Medicaid waivers for autism in North Carolina
Children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and traumatic brain injury where the injury occurred before age 22.
- Main program
- NC Innovations Waiver
- Typical wait
- Ten years or longer — and slots are first come, first served
- Administered by
- NC Medicaid, through regional LME/MCOs (Local Management Entities / Managed Care Organizations)
- Phone
- (855) 262-1946
How to get on the list
Find the LME/MCO serving your county, or call NC DMH/DD/SUS Customer Service on 1-855-262-1946. Ask to apply for the NC Innovations Waiver — if staff seem unsure, ask for the 'Registry of Unmet Needs application', which is what it used to be called and what some offices still say.
Open the official North Carolina page →Does autism qualify?
Autism is explicitly covered by the Innovations Waiver.
How the waiting list works
North Carolina is the mirror image of Georgia: slots are awarded first come, first served, so the date you join is the thing that determines when you are served. At least 15,000 people are waiting and the list commonly runs ten years or longer. There is no assessment that moves you up for being in greater need — which makes joining immediately, even for a very young child with an uncertain future, the single most valuable action a North Carolina family can take.
- People waitingAt least 15,000 across waivers and services
- Typical waitTen years or longer
What it can pay for
- Community living and supports
- Respite
- Supported employment
- Day supports
- Community networking
- Residential supports
Other programs worth knowing
Ask about services while you wait
Being on the Innovations waitlist does not stop you accessing state-funded services or Medicaid-covered therapies in the meantime. Ask your LME/MCO what is available now — many families wait a decade without asking.
North Carolinaproviders & 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
- NC Medicaid — how to apply
- NC Medicaid — eligibility
- Autism Society of NC — the waiver and Registry of Unmet Needs
- Disability Rights NC — am I eligible?
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 If something here is out of date, tell us.