- The HCBS Waiver Primer and Policy Manual PDF
- HCBS Waiver for Individuals with DD Brochure (English | Spanish) PDF
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved California’s five year renewal of the Home and Community–Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities effective January 1, 2018. Approval of the HCBS Waiver renewal secures the availability of approximately $2 billion in federal funding for regional center services.
Current Waiver
- Approved Waiver Amendment PDF Effective January 19, 2021, this amendment adds Intensive Transition Services as a new service and Speech Language Pathologist Assistant as a new provider type.
- Approved Waiver Amendment PDF Effective January 1, 2021, this amendment provides time-limited rate increases for Independent Living Services effective January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
- Approved Appendix K PDF Effective August 1, 2020, in response to the wildfire-related State of Emergency declared on August 14, 2020, this Appendix K provides for retainer payments for providers impacted by wildfires as a result of absences caused by evacuation or loss of property.
- Approved Appendix K PDF Effective September 1, 2020, this Appendix K provides additional flexibilities to those already approved in the June 8, 2020 Appendix K.
- Approved Appendix K PDF Effective June 8, 2020, this waiver appendix provides federal requirement flexibilities due to the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Prior Waiver
- Approved Waiver Amendment PDF Effective April 1, 2020, this amendment adds State-operated Community Crisis Homes, Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes, and Mobile Crisis Teams as new waiver services.
- Approved Waiver Amendment PDF Effective January 1, 2020, this amendment provides time-limited rate increases for specified services effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021.
- Approved Waiver Amendment PDF (Effective May 1, 2019. Added Community Crisis Homes, Community Based Adult Services, and includes authorization for a one-year rate increase of 2.1% for some providers in counties designated as “high cost”)
- Approved Technical Adjustment PDF (Effective July 1, 2018)
- Approved Waiver Application PDF (Effective January 1, 2018)
Public Notices
This notice provides information to the public regarding public input for renewal of the 1915(i) State Plan.
This notice provides information to the public regarding input for an amendment to the 1915(i) State Plan which provides for a time-limited rate increase for Independent Living Program providers pursuant to Assembly Bill 79 (2020).
This notice provides information to the public regarding public input for an amendment to the 1915(i) State Plan to add Intensive Transition Services as a new service and Speech Language Pathologist Assistants as a new provider type.
This notice provides information to the public regarding an amendment to the 1915(i) State Plan for time-limited rate increases for specified providers.
This notice provides information to the public regarding an amendment to the 1915(i) State Plan for the addition of State-Operated Mobile Crisis Teams as a new provider and new rate methodologies for State-Operated facilities, including Community Crisis Homes, Mobile Crisis Teams, and Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes.
Pending Federal Approval
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 20-0032) PDF (Effective July 1, 2020. Adds Intensive Transition Services as a new service and Speech Language Pathologist Assistants as a new provider type.)
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 20-0012) PDF (Effective May 1, 2020. Adds State-Operated Mobile Crisis Teams as a new provider and new rate methodologies for state-operated Mobile Crisis Teams, Community Crisis Homes, and Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes.)
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 20-0008) PDF (Effective January 1, 2020. Provides time-limited rate increases for specified developmental services providers from January 1, 2020 to December 21, 2021.)
Approved State Plan Amendments
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 19-0004) PDF (Effective May 1, 2019. The 1915(i) State Plan was revised to implement a one-year rate increase for community-based day programs, community care facilities under the alternative residential model and in-home respite agency providers in high-cost counties.)
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 18-0054) PDF (Effective July 1, 2018. The 1915(i) State Plan was revised to add services and align with the 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services waiver renewal that became effective January 1, 2018.)
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 18-0023) PDF (Effective July 1, 2018. The 1915(i) State Plan was revised to add services and align with the 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services waiver renewal that became effective January 1, 2018.)
- State Plan Amendment (SPA 16-047) PDF (Effective October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2021. Added a median rate methodology for licensed/certified residential services; participant direction as an option for existing respite, skilled nursing, and nonmedical transportation services; and new community-based training and financial management services)
- State Plan Amendment Renewal (SPA 16-016) PDF (Effective October 1, 2016)
More information on the new federal regulations and the activities to implement the specific requirements is available on the CMS Home and Community-Based Services Regulations webpage.
More information is available on the Self-Determination Program webpage.
Public Notices
Current Waiver
- Approved Waiver Application PDF (Effective July 1, 2018)
2020
This notice provides information to the public regarding public input for an amendment to the 1915(c) HCBS Waiver to add Intensive Transition Services as a new waiver service and Speech Language Pathologist Assistants as a new provider type. The full draft of the amendment is available here.
2019
CA.0336.R04.04 This 1915(c) waiver amendment adds State-Operated Mobile Crisis Team as a provider type under Behavioral Intervention Services. Additionally, this amendment added rate methodologies for State-Operated Mobile Crisis Team and State-Operated Community Crisis Homes, both under Behavioral Intervention Services, as well as a rate methodology for State-Operated Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes under Community Living Arrangement Services.
CA.0336.R04.03 This 1915(c) waiver amendment provides time-limited rate increases for specified providers effective January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.
19-0004 This state plan amendment provides rate increases for Community-Based Day Programs, Community Care Facilities under the Alternative Residential Model, and In-Home Respite Agency Providers in high cost counties.
CA.0336.R04.02 This 1915(c) waiver amendment adds Community Crisis Homes as a new provider, Community Based Adult Services as a new waiver service, Adult Day Health Care Center as a new provider, and provides time-limited rate increases for specified providers in high cost counties.
2018
18-0054 This state plan amendment proposes to add Community Crisis Homes as a new provider for Behavioral Intervention Services, subject to utilization controls.
18-0023 This state plan amendment adds Housing Access Services, Family Support Services, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Family/Consumer Training, as well as Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes as a new provider type. The amendment also removes Specialized Therapeutic Services and unbundling of its components, now available as Extended State Plan or other distinct services within the HCBS Waiver for the Developmentally Disabled.
2017
CA.0336.R04.00 Renews 1915(c) HCBS Waiver.
CA.0336.R03.00 Renewal Extension Grants a 90-day extension to renew the 1915(c) HCBS Waiver.
Last modified: February 16, 2021