Medicaid waivers for autism in Rhode Island
Rhode Islanders aged 18 and over with an intellectual or developmental disability, or another serious long-lasting disability caused by a mental or physical impairment.
- Main program
- BHDDH Division of Developmental Disabilities services
- Typical wait
- No waitlist reported
- Administered by
- Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), with financial eligibility through the Department of Human Services
- Phone
- 401-462-3201 (RIPIN help line: 401-270-0101)
- Age rules
- The statutory definition begins at 18.
How to get on the list
Submit the BHDDH application online, or print and post it. Separately, apply for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports through the Department of Human Services. Call BHDDH intake on 401-462-3201 with questions, or RIPIN on 401-270-0101 for free application help.
Open the official Rhode Island page →Does autism qualify?
Autism qualifies as a developmental disability. The age framing is the thing to watch: Rhode Island's statutory definition is written around a "developmentally disabled adult" aged 18 or over, so if you are seeking support for a child, ask explicitly what the children's route is rather than assuming BHDDH is the door.
How the waiting list works
Rhode Island reports nobody waiting, so the work is entirely in getting through eligibility rather than in queueing. There are two separate approvals and they run through two different departments: developmental disability eligibility through BHDDH, and financial eligibility through Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports, approved by the Department of Human Services. Families routinely complete one and assume they are done. The application is available online in English and as a printable form in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Free help is available from the Rhode Island Parent Information Network on 401-270-0101, and in a two-department process that is worth taking.
- People waitingzero reported
- Approvals requiredtwo — BHDDH eligibility and Medicaid LTSS financial eligibility
What it can pay for
- Community-based supports
- Respite
- Day and employment supports
- Residential supports
- Self-directed options
Other programs worth knowing
RIPIN
The Rhode Island Parent Information Network helps families through the application at no cost. Given two departments and two approvals, this is worth using rather than going it alone.
Rhode Islandproviders & 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
- RI BHDDH — eligibility and application
- RI BHDDH — application process chart
- RIPIN — applying for BHDDH services
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.