Louisiana Medicaid Waiver

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

Is there a Medicaid waiver program in Louisiana? Yes, there are several Medicaid waiver programs in Louisiana.

Elderly and Disabled Adult Waiver;- Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS);
Adult Day Health Care;- OAAS;
Residential Options Waiver;-OCDD;
Community Choices;-OAAS;
Children's Choices;-OCDD;
Supports Waiver;-OCDD;
New Opportunities Waiver;-OCDD;
Coordinated System of Care SED Children-Office of Behavioral Health (OBH -department within DHH )

What state department handles the Medicaid waiver program in Louisiana? The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) administers all of the above listed waivers. The Office For Citizens With Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), which is overseen by The Department of Health and Hospitals, is responsible for Louisiana's Medicaid Waiver Program for persons with developmental disabilities.

What programs assist people who have developmental disabilities? There are several Medicaid Waiver Programs that assist persons with disabilities in Louisiana. These waivers include: The Children's Choice Waiver; The New Opportunities Waiver; The Supports Waiver, and The Residential Options Waiver. (This is only a list of waivers that assist people with DD not all programs.)

What is the best number to call to get started? The Office For Citizens With Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) serves as the Single Point of Entry into the developmental disabilities service system. To apply for services, contact your regional community service office/ human services district/authority.
Primary Phone Number: ( 225 ) 342 - 0095

Metropolitan Human Services District – New Orleans Area – 504-599-0245
Capitol Area Human Services District – Baton Rouge Area-225-925-1910
South Central Human Services Authority – Thibodaux Area-985-449-5167
Acadiana Area Human Services District – Lafayette Area-337-262-5610
Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority – Lake Charles Area-337-475-8045
Central Louisiana human Services District-Alexandria Area-318-484-2347
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District-Shreveport/Bossier City Area-318-741-7455
Northeast Delta Human Services Authority-Monroe Area-318-362-3396
Florida Parishes Human Services Authority-Mandeville/Hammond Area-985-543-4730
Jefferson Parishes Human Services Authority – Metairie Area-504-838-5357

Is there a website? www.dhh.louisiana.gov or try their Developmental Disabilities page.

Who Qualifies For Assistance?

What is considered a developmental disability in Louisiana? A developmental disability means either:

A severe, chronic disability of a person that:

Is attributable to an intellectual or physical impairment or combination
Is manifested before the persons reaches age 22
Is likely to continue indefinitely
results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activities
is not attributed solely to mental illness
reflects the persons need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
OR

A substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition in a person from birth through age nine, who, without support and services, has a high probability of resulting in those criteria (listed above) later in life that may be considered to be a developmental disability.

Are there income limits to receive services in Louisiana? Yes, you need to meet the same income guidelines as Medicaid to get Medicaid waiver services in Louisiana, but Louisiana DHH/OCDD offers other services besides Medicaid waivers.

How old do you have to be to start receiving services in Louisiana? You can get on the Children's Choice Waiver as early as age 4. There is an early steps program for children ages 0-3.

Is There a Waiting List For Services?

How long is the waiting list in Louisiana? The wait for services varies based on the service, program, and funding source. Some residents have reported a wait of ten years or longer before getting Medicaid waiver services in Louisiana.

How many people are on the waiting list in Louisiana? There are about 10,000 people waiting for Medicaid waiver services in Louisiana.

How many people are currently receiving services in Louisiana? There are approximately 16,000 people with developmental disabilities currently receiving waiver services in Louisiana through OCDD. This includes all - about 10,000 on the NOW Waiver, and about 4,000 on the Children's Choice Waiver, 26 on the supports waiver and around 2000 on the supports waiver.

What assistance is available while you wait for med waiver services in Louisiana? You can get limited support through Medicaid and state funded services through OCDD’s regional, districts, and authorities.

Is there priority preference for people who are in crisis in Louisiana? Yes, if you are in crisis, you may qualify for support faster.

What Services Are Offered & What Are The Service Limitations?

What services does the Medicaid waiver program offer in Louisiana? Services offered vary by waiver.

The New Opportunities Waiver offers people age 3 and older support options to include: individual and family supports (day and night) community integration and development environmental accessibility adaptations, specialized medical equipment and supplies, supported living, substitute family care, day habilitation or supported employment with transportation, employment related training, professional services, personal emergency response systems, skilled nursing services, center-based respite, and one-time transitional services. Support Coordination is also provided.

The Children’s Choice Waiver offers support options to include: Family supports, center-based respite, environmental accessibility adaptations (including vehicles), and family training. Children who age out of the waiver are offered an appropriate waiver for adults. Support Coordination is also provided.

Supports Waiver offers people age 18 and older support options to include: supported employment; day habilitation; prevocational services; respite; habilitation; and personal emergency response systems. Support Coordination is also provided.

Residential Options Waiver offers persons of all ages a range of services within an overall budget. Support options to include: individual and family supports options, employment/habilitation options, skilled nursing, professional, behavioral, and other specialized services. Support Coordination is also included.

Does Louisiana offer community group homes? Louisiana offers EXTENDED FAMILY LIVING Substitute family care delivered in the home of non-related individuals for the purpose of providing for the physical, emotional, educational, habilitative, and social needs of persons with mental retardation/developmental disabilities.

Does Louisiana offer supported living? Yes, the NOW Waiver offers supported living and some state funded supported living.

Are there still state owned institutions in Louisiana? State hospitals in Louisiana are called OCDD Resource Centers. The only one still operating is Pinecrest Supports and Services Center in Pineville, Louisiana.

How Do You Select A Provider?

Do med waiver providers work for the state in Louisiana? No, Medicaid waiver providers are privately owned companies.

About how many waiver providers are there in Louisiana? There are about 300 med waiver provider agencies in Louisiana.

Do you have a choice in providers in Louisiana? Yes, you select the provider you want to work with in Louisiana.

How Do You Become A Provider?

In order to enroll in any Medicaid waiver, the provider must first have a current license from the state (DHH). A licensing fee is required in order to obtain and maintain the license. The license allows the provider to proceed with a provider enrollment application. If the license closes for any reason, Medicaid participation also terminates. To become a med waiver provider in Louisiana, call (225) 216-6370.

Additional Information

The Children's Choice Waiver offers supplemental support to children through age 18 who currently live at home with their families or with a foster family. The New Opportunities Waiver assists people age 3 and older to live in their communities. The Supports Waiver offers focused, individualized vocational services to people age 18 and older. The Residential Options Waiver offers people of all ages services designed to support them to move from ICFs/DD and nursing facilities to community based settings.

Louisiana Medicaid Waiver

Disability Services & Waivers

Louisiana Providers

ADD YOUR COMPANY HERE