NC Innovations Waiver
The NC Innovations Waiver is an important part of the I/DD community throughout the state, as it enables individuals to live the life they choose. A recently signed order from Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour could require the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to make significant changes to the waiver over the next decade.
What is the NC Innovations Waiver?
The NC Innovations Waiver, a Medicaid program, gives people with an intellectual or developmental disability the opportunity to live in a community setting rather than an institution or group home.
Who Qualifies for the Innovations Waiver?
An individual must meet the below requirements to qualify for the innovations waiver:
The individual must be at risk of institutionalization and want to live in a community setting rather than an institution
The Medicaid cost for care in a community must be cost-effective (when compared to the cost of an institution)
The individual must be able to stay safe and healthy in the community while using the services provided by the NC Innovations Waiver
The services provided must be used at least once per month
The waiver currently has a waitlist of approximately 16,000 people.
What are the Services Provided Under the Waiver?
The Innovations Waiver provides many services to individuals, including assistive technology support and community living support services. Specifically, assistive technology supports include purchasing equipment to help with daily living tasks and providing smart home technology with a $50,000 limit over a 5-year period.
Community living supports include helping individuals become more independent, such as learning banking and shopping skills, as well as managing personal care and connecting with others.
Potential Updates to the NC Innovations Waiver
Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour signed an order that at least 3,000 people must be shifted to community-based programs by 2031. He also ordered that DHHS eliminate the waitlist by 2032.
This comes from a ruling in 2020 from Baddour that NCDHHS provide community-based services allowing people to stay in their homes near family and friends.
It’s still being determined exactly how much federal and state funding would be required to incorporate these changes and what specific steps will need to be taken.
Learn More About Technology That Might Be Covered Through the NC Innovations Waiver
SimplyHome designs and installs innovative and affordable technology solutions that transform how we care for individuals with disabilities, aging adults, and veterans.
Our sensor-based systems can adapt over time to alleviate concerns about cooking safety, medication adherence, and the risk of wandering or falls. We work with service providers, managed care organizations (MCOs), and families to mitigate challenges. Caregivers are notified only when they are needed, promoting the highest level of independence possible for the individual.