A “waiver” means that states do not have to follow certain Medicaid rules in order to offer more services to people who might otherwise have to go to an institution. These programs are designed to help people stay in the community by providing extra support that isn’t available in regular Medicaid.
What Do Waivers Allow?
Waivers allow states to:
- Waive Statewideness: Normally, Medicaid services must be available statewide, but waiver programs let states target specific areas with the highest need.
- Waive Comparability of Services: Regular Medicaid requires services to be the same for everyone, but waiver programs can provide extra services to certain groups.
- For example, some waivers only apply to people with specific conditions, like the State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL) waiver, which is only for people with certain types of diagnoses.
- Waive Income and Resource Rules: Regular Medicaid has strict rules about how much money or property someone can have to qualify. Waivers relax those rules so people who would only be eligible for care in a facility can receive services at home or in the community.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
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