Can I get OPWDD services if I don’t have Medicaid?

To access OPWDD Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver services, an individual must have Medicaid. There are limited OPWDD supports that may be available without Medicaid, such as crisis intervention or Family Support Services (FSS),  but to enroll in the OPWDD HCBS Waiver and receive ongoing waiver services, the individual must have Medicaid.

If you don’t yet have Medicaid, don’t worry. You can start the process by applying for OPWDD eligibility. After eligibility is approved, you’ll be connected to a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). Your Care Manager can help you apply for Medicaid through a “family of one” budgeting pathway, where eligibility is based solely on the individual’s income and resources, without including the parents’ income.

Once Medicaid is in place, you can move forward with enrolling in the OPWDD waiver and accessing the services that best support your child’s needs.