Submitted

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 that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Kansas’ new Community Supports Waiver.

CMS approved the initial 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver on July 1, 2026. It will operate concurrently with an amendment to Kansas’ 1915(b) KanCare managed care waiver. Both the new waiver and the KanCare amendment become effective on Oct. 1, 2026. CMS has approved a projected enrollment of 500 individuals for the first waiver year (Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027).

“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ approval of Kansas’ Community Supports Waiver represents what is possible through collaboration, forward-thinking, and putting the needs of Kansans first,” Governor Kelly said. “This is a monumental step that will empower individuals and families across Kansas to live full lives by ensuring they can access the care they need, when they need it.”

The waiver will provide targeted HCBS to Kansans ages 5 and older with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who do not require 24-hour support but would otherwise need services in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). Developed with the recommendations of the Kansas Legislature’s 2022 Special Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disability Waiver Modernization in mind, the waiver offers more flexible, right-sized supports that help individuals live more independently at home and in their communities and promote competitive integrated employment.

The Community Supports Waiver includes services such as:

• Individual Employment Support

• Personal Care Services

• Respite Care

• Therapies (Behavior, Occupational, Physical, and Speech/Language)

• Assistive Technology and Remote Support Services

• Home and Environmental Modifications

• Life Skill Services

• Benefits Planning and Career Exploration

• Family/Caregiver Support and Training

• Individual-Directed Goods and Services

• Non-Medical Transportation, and more

Services under the waiver are subject to an annual cap of $20,000 per participant.

KDADS and KDHE will now begin final implementation activities, including system updates, provider enrollment and training, policy development, and outreach. Individuals and families interested in learning more can visit www.kdads.ks.gov/kansascsw.