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.
Pennsylvania
Program Overview
Overview
Pennsylvania has a Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and a Consolidated Waiver. Pennsylvania also has a OBRA Waiver and Participant Directed Services options.
Katie Beckett or similar pathway
Pennsylvania has a special pathway called PH-95 (Children with Special Needs) that disregards family income for children who meet SSI disability criteria. Unlike TEFRA, PH-95 does not require the child to need institutional-level care — only SSI-level disability. The family must first apply for SSI, and if the child is denied due to parental income/resources, PH-95 can then be applied for as a household of one. Contact Pennsylvania Medicaid and ask about the PH-95 pathway.
Child-relevant waivers
The Consolidated Waiver, P/FDS Waiver, and Community Living Waiver are the primary ODP routes for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. For adults with physical disabilities who need nursing-facility level of care, the OBRA Waiver (also known as the Physical Disability/OBRA Waiver) provides HCBS supports including personal care, home health aide, assistive technology, home modifications, and community integration services. The OBRA Waiver is administered separately from ODP through the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL).
Eligibility
Getting Started
Practical next step
Contact your county intellectual disability base service unit and ask about ODP waiver intake and current waitlist.
Services & Support
Parent caregiver pay
Pennsylvania recently implemented a Family Home Health Aide program that allows parents to be paid to provide unskilled care to their own children as a licensed home health aide when the child is approved for nursing or personal care. In the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support, and Community Living waivers, parents and guardians may also be paid for personal care (In-Home and Community Support and Life Sharing) and some other services such as transportation. Parents who are nurses can also be paid.
Equipment exchange & assistive technology
TechOWL (techowlpa.org) — Pennsylvania's AT Act program offering free device demonstrations, short-term loans, reuse programs, and low-interest financing statewide.
Additional notes
Pennsylvania's ODP system is administered at the county level through base service units (BSUs) for DD services. For adults with physical disabilities, OLTL is the separate contact for OBRA Waiver services. Families should identify whether their situation falls under ODP (intellectual disabilities/autism) or OLTL (physical disabilities) before applying, as these are different programs with different contacts.
Sources
Recent news for Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Weekly · October 20, 2026 · Benefits (SSI/SSDI)
This article provides a guide to the 2026 payment schedule, COLA adjustments, and administrative rules for Social Security and SSI recipients in Pennsylvania.
PennLive · October 18, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers, Funding & Budget
State lawmakers are considering legislation to restore Medicaid access to weight-loss medications for thousands of residents after coverage was cut earlier this year.
YourErie on MSN · October 12, 2026 · Caregiving
A local resource fair hosted an equipment exchange to provide families with easier access to mobility aids.
news.bloomberglaw.com · October 2, 2026 · Rights & Law
A new disability discrimination case involving a failure to provide accommodations has been filed in federal court in Western Pennsylvania.
news.bloomberglaw.com · October 2, 2026 · Rights & Law
A federal legal case has been initiated in Western Pennsylvania concerning allegations of disability discrimination and workplace retaliation.
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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