Medicaid Home- and Community-Based (HCBS) Health and Disability Waiver (HD)

What is it?

The Health and Disability Waiver (HD) provides funding and support so that eligible persons can remain in their own homes or communities who would otherwise require care in a medical institution.

What services are available?

Waiver services are specific to the individual and may include the following:

  • Homemaker  
  • Home Health
  • Adult Day Care
  • Respite Care Nursing
  • Counseling
  • Consumer-Directed Attendant Care
  • Interim Medical Monitoring and Treatment
  • Home And Vehicle Modification
  • Personal Emergency Response System
  • Home-Delivered Meals
  • Nutritional Counseling
  • Financial Management
  • Independent Support Brokerage
  • Self-Directed Personal Care
  • Self-Directed Community Supports and Employment
  • Individual-Directed Goods and Services  

Who is eligible?

A person may be eligible for the waiver if they are a blind or disabled person younger than age 65, meets level of care requirements, and qualifies for Medicaid. 

Where can I get more information or help?

  • For help with applying for Medicaid or the waiver, contact Iowa Medicaid Member Services at 1-800-338-8366 or locally in the Des Moines area at 515-256-4606, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. For telephone accessibility assistance if you are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or have difficulty speaking, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-2942. Detailed information about waivers can be found here
  • You can also contact your local area agency on aging/aging and disabilities resource center for help with applying for Medicaid or the waiver. Visit Lifelong Links to find the agency in your area.
  • Iowa Legal Aid is a non-profit agency that provides legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable Iowans. Information can be found on the Iowa Legal Aid website and they can be reached by phone at 800-532-1503 or, for Iowans 60 or older, 800-992-8161.

Ask a Law Librarian

Related Pages

Overview of Medicaid

Managed Care Ombudsman Program

The information in the People's Law Library is for informational purposes only. Nothing on this website is legal advice. The law is complicated and many aspects of the law change regularly. Consider reaching out to a lawyer. More information about how to find a lawyer, including free and low-cost options, is available on the Finding a Lawyer page.