1915(c) HCBS waiver authority.

Key findings used in wiki

  • States can develop HCBS waivers within broad federal guidelines for people who prefer long-term services and supports at home or in the community rather than in an institution.
  • HCBS waiver programs must be cost-neutral compared with institutional services, protect health and welfare, use provider standards, and follow individualized person-centered plans of care.
  • States can target waivers by population, age, diagnosis, or level of care, and states choose how many people each waiver serves.
  • Covered service categories may include case management, homemaker, home health aide, personal care, adult day health, habilitation, and respite care.
  • Use this source as federal authority for the HCBS waiver mechanism, not for state-specific eligibility, waitlist, rate, or provider-availability claims.