State Medicaid Waiver Directory
Find your state's Katie Beckett waiver, TEFRA pathway, HCBS programs, and Medicaid eligibility rules for children and adults with disabilities. Each guide covers waitlists, application steps, income limits, and parent caregiver pay options.
For informational purposes only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Medicaid rules, eligibility, and waitlists change frequently. Always verify with your state's official Medicaid agency before making decisions. Cross-check with Medicaid.gov's official waiver page.
Kentucky
Program Overview
Overview
Kentucky runs five 1915(c) waivers including the SCL and Michelle P. waivers for developmental disabilities. There is no Katie Beckett/TEFRA route, but four of the five waivers count only the child's income.
Katie Beckett or similar pathway
Kentucky does not have a Katie Beckett or TEFRA pathway. Children access Medicaid through 1915(c) waivers — most of which count only the child's income, including the Michelle P. Waiver, Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver, Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver, and the CHILD Waiver for children (ages 0-21) with complex needs.
Child-relevant waivers
The Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver and Michelle P. Waiver are the primary routes for children with developmental disabilities.
Eligibility
Who qualifies
SCL Waiver serves individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who require ICF/ID level of care.
Financial and income rules
Four of Kentucky's five waivers (Michelle P., SCL, HCB, and CHILD) count only the child's income; the income treatment of Model Waiver II is not clearly published — confirm with Kentucky Medicaid.
Level of care
ICF/ID level of care is required for SCL Waiver.
Age rules
SCL and Michelle P. Waivers serve individuals of varying ages including children.
Getting Started
How to apply
Contact Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services or the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for waiver intake.
Documents needed
Disability documentation, assessments, and financial information are typically required.
Waitlist information
Michelle P. and SCL have significant waiting lists — about 13,000 people with intellectual disabilities are waiting statewide. Model Waiver II and the CHILD Waiver have no waiting list.
Practical next step
Contact Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and ask about SCL Waiver intake and waitlist registration.
Services & Support
Services available
SCL can cover residential services, day supports, supported employment, respite, and community integration. Michelle P. Waiver covers a broader range of community supports.
Parent caregiver pay
In the Home and Community Based Services Waiver, Michelle P. Waiver, and Supports for Community Living Waiver, parents and guardians may be paid to provide attendant care for their minor children under special circumstances, typically requiring a specific skillset or the absence of other care options. Parents are limited to 40 hours per week and must complete CPR training, and parents who are nurses (RN or LPN) can also provide services.
Equipment exchange & assistive technology
Kentucky Assistive Technology Service Network (KATSNET — katsnet.org) — free device demonstrations, short-term loans, reuse programs, and AT funding information statewide.
Mental health and Medicaid coverage
Kentucky Medicaid covers behavioral health services through Medicaid managed care organizations. Covered services include outpatient therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, crisis stabilization, and community mental health services. The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) oversees the public behavioral health system. Children can access mental health services through the EPSDT benefit and school-based mental health programs. Kentucky has a statewide crisis line and mobile crisis teams.
Additional notes
Waitlists for both the SCL and Michelle P. Waivers can be very long. Getting on both lists as early as possible is strongly recommended.
Sources
Recent news for Kentucky
Yahoo · October 15, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers, Funding & Budget
Kentucky is bracing for historic Medicaid cuts starting in January due to federal policy changes that will impact program eligibility.
LEX 18 · October 7, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers, Funding & Budget
Parents in Berea are reporting that state-level Medicaid funding reductions are negatively impacting necessary services for their children.
Community Tips & Experience
Comments reflect the personal experiences and opinions of individual community members only. They do not represent the views, positions, or endorsements of National Disability Resource Project or any of its staff, volunteers, or affiliated members. Always verify information with official agencies and qualified professionals before making decisions.
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