What are waivers?
The word waiver is often used to generally describe a resource for funding — but there are several different kinds of waivers, administered by different government systems.
At LCBDD, we can talk with you about DD waivers, which can be one way to pay for medically necessary services that support someone with developmental disabilities. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities administers three different waivers: the Individual Options Waiver, the Level One Waiver, and the Self-Empowered Life Funding Waiver.
When people in Licking County are enrolled on these waivers, Medicaid contributes approximately 60 percent of the funding and LCBDD funds the remaining 40 percent through local property taxes.
More than 40,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities are enrolled on a waiver, with access to services while living on their own, with family, with a roommate, or with a paid caregiver.
How do I know if I’m eligible for a waiver?
There may be a waiting list for waivers. To determine your eligibility to be placed on the waiting list, you will need to have a Waiting List Assessment (WLA) completed to help identify areas of unmet needs. The Licking County Board of DD has an Assessment Specialist on staff to complete these assessments for people we support. Please contact your Service Coordinator if you are interested in scheduling a WLA.
To be eligible for a waiver and put on the waiting list, you must have an unmet need in the next 12 months that cannot be met by an alternate resource.
Once the WLA is completed, you will receive the results. If the assessment determines that there is an unmet need that cannot be met by other resources, you will be placed on the waiver waiting list.
If you have any questions about the next steps, once you are on the waiting list, please contact your Service Coordinator.
Where can I find out more about the different types of DD waivers?
Click here to learn about the Level One waiver
Within this link you will find:
- A description of what a Level One Waiver is.
- Examples of services available through the Level One Waiver.
- General eligibility guidelines for a Level One Waiver.
- Applicable funding limits for Level One Waivers.
Click here to learn about the IO waiver
Within this link you will find:
- A description of what an Individual Options (IO) Waiver is.
- Examples of services available through the Individual Options (IO) Waiver.
- General eligibility guidelines for an Individual Options (IO) Waiver.
- Applicable funding limits for Individual Options (IO) Waivers.
Click here to learn about the SELF waiver
Within this link you will find:
- A description of what a Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver is.
- Examples of services available through the Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver
- General eligibility guidelines for a Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver
- Applicable funding limits for Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waivers
Responsibilities:
Once you or your family member is enrolled on a waiver, there are certain responsibilities you will need to uphold.
- You will need to maintain your Medicaid eligibility.
- You will need to respond to emails or phone calls from your Service Coordinator within a couple of days of receiving them.
- You will also need to participate in a meeting with your Service Coordinator at least once a year.
If you do not respond to emails, phone calls or mail from your Service Coordinator, that could lead to your services ending and your case being closed.