Medicaid waivers for autism in Hawaii

Does autism qualify?

Worth checking carefully before you assume either way. Descriptions of DDD eligibility emphasise a diagnosis of intellectual disability established by a licensed psychologist or comparable professional, which would exclude autistic people without an intellectual disability — the pattern seen in Alabama, Oklahoma and elsewhere. The program is nevertheless titled an I/DD waiver. Rather than guess, ask your island's intake worker directly how they apply the criterion to an autistic applicant without an intellectual disability, and get the answer before you pay for an evaluation.

How the waiting list works

Hawaii reports nobody waiting for the I/DD waiver, so the constraint is not queue position. It is the two-step sequence, which is easy to misread as one step: you must first be found eligible for DDD and assigned a case manager, and only then can you apply for the waiver. Families who ring asking to apply for the waiver are effectively starting in the middle. Begin by contacting the intake office on your island and asking to speak to an intake worker about DDD eligibility. Because intake is island-based, the practical experience varies, so ask what the current timeline is where you actually live rather than relying on a statewide figure.

• People waitingzero reported
• SequenceDDD eligibility and a case manager come before the waiver application

What it can pay for

• Adult day health
• Community learning services
• Discovery and career planning
• Individual employment supports
• Assistive technology
• Skilled nursing
• Specialized medical equipment and supplies
• Personal emergency response system