Eligibility for Services for people with developmental disabilities in Hawaii

The Law in Hawaii Lists the Eligibility Criteria
The Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) §333F-1 provides the following
definitions:
"Developmental disabilities" means a severe, chronic disability of a person
which:

Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of
mental and physical impairments;
Is manifested before the person attains age twenty-two;
Is likely to continue indefinitely;
Results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the
following areas of major life activity; self-care, receptive and expressive
language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living
and economic sufficiency; and
Reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special,
interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services, which are
of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and
coordinated.

"Mental retardation" means significantly sub-average general intellectual
functioning resulting in or associated with concurrent moderate, severe or
profound impairments in adaptive behavior and manifested during the
developmental period.1

Summary of Waiver Eligibility Requirements
How Do I Know If I’m Eligible?

The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Health
(DOH) each play a role in determining eligibility. You may start the application
and eligibility process by:

Applying for Medicaid with DHS; and
Applying for services with DOH, Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD),
Case Management and Information Services Branch (CMISB).

You do not need to wait for the determination from one department to begin
the process with the other.1

DHS Eligibility Requirements
Admission to the program requires a referral from a DOH DDD CMISB Case
Manager (CM). This program serves people of all ages.
The person must:

Be eligible for Medicaid;
Be assessed as needing Intermediate Care Facility-Mentally Retarded
(ICF/MR) Level of Care; and
Choose to receive home and community-based services as an alternative
to institutional placement. 1

DOH Eligibility Requirements
The following must be completed/provided:

Application for DOH DDD services;
Application for waiver services; and
Evaluations to determine ICF/MR Level of Care:

Medical (completed by a physician, valid for 90 days); and
Psychological, if applicable (completed by a licensed psychologist).

This is a brief summary of waiver eligibility requirements. A more detailed
explanation of “The Waiver” application process is outlined in the Medicaid
Waiver Guide.1

Useful Links

Full Life assists in the
empowerment of
people with
developmental
disabilities enabling
them to achieve and
enjoy a self-determined
quality of life.