Medicaid waivers for autism in Texas
Texas runs several separate programs rather than one. Which fits depends on whether your child has an intellectual disability, a related condition such as autism, or complex medical needs.
- Main program
- Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Waiver
- Typical wait
- 10–13 years
- Administered by
- Texas Health and Human Services, with intake through Local IDD Authorities (LIDDAs)
- Phone
- (877) 438-5658
- Age rules
- MDCP is for under-21s. The others have no upper age limit.
How to get on the list
Call 1-877-438-5658 to join the CLASS and MDCP interest lists. For HCS and Texas Home Living, contact your Local IDD Authority (LIDDA). Join every list your child might ever qualify for — there is no penalty for being on several, and no benefit to waiting.
Open the official Texas page →Does autism qualify?
Autism can qualify through the related-condition route on HCS, TxHmL and CLASS, and through medical necessity on MDCP. CLASS is specifically designed for people with a related condition other than intellectual disability, which often makes it the relevant door for autistic children without an ID diagnosis.
How the waiting list works
Texas calls these interest lists, and you must join each one separately — being on one does not put you on any other. Position is by date added, so the date you call is the date that counts. Keep your contact details current for the entire wait: families are removed for being unreachable after waiting years.
- HCS~134,000 on the interest list
- TxHmL~117,000
- CLASS~99,000 — often the longest wait
- MDCP~7,100 — substantially shorter
What it can pay for
- Respite
- Day habilitation and supported employment
- Behavioral support
- Nursing and therapies
- Adaptive aids and minor home modifications
Other programs worth knowing
Texas Home Living (TxHmL)
For people living in their own or their family's home. Join via your LIDDA.
CLASS
For a related condition other than intellectual disability — frequently the relevant route for autism. Join by calling 1-877-438-5658.
MDCP
For under-21s with complex medical needs; the shortest of the Texas lists by a wide margin.
Texasproviders & 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
- Navigate Life Texas — Medicaid waiver programs
- The Arc of Texas — Medicaid waivers and interest list figures
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.