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.
West Virginia
Program Overview
Overview
West Virginia has an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) waiver system administered by the Bureau for Medical Services and the Bureau of Behavioral Health.
Katie Beckett or similar pathway
West Virginia has a TEFRA state plan option (institutional deeming) that disregards parental income for children who meet SSI disability criteria and need an institutional level of care. Contact the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services and ask about the TEFRA/institutional deeming option for children, as well as the IDD Waiver.
Child-relevant waivers
The IDD Waiver is the primary route for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in West Virginia. For adults with physical disabilities or chronic illness who need nursing-facility level of care, West Virginia also has an Aged and Disabled Waiver (also called the Personal Care waiver program) that covers personal care, home health aide, and other community supports to allow adults to remain at home rather than in a nursing facility.
Eligibility
Who qualifies
IDD Waiver serves individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who meet ICF/ID level of care.
Financial and income rules
Under the TEFRA option, only the child's income and resources are counted. IDD Waiver eligibility uses waiver-specific financial rules.
Level of care
ICF/ID level of care is required for IDD Waiver.
Age rules
IDD Waiver serves individuals of various ages including children.
Getting Started
How to apply
Contact West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources for IDD Waiver intake.
Documents needed
Disability documentation, level-of-care assessment, and financial information are typically required.
Waitlist information
West Virginia IDD Waiver has had limited enrollment. Confirm current status.
Practical next step
Contact West Virginia DHHR and ask about IDD Waiver intake, eligibility, and current waitlist status.
Services & Support
Services available
IDD Waiver can cover residential services, day services, supported employment, and in-home supports.
Parent caregiver pay
In West Virginia's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Waiver, legally responsible adults may provide services identified as necessary by the Extraordinary Care Assessment. Qualified relatives and legal guardians living in the person's home (except a spouse) may provide Family Person-Centered Support through the traditional option and the self-directed Personal Options program, and legal guardians may be paid employees as long as someone else serves as the program representative for self-direction.
Equipment exchange & assistive technology
West Virginia Assistive Technology Systems (wvats.cedwvu.org) — free device demonstrations, short-term loans, reuse programs, and AT information statewide.
Mental health and Medicaid coverage
West Virginia Medicaid covers behavioral health services through managed care organizations and the fee-for-service program. Covered services include outpatient therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, crisis services, and community support. The Bureau of Behavioral Health (BBH) within DHHR oversees public behavioral health. Community mental health centers provide most direct services. West Virginia has significant rural mental health access challenges and uses telehealth extensively. Children can access mental health services through the EPSDT benefit.
Additional notes
West Virginia's rural geography creates access challenges for some services. Families should contact DHHR and ask which waiver program is the right fit for their child's specific diagnosis and level of care.
Sources
Recent news for West Virginia
News and Sentinel · October 2, 2026 · Housing & Employment
Wood County has officially designated October as a month to promote the employment of people with disabilities.
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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