Due to the government shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) continue to operate. Continue to work with the programs in your state to access coverage. For more information about government operating status, visit OPM.gov.

Home & Community Based Services Authorities

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) first became available in 1983 when Congress added section 1915(c) to the Social Security Act, giving States the option to receive a waiver of Medicaid rules governing institutional care. In 2005, HCBS became a formal Medicaid State plan option. Several States include HCBS services in their Medicaid State plans. Forty seven states and DC are operating at least one 1915(c) waiver.

State Medicaid agencies have several HCBS options:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) works with states to assure and improve quality in Medicaid HCBS waiver programs. See page on quality monitoring of HCBS waivers for more information.