Governor Kelly Announces Launch of Kansas' Community Supports Waiver

For Immediate Release:
October 1, 2026

Contact:
Keira Beatty
[email protected]

TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), announced today the official launch of Kansas' Community Supports Waiver (CSW). KDADS and KDHE will begin reviewing eligibility for individuals who have been invited to enroll. Eligible participants can begin receiving CSW services. KDADS has invited individuals who have been on the I/DD Waiver waitlist the longest to apply first. Those who receive an invitation should contact their local Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO) to complete a screening process and discuss with their Targeted Case Manager (TCM) whether the CSW is the right fit.

The CSW is a new Medicaid 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver for Kansans ages 5 and older with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who do not require 24-hour paid support but would otherwise need services in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). CMS approved the waiver on July 1, 2026, with a projected enrollment of 500 individuals in the first waiver year (October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027).

"This launch marks a crucial step in empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to live more independently and pursue employment opportunities," Governor Laura Kelly said. "Through Kansas' Community Supports Waiver, Kansans will spend less time waiting for critical supports and more time being active members of their communities."

The waiver is the result of several years of work that began in 2024, building on recommendations from the Kansas Legislature's 2022 Special Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disability Waiver Modernization. KDADS developed the CSW in collaboration with self-advocates, families, providers, Community Developmental Disability Organizations (CDDOs), Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Targeted Case Managers (TCMs), and other partners. In recent months, KDADS and KDHE have worked with KanCare MCOs and CDDOs to prepare systems, providers, and families for launch.

"Today's launch is possible because so many partners did the behind-the-scenes work to prepare the system," said Seth Kilber, KDADS Long Term Services and Supports Commissioner. "I want to thank our KanCare MCOs, CDDOs across the state, and Targeted Case Managers, who have spent months preparing for this launch, and will continue supporting individuals through invitations, screeners, and person-centered plans. They will sit with families, help them decide whether the CSW is the right fit, and ensure people can start services as quickly as possible."

The CSW is designed to provide right-sized, flexible supports that enable people to live more independently at home, be active participants in their communities, and pursue competitive, integrated employment. It also creates new Medicaid waiver capacity, offering a pathway for people to move from the comprehensive I/DD Waiver waitlist to the CSW when a lower level of support meets their needs.

Services are authorized based on assessed need, up to an annual participant spending limit of $20,000. The services available include:

• Life Skill Services
• Benefits Planning
• Career Exploration and Planning
• Individual Employment Support
• Personal Care Services
• Respite Care
• Therapies (Behavior, Occupational, Physical, and Speech/Language)
• Family and Caregiver Support and Training
• Home and Environmental Modifications
• Vehicle Modifications
• Assistive Technology and Remote Support Services
• Home Telehealth and Medication Reminders
• Personal Emergency Response Systems
• Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
• Non-Medical Transportation
• Individual-Directed Goods and Services

Participants may self-direct certain services, including Personal Care Services, Respite, Family and Caregiver Support and Training, Non-Medical Transportation, and Individual-Directed Goods and Services.

Individuals, families, and providers seeking more information - including eligibility details, service definitions, and screener resources - can visit www.kdads.ks.gov/kansascsw or email [email protected].