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.
Minnesota
Program Overview
Overview
Minnesota has a comprehensive and relatively well-funded disability services system. Key programs include the Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver, Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver, and Brain Injury (BI) Waiver.
Katie Beckett or similar pathway
Minnesota has a TEFRA program (MA-TEFRA) that disregards parental income for children who meet SSI disability criteria and need an institutional level of care — the child qualifies as a household of one, and parents may pay a contribution based on family size and income. The Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver is a separate waiver option for people who need hospital level of care but can be served at home.
Child-relevant waivers
The CAC Waiver and DD Waiver are the most relevant for children. The CAC Waiver specifically targets individuals who would otherwise require hospital care. For adults with physical disabilities, the Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver is a major program for people under 65 who need nursing-facility level of care but choose to live in the community. CADI covers personal care, home health, assistive technology, supported employment, and other community supports.
Eligibility
Getting Started
Practical next step
Contact your county's disability services office and ask about MA-TEFRA screening as well as CAC and DD Waiver intake and assessment.
Services & Support
Parent caregiver pay
Parents and guardians who are nurses may be paid for nursing care of minor children in the CAC and CADI waivers, up to 40 hours per week. Parents of minors can be paid for personal care through Consumer Directed Community Supports in the CAC, CADI, DD, and BI waivers (40 hours per week per family), and since October 2024 a Paid Personal Care benefit allows parents of minors to be paid outside of waivers as well.
Equipment exchange & assistive technology
Minnesota STAR Program (mn.gov/star) — free device demonstrations, short-term equipment loans, reuse programs, and low-interest AT financing statewide.
Additional notes
Minnesota's disability services system is more fully funded than in many states, but waitlists remain a real challenge. Adults with physical disabilities should ask specifically about the CADI Waiver, which has separate enrollment from the DD Waiver and is administered through county-based case management.
Sources
Recent news for Minnesota
Star Tribune · October 20, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers, Funding & Budget
U.S. Senate candidates in Minnesota are presenting differing platforms on Medicaid funding and federal health care access, which are critical issues for people with disabilities and their families.
Yahoo · October 8, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers, Housing & Employment
Minnesota officials are working to replace a Medicaid-funded housing support program after it was suspended due to significant fraud investigations.
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) · October 2, 2026 · Rights & Law
Minneapolis leadership blocked a local rule that would have mandated human operators in autonomous vehicles, a topic with implications for disability access to transportation.
MPR News · October 2, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers
Many immigrant families in Minnesota are experiencing a sudden loss of care services after losing their Medicaid eligibility.
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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