Medicaid waivers for autism in Michigan
Michiganders with a developmental disability who would otherwise require the level of care provided in an intermediate care facility (ICF/IID).
- Main program
- Habilitation Supports Waiver (HSW)
- Typical wait
- Multi-year; priority goes to crisis and institutional transition
- Administered by
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, through local Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs)
How to get on the list
Contact your local CMHSP — find it via michigan.gov/mdhhs or by calling 211. The CMHSP screens for eligibility and helps with the application; the state then reviews and scores it.
Open the official Michigan page →Does autism qualify?
Autism qualifies where the federal developmental disability definition is met. The decisive test is the ICF/IID level-of-care determination — evidence about daily functional need carries the weight, not the diagnosis alone.
How the waiting list works
HSW has had a multi-year waiting list, and slots are limited. Priority typically goes to people transitioning out of institutional settings and to families in crisis, so telling your CMHSP when your situation deteriorates is more consequential than simply waiting your turn.
What it can pay for
- Community living supports
- Respite
- Supported employment
- Family and non-family training
- Private duty nursing
- Environmental and vehicle modifications
- Enhanced medical equipment and pharmacy
Other programs worth knowing
Children's Waiver Program (CWP)
A separate Michigan waiver for children under 18 with developmental disabilities living at home. It considers only the child's income rather than the family's, so families well above the usual Medicaid threshold often qualify. Many are never told it exists — ask your CMHSP about it explicitly.
Michiganproviders & resources →
Local help you can access now, while you wait.
Waivers explained →
What to do while you're on the list, and what to ask.
Sources · last checked August 2026
- MDHHS — Habilitation Supports Waiver
- MDHHS — Children's Waiver Program
- CMHPSM — HSW program information
Waiting lists and eligibility rules change. Always confirm current details with the agency before making decisions. If something here is out of date, tell us.