Public Notice - Medicaid 1915(c) Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disability (IID/DD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Amendment Application

Public comment is sought on an amendment to the state’s Medicaid 1915(c) waiver for home and community-based (HCBS) services. The Traditional Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disability (IID/DD) HCBS wavier includes an array of home and community-based services in the least restrictive environment. The purpose of the amendment is to implement changes in services and programming to improve access to HCBS and update administrative changes related to internal processes. Based on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) timeframes for review and approval, the waiver amendment is expected to be effective on June 1, 2026.

Proposed changes to this waiver amendment:

Changes in services and programming.

• Adding a new service, Host Homes, which will assist families during time of crisis by providing a private home where their child can live in the interim with reunification with the family as the primary goal.
• Updating the provider requirements for Extended Home Health Care to include agencies licensed according to NDAC 33-03-10.1

Administrative changes for internal processes:

• Change in terminology: Human Service Centers to DD Units, Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional (QDDP) to Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP), Social Service Zone to Human Service Zone, training modules to required training in Appendix B-6c, Appendix G-3cii & Performance Measure C-3, and  full-time DD Licensed staff to DD Licensed staff in performance measure in Appendix C (C-3).
• Revised section C-2e to align with current practices on paying relatives.
• Updates to application per CMS Instructions, Technical Guide and Review Criteria 2024 release.

Comments and public input on the proposed changes will be accepted From January 26, 2025 until February 25th, 2026, at 5pm.

Comments will be accepted in the following ways:

Email: hzander@nd.gov

Phone: (701) 328-8945 or ND Relay TTY (text telephone) (800)-366-6888 or 711

Mail:   North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services

        Attn: Developmental Disabilities Section/Heidi Zander

        1237 West Divide Avenue Suite 1A

        Bismarck, ND 58501

View the draft waiver amendment document at www.hhs.nd.gov/waivers. A copy will be provided upon request.

Date Posted: January 26, 2026