The NY Children’s Waiver is a 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program designed for children and youth under 21 with medical conditions, developmental disabilities, or serious mental health disorders. It aims to prevent hospitalization or institutionalization by providing essential support services. Eligible participants must be enrolled in Medicaid and meet specific criteria related to serious emotional disturbances or other qualifying conditions. The waiver offers various services, including community habilitation, family peer support, and respite care, to help children thrive in their homes and communities.
Waiver Enrollment criteria are categorized into Target Populations, each with distinct criteria, which must be met for the child to be determined eligible for waiver enrollment:
*****Children/youth may have more than one qualifying condition; in those instances, care managers should conduct the waiver eligibility assessment based on the condition that puts the child/youth at risk of institutionalization, or for which they are being discharged from an institution.