Do you have a child -- or an adult son or daughter -- with a developmental disability and who lives at home?
If so, he or she may qualify for services through the new Individual and Family Services (IFS) Waiver. This is a new federal-state Medicaid partnership that offers services such as behavior support and consultation; assistive technology; and accessibility modifications. (See below for a full list.)
In 2015, this new IFS Medicaid program replaced an older state program of the same name. When the change took place, qualification criteria changed. For instance, the child's income is now a qualifier not the whole family's. If you applied for services through the state Developmental Disabilities Administration before and were denied due to family income, consider reapplying for the IFS waiver.
To request the IFS Waiver, please see the Services Referral and Information Request page.
IFS waiver eligibility:
Individuals must be at least 3 years old and living in the same home as a family member, and meet financial and disability eligibility.IFS waiver services:
- Assistive Technology
- Behavior Health Stabilization Services,l including behavior support and consultation and specialized psychiatric services
- Community engagement support
- Environmental accessibility modifications
- Nursing services
- Occupational therapy
- Peer mentoring
- Person-centered planning facilitation
- Physical therapy
- Psychosexual evaluation
- Respite Care (Break to the Caregiver)
- Skilled nursing
- Specialized clothing
- Specialized medical equipment and supplies
- Specialized nutrition
- Specialized psychiatric services
- Speech, hearing and language therapy
- Staff/Family consultation & training
- Supported parenting service
- Therapeutic equipment and supplies
- Transportation
- Vehicle modifications
- Wellness Education Letter
How to request Medicaid waiver services:
If you have not yet applied to DDA for determination of eligibility please click here to be routed to the DDA eligibility site. You will need to submit eligibility paperwork before requesting IFS waiver services. If you have applied and been determined eligible for DDA but do not have a Case Resource Manager, see the Service and Information Request Page.Resources and other information:
• IFS Waiver Flier• WAC 388-845-0001
• View the video on changes ahead for Individual & Family Services
• Informing Families
Contact information:
For more information about the Individual and Family Services Waiver, contact your case resource manager, local office or the program manager at Lonnie.Keesee@dshs.wa.gov. You can find your local DDA office here.DDA is a division of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
