What Programs Are Available To Assist People With Disabilities in Mississippi?

Is there a Medicaid waiver program in Mississippi? Mississippi has several waivers including:

  • Elderly and Disabled (E&D);
  • Independent Living (IL);
  • Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD);
  • Assisted Living (AL);
  • Traumatic Brain Injury/ Spinal Cord Injury (TBI/SCI)

What state department handles the Medicaid waiver program in Mississippi? The Mississippi Division of Medicaid administers each waiver and shares waiver operation of the IL, TBI/SCI, and ID/DD waiver with other State agencies.

What programs assist people who have developmental disabilities in Mississippi? Mississippi’s ID/DD Waiver provides individualized supports and services to assist people in living successfully at home and in the community and are an alternative to care in institutional settings.

What is the best number to call to get started? To learn more about the ID/DD waiver program, call the toll free number for the Division of Medicaid:1-800-421-2408.

Is there a website? http://www.dmh.state.ms.us/

Who Qualifies For Assistance?

What is considered a developmental disability in Mississippi? An intellectual disability is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties in a variety of everyday social and practical skills. A developmental disability is attributed to a cognitive or physical impairment that results in limitations in areas such as self-care, language, and mobility.

Are there income limits to receive waiver services in Mississippi? The income level for this program is 300% of the federal Supplemental Security Income level. Persons with income over the limit may qualify for this program through an income trust. Resource limits are $4000 for an individual and $6000 for a couple.

How old do you have to be to start waiver receiving services in Mississippi? It varies depending on the waiver. There are no age restrictions for the Intellectual Disabilities/ DD Waiver and the TBI/ Spinal Cord Injury Waiver. The following waivers have age restrictions: Assisted Living Waiver (Age 21); Elderly and Disabled Waiver (Age 21); and Independent Living Wavier (Age 16).

Is There a Waiting List For Services?

How long is the waiting list for waiver services in Mississippi? You can expect to wait several months before getting Medicaid Waiver Services in Mississippi.

How many people are on the waiting list in Mississippi? There are over 2,000 persons on the DD referral list.

How many people are currently receiving services in Mississippi? In SFY 2012 1,831 people received ID/DD services; 13,944 E&D; 544 AL, 2,264 IL, 815 TBI/SCI.

What assistance is available while you wait? Some services may be provided by Medicaid or the school system. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitative Services may have services available for individuals who are waiting for the IL and TBI/SCI waiver.

Is there priority preference for people who are in crisis? Yes, Mississippi offers priority placement for people in crisis.

What Services Are Offered & What Are The Service Limitations?

What services does the Medicaid waiver program offer in Mississippi? The ID/DD Waiver offers home and community support, respite care, day services – adult (supported and supervised), prevocational services, supported employment, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech /language/hearing therapy, behavior support/intervention and providing specialized medical supplies.
The E&D Waiver offers case management, personal care attendant services, transition assistance, extended home health services, adult day care, in home respite, institutional respite and home delivered meals.
The IL waiver offers case management, personal care attendant services, specialized equipment and supplies, transition assistance and environmental accessibility adaptations.
The TBI/SCI Waiver offers case management, an array of respite care, specialized equipment and supplies, transition assistance and environmental accessibility adaptations.
The AL waiver offers a bundle of assisted living care services, excluding room and board.

Does Mississippi offer community group homes? Mississippi offers Supervised Community Living in the ID/DD Waiver. Supervised community living means there is a staff person on site, 24 hours per day, seven days per week who can respond to calls for assistance in five minutes or less. The sites in which Supervised Living is available vary across the state. Generally no more than six individuals live together in a home. Transportation to and from day programs and community activities is provided, as well as support with shopping for food and personal items and assistance with individual finances.

Does Mississippi offer supported living? Mississippi offers support to help people live in their own homes. Home and Community Supports is a service provided a few hours per day to assist an eligible individual with activities such as bathing, meal preparation, eating, dressing, shopping, leisure activities, community integration, and light housekeeping.

Are there still state owned institutions in Mississippi? Mississippi has five large state facilities housing 1325 Americans.

How Do You Select A Provider?

Do providers work for the state? No, providers are solo or agency providers.

About how many providers are there in Mississippi? For the ID/DD Waiver, there are about 35 Medicaid Waiver providers in Mississippi.

Do you have a choice in providers? Yes, you can select your own provider.

How Do You Become A Provider?

To become a provider for ID/DD Waiver in Mississippi, call (800) 884-3222 or (800) 421-2408. To become a provider for the IL, TBI/SCI. E&D or AL waiver, please call 601-359-6141.

Additional Information
  • The Assisted Living Waiver is limited to individuals twenty-one (21) years of age and up. This program allows qualified individuals to reside in an licensed Assisted Living Facility as an alternative to nursing facility care or other institutional care. This waiver also offers Traumatic Brain Injury residential living for qualifying individuals with a TBI for a limited number of waiver slots.
  • The Elderly and Disabled Waiver program provides home and community-based services to individuals 21 and over. The program allows qualified individuals to remain in a home or community based setting as an alternative to nursing facility care or other institutional care.
  • Eligibility for the Independent Living Wavier is limited to individuals age sixteen (16) or older who have severe orthopedic and/or neurological impairments.
  • Eligibility for the TBI/SCI Waiver is limited to individuals who have a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury and are medically stable.
  • The Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities Waiver is a statewide program, administered by the Division of Medicaid and operated by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. It is designed to offer support and services to qualified Medicaid beneficiaries who have intellectual/developmental disabilities. The program allows qualified individuals to remain in a home or community based setting as an alternative to nursing facility care or other institutional care. Persons must require the same level of care as someone applying for admission to an intermediate care facility for the intellectually disabled.
MS Providers

Mississippi Providers

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Brandi’s Hope Community 601-721-3496
Serving Mississippi
Offers families choice of supports in the home/community by a direct support professional of their choice.


Millcreek HCBS (601)849-4221
Serving Mississippi
Provides an array of community based services and supports under the Home and Community Based Services Waiver: respite, SE, Behavior services, etc.


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