Iowa Medicaid Waiver Program

What is Iowa Medicaid?

Iowa currently has five waiver programs that serve children. All are 1915(c) HCBS waivers. We are not sure if they waive parental income or not. General information about waivers in Iowa can be found on the Iowa Home and Community Based Services page. A chart comparing waivers is also available. Waiting list information for Iowa waivers can be found here. Iowa is planning on combining several of its waivers in 2024, and this information will be updated when it becomes available.

Types of Medicaid Waiver Programs

Home and Community Based Services – Health and Disability (HD) Waiver

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day, homemaker, respite, home health aide, nursing, financial management services, independent support broker, self-directed community support and employment, consumer directed attendant care-skilled, consumer-directed attendant care-unskilled, counseling service, home and vehicle modification, home delivered meals, individual directed goods and services, interim medical monitoring and treatment, nutritional counseling, personal emergency response system, and self-directed personal care services to individuals with physical disabilities ages 0-64 years who meet a nursing facility or ICF/IID level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
• Online State Information: Health and Disability Waiver Information
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS. Children will then be assessed by Child Health Specialty Clinics.

Children’s Mental Health

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides family and community support service, respite, environmental modifications and adaptive devices, in-home family therapy, and medical day care for children to individuals with serious emotional disturbance ages 0-17 years who meet a hospital level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
• Online State Information: Children’s Mental Health Waiver Information
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.

Home and Community Based Services – Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Waiver

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day care, day habilitation, prevocational services, residential based supported community living, respite, supported employment, home health aide services, nursing, financial management services, independent support broker, individual directed goods and services, self-directed community support and employment, self- directed personal care, consumer directed attendant care (CDAC) – skilled, CDAC – unskilled, home and vehicle modification, interim medical monitoring and treatment, personal emergency response or portable locator system, supported community living, and transportation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
• Online State Information: Intellectual Disabilities Waiver
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.

HCBS AIDS/HIV

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day care, homemaker, respite, home health aide, nursing, financial management services, independent support broker, consumer directed attendant care – skilled, consumer-directed attendant care – unskilled, counseling, home delivered meals, individual directed goods and services, self directed community support and employment, self directed personal care for individuals with HIV/AIDS, ages 0 – no max age.
• Online State Information: AH Waiver Information
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.

Home and Community Based Services – Brain Injury (BI)

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day care, case management, prevocational services, respite, supported employment, specialized medical equipment, financial management service, independent support broker, individual directed goods and services, self-directed community support and employment, self-directed personal care, behavioral programming, consumer directed attendant care unskilled, consumer directed attendant care – skilled, family counseling and training services, home and vehicle modification, interim medical monitoring and treatment, personal emergency response system or portable locator system, supported community living, and transportation services to individuals with brain injury ages 0 or older who meet a nursing facility or ICF/IID level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1915(b)(3), and 1915(b)(4) authority.
• Online State Information: BI Waiver Information
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Apply for Medicaid online or through HHS.

Other online resources for Iowa:

• Autism Society of Iowa provides information, advocacy, and support for families
  Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program has recommendations for plans of care for your unique situation.
  ASK Resource Center has parent training tools for families.
  ARC of Iowa can help you with everything from employment to advocacy
• Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Intellectual Disabilities Waiver

Telephone Resources

• Regional Office Contact Locator for Department of Human Services
• General assistance line for Department of Human Services — 1-800-972-2017.

Ordering Goally with a Medicaid Waiver

Talk with your case manager to see if the waiver program you have will cover Goally. If so, have your case manager email us at: [email protected] to place an order on your behalf.