The Autism Waiver through Medical Assistance allows eligible children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to receive Waiver services to support them in their homes and communities. House Bill 99 was proposed by Delegate John Hurson during the 1998 legislative session. The General Assembly approved and required the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a Home and Community-Based Services Waiver under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, to serve children with autism. In August 1998, MDH applied for a section 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Service Waiver that would allow children with autism, determined to be eligible for institutional services in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID), to receive Autism Waiver services in their home and community. On September 1, 2000, MDH received confirmation from CMS that Maryland’s Home and Community-Based Service Waiver for Children with ASD was approved.
Children and youth must be able to be served and safely maintained in the home and community through Autism Waiver services. Children and youth must meet financial eligibility for Medical Assistance; their monthly income may not exceed 300% of SSI benefits, and their countable assets may not exceed a maximum allowable amount depending on eligibility category. Note: Children and youth who are enrolled in another Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver must choose which waiver program best meets their needs.
For more information on the Autism Waiver, call the MSDE at 410-767-1446 or the MDH at 410-767-5220 or visit http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/Special-Education/autismfactsheet.aspx
IMPORTANT posting from the State of Maryland for anyone with a child on the Autism Waiver who is exiting school or aging out during COVID-19. Supporting documents may be found below or on the AUSOM COVID-19 Resource page under Educational Resources.
The Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Long Term Services and Supports (within the Medicaid Office) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) have been coordinating efforts to support Autism Waiver transitioning youth participants in the Autism Waiver and their families. A provision of the Autism Waiver Appendix K includes the ability to continue funding for services covered by its waiver program application for individuals who are 22 years of age or older during the COVID-19 state of emergency. This means Autism Waiver participants, who would otherwise be disenrolled from the Autism Waiver on June 30th, can remain in the Autism Waiver, and continue to receive services funded by the Autism Waiver, even though they have completed or concluded their entitled educational services.
To support Autism Waiver participants and families, who may be eligible for DDA-funded services as a TY, in making an informed decision as to whether to disenroll from the Autism Waiver on June 30th or to continue in the Autism Waiver and transition at a later date, the following guidance and informational tool was developed. The purpose of this guidance is to share information regarding temporary changes for the Autism Waiver “aging out” disenrollment requirement and the DDA’s Transitioning Youth (TY) service options in response to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”