D&S FAQ
Texas
- What is the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Program?
- What services are offered in the HCS Program?
- Who qualifies for the HCS Program?
- Are HCS services available right now anywhere in the state?
- How do I apply for services?
- What are Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability or Related Conditions (ICF/IID)
- What’s the availability of ICF services in Texas?
- What are the eligibility requirements?
- What is the Texas Home Living Program?
- What services are offered in the TxHmL Program?
- What are the eligibility requirements?
- What if my name is on the HCS Program interest list?
- Who provides ICF/IDD, HCS, and TxHmL services?
- Can I switch Providers?
- What if I move to a different town in Texas?
- What if I move out of Texas?
- How do I get on the HCS waiting list?
Tennessee
- What is the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD)?
- How do I get on the HCS waiting list?
- How do I access DIDD services?
- Who is eligible to receive DIDD services?
- How soon can I start getting DIDD services?
- What is the Medicaid Waiver?
- Do I have to choose a specific provider to get Medicaid Waiver services?
- What are Home and Community-based Services Waivers?
- What is the Tennessee Self-Determination Waiver Program?
Texas
What is the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Program?
HCS is a state-funded waiver program that provides individualized services and supports to individuals with qualifying conditions who are living with their family, in their own home or in other community settings, such as small group homes.What services are offered in the HCS Program?
- Service Coordination
- Adaptive aids
- Minor home modifications
- Counseling and therapies (includes audiology; speech/language pathology, occupational or physical therapy; dietary services; social work; and psychology)
- Dental treatment
- Nursing
- Residential assistance
- Supported home living
- Host Home/companion care
- Supervised living
- Residential support
- Respite
- Day habilitation
- Supported employment
Who qualifies for the HCS Program?
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission determines financial eligibility. For more information, please visit their website.Other eligibility requirements:
- No age limit.
- Must not be enrolled in another Medicaid waiver program.
- Must have had a determination of IDD made in accordance with state law or have been diagnosed by a physician as having a related condition
- Must meet specific requirements for intelligence quotient (IQ) (within 5 points of MR diagnostic cutoff (69).
- Must have chosen the HCS Program over the Intermediate Care Facilities Program.
- Have an individual plan of care that does not exceed a specific annual cost limit.
Are HCS services available right now anywhere in the state?
This service is available statewide, but it may not be available right away. Your name may be placed on an interest list. You will be contacted when services are available.How do I apply for services?
Contact your Local Authority. To learn more, download the Home and Community-based Services provider website Access and Intake Community Options Manual (PDF format).What are Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability or Related Conditions (ICF/IID)
ICF/IIDs, which may be operated by a private or public entity, provide residential and habilitation services, medical services, skills training, and adjunctive therapies with 24-hour supervision and coordination of the individual program plan. These residential facilities range from six beds to several hundred beds for people who have IDD or a related condition. The two categories of ICF/IDDs are:State Supported Living Centers
Texas has 13 campus-based ICF/MR facilities that each serve approximately 100 to 600 people.
Community-based ICF/IDD
These are community-based residences for people who meet eligibility requirements. D&S operates community-based ICFs in several
areas. If you want to know more information about these, contact us
What’s the availability of ICF services in Texas?
This service is available statewide and is available based on compatibility of persons living in the ICF/IDD. For information about vacancies statewide, visit: www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/ICFMR/search/index.cfmWhat are the eligibility requirements?
- No age limit
- IDD
- IQ of 75 or below with a related condition that began before the person turned 22 or a related condition with moderate to extreme behavioral and medical problems.
What is the Texas Home Living Program?
The Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Program provides services and supports to Texans with mental retardation or a related condition so that they can continue to live with their families or in their own homes. To learn more, visit: https://www.dads.state.tx.us/What services are offered in the TxHmL Program?
- Support services for people who live in their own homes or with their families
- Services are intended to supplement instead of replace the services and supports a person may receive from other programs, such as the Texas Health Steps Program, or from natural supports such as his or her family, neighbors, or community organizations
- Services are limited to a yearly cost of $13,000 per participant
- TxHmL offers community support, dental, day habilitation, and respite services
- TxHmL does NOT offer residential services
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Must have accepted an offer to enroll in the TxHmL program
- Must choose to participate in the TxHmL program instead of the ICF/MR Program
- Must live in his/her own home or family home
- Must have mental retardation or a related condition and meets the criteria for a Level of Care I in an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF/IDD)
- Must be a Medicaid recipient (i.e., has a Medicaid card)
- Must not not require intensive one-to-one supervision to prevent dangerous behavior
- Must not be enrolled in another Medicaid waiver program (such as the CLASS Program or the Medically Dependent Children Program)
What if my name is on the HCS Program interest list?
If you choose (or your representative chooses for you) to enroll in the TxHmL Program or ICF/IDD, your name will stay on the HCS Program interest list with no change to the date it was put on the list.Who provides ICF/IDD, HCS, and TxHmL services?
Program providers are privately owned entities and community mental health and mental retardation centers. DADS certifies all Program providers and monitors the services they provide. You or your representative choose the Program provider that will provide your services.Can I switch Providers?
Yes, you or your representative can switch Providers at any time throughout receiving services.What if I move to a different town in Texas?
If you move to a different town in Texas you can still have HCS and TxHmL Program services. Talk with your service coordinator to make arrangements to continue your services if you move to a different town.What if I move out of Texas?
HCS and TxHmL Program services do not transfer out of state. Other states have similar programs and may have waiting lists – contact specific states for further details.How do I get on the HCS waiting list?
Contact your Local Authority and let them know you want to be placed on the waiting list for Home and Community-based Services.Need help choosing the program that’s right for you and accessing services? Contact us!
D&S is here to help answer your questions and get the services you need. Contact us for more information.
Tennessee
What is the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD)?
The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) is the state agency responsible for providing services and supports to Tennesseans with intellectual disabilities.DIDD provides services directly or through contracts with community providers like D&S Community services. DIDD also monitors the supports and services being provided to ensure health and safety of all individuals served.
How do I access DIDD services?
Individuals contact their local DIDD regional office to request information about applying for services. DIDD will assist individuals with the application and will start the intake process. Once the application is complete and eligibility criteria have been met, individuals will select an Independent Support Coordination agency that will assist the individual and their family with selecting the right provider agency for them.Who is eligible to receive DIDD services?
During the intake process, individuals seeking services will be asked to provide documentation to show eligibility. In Tennessee, individuals seeking DIDD services must have a primary diagnosis of intellectual disabilities with the onset prior to age 18. Individuals must also meet financial eligibility criteria to receive Medicaid Services.How soon can I start getting DIDD services?
Because there is a waiting list, applicants will be assessed and assigned a Category of Need (Crisis, Urgent, Active, or Deferred) by a DIDD intake Case Manager. Enrollment priority is given to persons with the most critical needs that have been assessed as a crisis. Persons who are identified in the urgent category will also be given priority as waiver services are available.What is the Medicaid Waiver?
The Medicaid Waiver is a way states can use Medicaid dollars for services for people with intellectual disabilities. It lets the state pay for services provided in the community instead of institutional settings. This care is provided through one of three waiver programs, the Statewide Waiver, Arlington Waiver, and Self-Determination Waiver.Do I have to choose a specific provider to get Medicaid Waiver services?
No. A recipient and family may choose any state-approved waiver services provider. D&S Community Services is a state-approved waiver services provider.What are Home and Community-based Services Waivers?
Medicaid Home and Community-based Services Waiver programs were developed as an alternative to services provided in an institutional setting and are the primary source of supports and services for people with intellectual disabilities who live in the community.Services:
- Support Coordination
- Residential Services (Residential Habilitation, Supported Living, Family Model Residential Support)
- Day Services
- Behavior Services
- Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
- Nursing and Nutrition Services
- Respite Services and Behavioral Respite Services
- Personal Assistance
- Transportation
What is the Tennessee Self-Determination Waiver Program?
The Self-Determination Waiver program offers services to persons with intellectual disabilities who have moderate service needs that can be satisfactorily met with a cost-effective array of home and community services that complement other supports available to them in their homes and community. In addition to Case Management services provided by DIDD, persons may be eligible to receive the following services through the Tennessee Self-DeterminationServices:
- Day Services
- Behavior Services
- Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
- Respite and Behavioral Respite Services
- Personal Assistance
- Transportation
Need help choosing the program that’s right for you and accessing services? Contact us!
D&S is here to help answer your questions and get the services you need. Contact us for more information.
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