North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has received final approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand access and add services to the state’s Medicaid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) waiver. The waiver provides services to eligible children and supports parents in their efforts to maximize their child’s development, while also preventing out-of-home placements.
The approved waiver adds 195 slots to serve more children and increases the qualifying age of children who can be served from age 15 through age 17. With the additional slots, the waiver will now serve 345 children.
Newly covered services include remote monitoring that uses a tracking device to safely support a child who is prone to wandering and community connector services that help a child build relationships and life skills while participating in events like swimming lessons, camps or social groups.
“We are pleased that this ASD waiver was approved,” said HHS Children’s Waiver Administer Kathy Barchenger. “This waiver aligns with our agency’s key priority of supporting strong, stable and healthy families. It encourages a child’s independence while supporting families who have a child with an ASD diagnosis.”
Other waiver changes include an enhanced reimbursement rate to provide case management in rural areas and provider rate increases.
To learn more about the waiver or to apply, visit hhs.nd.gov/cfs/autism-services. Individuals with questions can email dhsautism@nd.gov or call (800) 755-2604, (701) 328-4630, 711 (TTY).
North Dakota’s Medicaid ASD waiver was first approved by CMS in November 2010. Through the years, the waiver has been amended to add slots and change qualifying age limits to serve more children and enhance the array of services to better serve children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.