In the State of Kentucky, Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver services enable disabled individuals to receive the assistance and care they need while living within a community residential setting.
This article will guide you through what the SCL waiver is, who it’s for, and how to apply for it.
Applied Behavioral Advancements, LLC is one of the largest suppliers of Behavioral Support in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Our clients come from all walks of life, with many needing financial assistance through Medicaid waivers. The Supports for Community Living (SCL) waiver is a fantastic way for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities to access ABA Therapy and other services.
Please Note: There is currently a waitlist for Supports for Community Living (SCL) waiver in the State of Kentucky. Because of this, ABA, LLC does not personally make any promises that any individual who applies will receive the Supports for Community Living waiver will receive it. There are three levels of waiting list: emergency, urgent or future planning. The timeline for your access to these services is determined in part by the level of waitlist you are placed on.
What is the SCL Waiver?
The Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver is part of Kentucky’s 1915(c) Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver program. The waiver program extends Medicaid to cover services not included in traditional coverage.
The SCL waiver improves the quality of life for disabled individuals, empowering them to live as independently as possible. This is achieved by providing them with the necessary supports through medicaid funding. The program makes it possible for an individual to live in their own home, with family, or in an assisted living facility in the community. The SCL is notable for its person-centered approach, providing services tailored to each recipient’s needs, preferences, and goals. For instance, a person may choose the traditional route of managing their supports through an agency provider. However, a person may also choose to take the Participant Directed Services (PDS) route. In this method of service delivery, an individual manages their own services. PDS enables a participant to hire their own employees to perform non-medical, non-residential services.
Eligibility
According to the Kentucky Cabinet of Health & Family Services, you may be eligible for the Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver if you…
- Have an intellectual or developmental disability
- Meet the requirements for residence in an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability (ICF/IID). This is defined in Kentucky Administration Regulation as “being a licensed intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability certified by the Department for Medicaid Services as meeting all standards for an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability.”
- https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/dca/Pages/scl-waiver.aspx
- Meet the financial qualifications or Medicaid. There are special financial qualifications applied to the SCL waiver program.
Services and Supports Under the Supports for Community Living Waiver
Many of these forms of service are available through our agency, Applied Behavioral Advancements. Learn more on our services page.
Environmental Accessibility Adaptation
Gives participants the ability to make modifications to their living environment to increase their safety and comfort. This could include enhancing accessibility and mobility with things like handrails, or the addition of a ramp.
Personal Assistance Gives
Participants receive help with activities of daily living (ADLs). This includes activities like bathing, dressing, grooming, household chores, and meal preparation and planning.
Vehicle Adaptation
Where appropriate, these adaptations make it easier for disabled individuals to operate or travel in vehicles safely. Modifications might include hand controls, ramps, lifts, and seat adjustments.
Positive Behavior Supports
Positive Behavior Support is an aspect of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. It uses functional analysis to assess why a person might be engaging in ‘challenging behaviors, then finds ways for the individual to meet these needs with a more positive behavior. Additionally, Individuals develop better strategies for navigating potentially difficult social situations.
Residential Support Services
Residential Support Services provide individuals who cannot live alone with a safe place to live where they receive the support they need. Various living situations exist under this definition. The best option will be selected based on what best serves the individual.
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.
Community Access
Community Access Services defines services designed to help integrate disabled individuals into their community through clubs, service organizations, recreational opportunities, or religious gatherings. Thus, Community Access staff work to identify the goals, preferences and personality of their client and connect them with social opportunities that align with their interests. First CA staff will assist their client with finding activities, then they provide transportation to said activities, and finally provide support to ease their client’s transition into these new spaces. Community Access services encourages clients to create and maintain social networks.
Personal Assistance Services
Because people with disabilities may struggle to complete some tasks on their own, Personal Assistance Services are available through the SCL waiver. Personal Assistance services usually captures tasks like bathing, dressing, meal planning and prep, and some household chores. A personal assistant guides the individual through the task, providing additional reminders, training, and assistance where necessary. The assistant can also provide help with managing appointments and transportation. These service applies only to those individuals who choose to live in the home.
Person-Centered Coaching
When challenges or barriers get in the way of a person’s personal success of the implementation of a Plan of Care, the Person-Centered coach steps in. The Person Centered Coach works under the Behavior Support Specialist to provide uplifting, personalized support in reaching their goals
Adult Day Health Care
Clients who require nursing services or nursing supervision have the option to receive Adult Day Health Care. Services align with the necessary therapies outlined in the patient’s plan of care, but are designed to not be limited to fixed-site facilities. Instead, care will occur in a variety of sites throughout the community.
Supported Employment
Supported Employment gives individuals with a disability the opportunity to pursue employment in an integrated work environment. It guarantees they receive competitive wages and benefits for their contribution.
Community Guide Services
For participants who opt to use participant-directed services, Community Guide services are available to help a person make decisions about managing the staff that they hire. This could include guidance and problem solving related to training, managing, evaluating, and terminating staff as necessary, as well as understanding provider qualifications, recordkeeping, and other waiver requirements.
Community Transition Services
When a person moves from an institution or provider-operated residential services to his or her own home, Community Transition Services offers funds to help with the move. The reimbursement covers one-time setup expenses like security deposits, cleaning, pest control and home goods to help get the space set up and safe.
Consultative Clinical and Therapeutic Service
These services help train caregivers to be able to safely and appropriately carry out therapeutic interventions outlined in the person’s plan of care. This service can cover work with a certified nutritionist, licensed dietitian, licensed marriage, family therapist, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed psychological associate, licensed psychologist, licensed psychological practitioner, licensed clinical social worker, or positive behavior support specialist.
Goods and Services
Provides compensation for equipment, services, or supplies that enhance independence and safety. Limited to $1800 per plan-of-care year.
Natural Supports Training
Provides education and training for supports in a participants life who are not employees.
Respite
Under the Supported Community Living 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.
Shared Living
With Shared Living, a participant can choose to live in a home or apartment with an unrelated caregiver. In lieu of traditional compensation, the caregiver receives monthly reimbursement for their room, utilities, and food.
Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
If outlined in the person’s plan of care, the cost of a device, control, or appliance that ensures a person’s health and welfare is covered by waiver services. This could include an assessment, partial nutrition supplements, special clothing, customizing a device, or training needed for learning new skills or operating new devices.
A Note on Applying for Medicaid
It is important to note that to be eligible for Supports for Community Living waiver in Kentucky, you must first be approved for Kentucky Medicaid. These are two separate applications that you should plan to complete separately. We suggest that you apply for Medicaid before applying for the Support for Community Living 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 Support for Community Living Waiver (SCL)
To apply for the Support for Community Living Waiver (SCL), 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 by mail are not accepted. However, 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 Support for Community Living (SCL) waiver, you will need Documentation showing Psychological evaluation with full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and Adaptive behavior assessment
Online:
Applying online is easy with the recently updated Kynect website. You will need to have a KOG (Kentucky Online Gateway) account to apply. However, 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 Support for Community Living (SCL) 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 Support for Community Living and applying for SCL 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
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/MAPForms/Map418.pdf
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/dca/Documents/HowToApplyforWaiver.pdf