For disabled individuals in need of financial assistance, you may be able to gain the Michelle P. Waiver to help pay for services.
Applied Behavioral Advancements, LLC is one of the leading providers of Behavior Support in the State of Kentucky. We support clients from a variety of backgrounds, who may need help accessing certain services. Many of our clients in Kentucky who have developmental or intellectual disabilities receive the Michelle P. Waiver, which covers their access to ABA Therapy and other services at Applied Behavioral Advancements. This article will walk you through understanding who the waiver is for, and the steps of gaining a Michelle P. Waiver in Kentucky.
PLEASE NOTE: There is currently a waitlist for the Michelle P. Waiver in the State of Kentucky. ABA, LLC does not personally make any promises that any individual who applies will receive the Michelle P. Waiver.
What is the Michelle P. Waiver?
The Michelle P. Waiver is part of Kentucky’s 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver program. This waiver covers all the services and support necessary for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live fulfilling lives within their communities.
The support provided by the Michelle P. waiver has made it possible for disabled individuals to gain independence, rather than living in an institutionalized setting. It empowers people who might need a high level of support, such as the level of care provided in a nursing home or other institution, to receive the support they need while living at home. Individuals have the opportunity to live integrated with their families and communities. The Michelle P. Waiver promotes dignity, inclusion, and autonomy for individuals who require a high level of support.
The Michelle P. Waiver improves the quality of life for individuals across the state of Kentucky.
Eligibility
According to the Kentucky Cabinet of Health & Family Services, you may be eligible for the Michelle P. Waiver if you:
- Have an Intellectual or Developmental Disability
- Would be admitted to an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability (ICF-IID) or a nursing facility if you did not have waiver services.
- Require a protected environment while learning living skills, gaining educational experiences, and developing an awareness of your environment.
- Meet the financial qualifications for Medicaid. There are special financial qualifications applied to the MPW program.
Services and Supports under the Michelle P. Waiver
Many of these forms of service are available through our agency, Applied Behavioral Advancements. Learn more on our services page.
Behavior Support
Applied Behavior Analysis is an evidence based approach to understanding behavior. This type of therapy that typically occurs one-on-one between a client and practitioner. It helps the client to develop social and emotional skills by encouraging behaviors that increase quality of life and discourage behaviors that are harmful to the client or those around them. ABA is a flexible treatment that adapts to the goals and needs of each client. Most often, we use it to improve communication skills, encourage self-regulation, learn skills for everyday life, and decreasing self harm.
Day Training
Adult Day Training (ADT) is a type of service that enables clients to spend their days engaged in meaningful activities with a community of disabled individuals. Supported by a service team, individuals receive dynamic care with a focus on learning vocational, educational, and social skills. These programs often run during the day Monday through Friday.
Environmental & Minor Home Adaptation
Help is available through the Michelle P. Waiver to make changes to the individual’s home to increase safety, independence, and welfare. Examples of this type of care include the installation of hand bars or handrails, widening doorways, or building ramps.
Personal Care
Many individuals require assistance performing daily personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, daily chores, laundry, and meal planning and preparation. Under the Michelle P. Waiver, individuals are connected to assistance with these tasks.
Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy
For clients over 21, access to occupational, physical, and speech therapy is available under the Michelle P. Waiver. Occupational therapy focuses on improving health and wellness through everyday tasks (occupations), whereas physical therapy helps strengthen movement abilities and speech therapy helps improve language and communication skills.
Respite
Under the Michelle P. Waiver, Respite provides a temporary break for an individual’s primary caregiver. This care can happen either as a planned break, or in the case of an emergency.
A Note on Applying for Medicaid
It is important to note that to be eligible for Michelle P. Waiver services in Kentucky, you must first be approved for Kentucky Medicaid. These are two separate applications, that you should plan to complete separately. It is recommended that you apply for Medicaid before applying for the Michelle P. Waiver, because you need to guarantee that you are eligible for the type of Medicaid that pays for Waiver Services. You can apply for yourself or someone else.
You may find it helpful to go over this checklist before applying for Medicaid:
Medicaid Enrollment Checklist.pdf
You can learn about applying for Medicaid at https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/s/medicaid-kchip-program?language=en_US
How to Apply for the Michelle P. Waiver
To apply for the Michelle P. Waiver, you need to apply for waiver-supported Medicaid.
Once you have finished your Medicaid Application and received either an approved or pending status, you should begin your application for waiver services. At this time applications are not accepted by mail, but you are able to apply online or in person. You can apply for yourself or for someone else. After your application is submitted, you will receive a letter detailing whether or not the applicant qualifies and what steps to take next.
Before you begin your application, you may find it helpful to have the following documents handy:
- Identification
- Social Security number
- Income information
- Resource information
- Health insurance card and premiums
- Medical bills
- Proof of citizenship (if applicable)
- For the Michelle P. Waiver, you will need Documentation showing intellectual or developmental disability, such as individualized education plan, psychological evaluation, First Steps evaluation, or physician’s order.
Online:
Applying online is easy with the recently updated Kynect website. You will need to have a KOG (Kentucky Online Gateway) account to apply. If you do not have this already set up, do not worry, you will be able to sign up on the Kynect website.
Go to kynect.ky.gov on your computer, phone, or tablet. To get started, look for the purple Benefits icon towards the bottom of the page and choose Apply for All Programs. The application will guide you through the process of applying for waiver services.
In-Person:
You can apply for the Michelle P. Waiver in person by going to an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC).
• Find an ADRC near you at https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/adrc.aspx or call (877) 925-0037.
• Find a CMHC near you at https://dbhdid.ky.gov/cmhc.
Questions
Questions about applying for Medicaid or about waiver-supportive Medicaid should be directed to the Department for Community Based Services. You can contact them by calling (855) 306-8959 or emailing DFS.Medicaid@ky.gov.
The Department for Medicaid Services uses other state agencies to help operate some waiver programs. Questions about the Michelle P. Waiver and applying for MPW waiver services should be directed to the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. You may call this department at (502) 564-7700, or send an email to DDID.info@ky.gov
RESOURCES
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/provider/Pages/MichellePWaiverARCHIVED2.28.24.aspx
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/dca/Documents/HowToApplyforWaiver.pdf