Medicaid Waivers
DSPD provides a wide range of services intended to help people with disabilities participate more fully in their communities and lead self-determined lives. The type of services available depends on which waiver the person qualifies for. These services are primarily funded through Medicaid waivers, which are paid for by the federal government and appropriations by the Utah Legislature.
Community Supports Waiver
This waiver is designed to provide services statewide to help persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities remain in their homes or other community based settings.
Who qualifies?
- Intellectual or development disability diagnosis (or related condition) that results in functional impairment in three or more areas of major life activity
- Onset of condition before age 18 for intellectual disability (or before age 22 for other related conditions), but can apply at any age
- Must meet financial eligibility for Medicaid
What are common services available through this waiver?
- Behavior consultation
- Chore services
- Companion services
- Day supports
- Financial management services
- Non-medical transportation
- Residential
- Respite
- Supported employment
- Supported living
Acquired Brain Injury Waiver
This waiver is designed to provide services to people with acquired brain injuries so they are able to live as independently as possible.
Who qualifies?
- Must be age 18 or older
- Have a document qualifying acquired neurological brain injury from a licensed physician (MD or DO) and requires nursing facility level of care
- Must meet financial eligibility for Medicaid
What are common services available through this waiver?
- Behavior consultation
- Chore services
- Cognitive retraining
- Companion services
- Day supports
- Financial management services
- Non-medical transportation
- Residential
- Respite
- Supported employment
- Supported living
Physical Disability Waiver
This waiver is designed to provide services to people with physical disabilities remain in their homes and other community based settings.
Who qualifies?
- Must be age 18 or older
- Have a physician diagnosis of a physical disability that results in the functional loss of two or more limbs and require nursing facility level of care
- Be capable of selecting and supervising their attendant
- Be capable of managing their own financial and legal matters
- Must meet financial eligibility for Medicaid
What are the services available through this waiver?
- Financial management services
- Personal assistance services
- Personal emergency response system
Community Transitions Waiver
This waiver is designed to provide services statewide to help persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities reside and participate fully in the community.
Who qualifies?
Intellectual or developmental disability diagnosis (or related condition) that results in functional impairment in three or more areas of major life activity.
- Onset of condition before age 18 for intellectual disability (or before age 22 for other related conditions)
- Reside in an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)
- Must meet financial eligibility for Medicaid
What are the services available through this waiver?
- Residential
- Supported living
- Supported employment
- Employment preparation services
- Day services
- Transportation
- Behavior consultation
- Medication management
- Professional nursing services
- Chore services
- Companion services
- Financial management services
- Respite
Limited Supports Waiver
Limited Support Waiver is a home and community based waiver that targets participants with low support needs who are on the current waitlist for DSPD services. This waiver is designed to provide services statewide to help people with an acquired brain injury, intellectual disabilities, or other related conditions (ID/RC) to remain in their homes or other community based settings.
Individuals are able to live as independently as possible with supportive services provided through this waiver. This waiver has an annual service spending cap of $21,250 per year and is designed to give individuals budget flexibility. The participants get to dictate how to use the services within the array of services offered.
Who qualifies?
- Intellectual or developmental disability diagnosis (or related condition) that results in functional impairment in three or more areas of major life activity.
- Onset of condition before age 18 for intellectual disability (or before age 22 for other related conditions), but can apply at any age. OR Have a document qualifying acquired neurological brain injury from a licensed physician (MD or DO) and require nursing facility level of care.
- Must apply for waitlist for all HCBS waivers and meet financial eligibility for Medicaid.
What are common services available through this waiver?
- Attendant care
- Behavior services and behavior support professional services
- Fiscal management services
- Environmental adaptations and specialized medical equip.
- Individual goods and services purchases
- Individual supported employment
- Integrated community learning
- Job development supports
- Pre-employment skill building
- Remote supports
- Peer support services
- Transportation (UTA)
- Respite
- Support coordination
Services can be provided by an agency based provider model – contracted service providers or services can be provided via the self-administered services model (SAS). Services may be provided via a combination of contracted service providers and SAS.
Utah Department of Health & Human Services Waivers
There are other disability related waivers available through the Utah Department of Health & Human Services. For more information, click on the waiver name below.
- Aging Waiver opens in a new tab
- Medically Complex Children's Waiver opens in a new tab
- New Choices Waiver opens in a new tab
- Technology Dependent Waiver opens in a new tab
