If your child qualifies for the HCBA waiver, be aware that they will not be able to enroll immediately. The state publishes updated information on the HCBA waiver waitlist online.
The HCBA waiver is administered by Waiver Agencies that serve geographic regions. Waiver Agencies are assigned by county, except in Los Angeles and Orange County, where Waiver Agencies are assigned by zip codes. Find your Waiver Agency here.
Alpine, Imperial, Inyo, Marin, Mendocino, Mono, and Napa counties do not have an assigned Waiver Agency. If you live in these counties, apply for the HCBA waiver by sending your application to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) by mail, fax, or email (contact information is included on the last page of the application).
When your child’s application comes off the waitlist, the Waiver Agency will reach out to you, usually by phone. A registered nurse will put together a document called a “Plan of Treatment” that lists all of the different things that are involved in your child’s care. Once your child’s doctor signs the Plan of Treatment, the paperwork is sent to the state for final approval, and you can start to enroll your child in Medi-Cal.
The Waiver Agency will send the county an institutional deeming letter that tells the county Medi-Cal worker that the child is enrolled in the HCBA waiver.
For more information, see our full article Home and Community Based Alternatives Waiver (HCBA) 101. Undivided members can use the step-by-step guide in the Undivided app to apply for the HCBA waiver:
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