What is the SDP waiver?

Medi-Cal is an income-based program, so waivers extend coverage to individuals who would otherwise have too high of household income to qualify. The six Medi-Cal 1915(c) waivers are:

• California Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
• Medi-Cal Waiver Program (MCWP), formerly called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Waiver
• Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
• Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver
• HCBS Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities (HCBS-DD)
• California Self-Determination Program (SDP) Waiver for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

The majority of Regional Center clients can access Medi-Cal via the HCBS-DD waiver.

When your child enrolls in the Self-Determination Program, you switch from the HBCS-DD waiver to the SDP waiver. Most people don’t know the change happened. However, it matters when someone wants WPSC hours, which requires the HBCA waiver.