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Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD)

A waiver is an extra set of Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) benefits that you could qualify for in certain cases. These benefits can help you remain in your home and community. Waivers have extra program rules and some programs may have waitlists.

The Home and Community-Based Services Waiver For Persons With Developmental Disabilities (DD) provides access to 24-hour, seven days a week supervision through Residential Habilitation and Day Habilitation Services and Supports. The service provider is responsible to support individuals in services to find living arrangements. Living arrangements can range from host homes settings with 1-2 persons, individualized settings of 1-3 persons, and group settings of 4-8 persons, as well as residential supports for participants who live in their own home or who live with and/or are provided services by members of their family.

Individuals who receive services through the DD waiver are also eligible for all Health First Colorado covered services as long as they are not duplicative.

View the full text of the DD waiver and Waiver Lifecycle

Who Qualifies?

To enroll in the DD waiver, you must meet financial and program criteria:

Level of Care

  • Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) level of care as determined by the functional needs assessment(as defined in 42 CFR 440.150).

Eligibility Group

  • You must be determined to have a developmental disability.
  • You must be 18 years or older.
  • You must require access to services and supports 24 hours a day.

Financial

  • Your income must be less than three times the current Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limit per month. (See SSI website for current information)
  • If you are single, your countable resources must be less than $2,000. If you are married, your countable resources must be less than $3,000.
  • If you do not meet these financial requirements, you may be eligible through the Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities.

 

Waiver Benefits and Services

If you are enrolled in the DD waiver, you may receive the following services to address needs:

CFC Benefits and Services

Community First Choice (CFC) benefits and services support Health First Colorado members who need long-term care to live at home and in their communities. CFC is not a waiver. It’s a Health First Colorado benefit program designed to work in conjunction with waiver services for members who need long-term care and qualify for these services.

Current waiver members will transition to CFC for these services at the time of their scheduled Continued Stay Review between 7/1/2025-6/30/2026. Services will be provided through waivers until the member transitions to CFC. 

How to Apply

If you have additional questions about this waiver, please contact your local Case Management Agency or the Member Contact Center.

Useful Links

Websites

Documents and Memos