Medicaid – In-Home Supports Waiver For Children

Purpose

The In-Home Support Waiver for Children (IHSW-C) provides services and support to Oklahoma children with specific types of intellectual disabilities.  The waiver assists children in their goal to lead healthy, independent, and productive lives in the community.  Services and support offered are not otherwise covered through Oklahoma’s Medicaid State Plan (SoonerCare).  In order to be eligible for the IHSW-C, a child must reside in the home of a family member or friend, his or her own home and have needs that can be met through a combination of non-paid, non-waiver, SoonerCare, and IHSW-C resources within the annual waiver limit.  Services provided under the IHSW-C include assistive technology as well as other services which may relate to assistive technology including architectural modification and specialized medical supplies.

Contact

Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Developmental Disabilities Services
4345 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
(405) 522-7300

Developmental Disabilities Service Division Home and Community-Based Services Waiver website link

Eligibility

  • An individual must be age 3-17;
  • meet SoonerCare financial eligibility requirements, which currently limits monthly countable income to $2,205, and a resource limit of $2,000 (only the child’s income and resources are counted), these figures are subject to change;
  • not be simultaneously enrolled in any other waiver program or receiving services in an institution including a hospital, rehabilitation facility, mental health facility, nursing facility, residential care facility or Intermediate Care Facility for persons with Mental Retardation (ICF-MR);
  • not be receiving Developmental Disabilities Services state-funded services such as the Family Support Assistance Payment, Respite Voucher Program, sheltered workshop services, community integrated employment services or assisted living without waiver supports;
  • have a disability as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s (OHCA) Level of Care Evaluation Unit and must also have a diagnosis of an intellectual disability;
  • be determined by the OHCA Level of Care Evaluation Unit to meet ICF-MR level of care requirements;
  • reside in the home of a family member or friend, his or her own home, an Oklahoma Department of Human Services Children and Family Services (CFS) foster home, or a CFS group home and have critical support needs that can be met through a combination of non-paid, non-Waiver and SoonerCare resources available to the individual and with waiver resources that are within the annual waiver limit; and
  • for additional information regarding waiver eligibility, please refer to Oklahoma’s rules. These rules may be found in the Provider, Policies and Rules section at okhca.org, OAC 317:40-1-1.

AT Services Provided/Covered

  • Assessment for the need for assistive technology/auxiliary aids
  • Training the service recipient/provider in the use and maintenance of equipment/auxiliary aids
  • Repair of adaptive devices
  • Interpreter services
  • Reader Services

AT Devices Provided/ Covered

  • Aids for Hearing Impaired
  • Mobility/Seating & Positioning
  • Speech Communication
  • Environmental Adaptations
  • Aids for Vision Impaired

How to Get the AT

  • Oklahoma’s Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) operates statewide with four offices in the state. To apply for waiver services, please contact the area office nearest you.
  • A DDS Case Manager assists with the development of a plan of care that must be approved prior to all service delivery.  The Case Manager also assists with locating, securing, and coordinating needed services. Assistive technology needs can be addressed through the team planning process.

Pieces of the Puzzle

  • Currently, there is a waiting list to receive services through the IHSW-C.
  • There is a maximum dollar limit of services that a child may receive through the IHSW-C during a 12 month period.
  • Services provided through Oklahoma’s SoonerCare Child Health Program will not be covered by the IHSW-C. The SoonerCare Child Health Program lets children with SoonerCare, ages 0-20, get free medical, vision, hearing, and dental checkups.  If your child’s SoonerCare doctor finds a health problem during a health checkup, he or she may send you to another provider or another place for follow-up care.  Services needed to take care of the problem will be covered through SoonerCare. For more information related to the SoonerCare Child Health Program visit okhca.org.
  • All IHSW-C services are provided by agencies or individuals who have entered into contract agreements with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
  • DDS Area Offices operate an assistive technology reuse program. Contact the area office closest to you for more information.
  • Please refer to Oklahoma’s rules related to DDS assistive technology (AT) devices and services. These rules may be viewed at okhca.org in the Provider, Policies and Rules section under OAC 317:40-5-100.
  • Self-Directed Services (SDS) is an option for IHSW-C members that provides the opportunity to exercise choice and control in identifying, accessing, and managing specific waiver services and supports in accordance with their needs and personal preferences. SDS are waiver services DDS specifies that may be directed by the member over the age of 18 or a representative using both employer and budget authority. IHSW-C members are not required to utilize the SDS option.

Dispute Resolution Process

  1. Anyone who applies for/or receives services from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services has a right to request the OKDHS Appeals Unit to review an OKDHS action or delay action. This is called a Fair Hearing.
  2. You have the right to request a Fair Hearing within 30 days after you have been notified of a decision with which you don’t agree or when there has been an unusual delay by OKDHS in reaching a decision on your application or case.
  3. If you want to request a hearing, contact the local OKDHS office that took the action or failure to act, that you disagree with. You will be asked to fill out a form that says exactly what you disagree with.
  4. You may represent yourself or be represented by a lawyer.
  5. The hearing decision will be made by the Appeals Committee, which is made up of the hearing officer and two OKDHS state office employees who were not involved in the action you are appealing. The Appeals Committee tries to get most cases decided within 30 days after the hearing.  If the appeal is decided against you, you may ask the Director of OKDHS to review the hearing decision.  The Appeals Committee letter will explain how to do this.
  6. Please refer to the OKDHS website, okdhs.org/ for further details related to Fair Hearings and Appeals.