Indiana · BDDS / BDS Waivers
This checklist helps Indiana families organize the FSW/CIH application through the BDS Gateway portal and AAA intake for Health & Wellness or PathWays for Aging. It is an organizer, not an eligibility decision. Confirm every requirement with BDS or your case manager.
WaiverPath is not a government agency, law firm, Medicaid provider, or benefits advisor. We help you organize information, documents, and follow-up tasks. Always verify requirements with the official agency or a qualified professional.
The application channel changes with the track. Pick the row that matches the applicant's situation, then confirm with BDS or the AAA before you submit.
| Program | Who it is generally for | Where families apply | Organizer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Supports Waiver (FSW) | People with intellectual or developmental disabilities who need supports at home or with family. | BDS Gateway (paper State Form 55068 is the fallback). | Part of the FSW/CIH capacity pause announced December 2025. Applying still timestamps the waitlist. Confirm current slot status with BDS. |
| Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) | People with I/DD who need more intensive supports than FSW. | Same BDS Gateway route as FSW. | A 365-day group-home prerequisite for certain CIH pathways took effect in January 2026. Confirm whether that rule applies to your situation with your BDS district office. |
| Health & Wellness Waiver | Adults under 60 with physical disabilities who need long-term community supports. | Phone intake with your Area Agency on Aging — statewide 1-800-986-3505. Not the BDS Gateway. | This is a different administering path than FSW/CIH. Confirm eligibility and wait times with the AAA. |
| PathWays for Aging | Adults 60 and older who need community supports to remain at home. | Same AAA phone intake as Health & Wellness — 1-800-986-3505. | Delivered through managed care since July 2024. Confirm current intake steps with your AAA. |
Program-by-program cards live on the Indiana Medicaid waiver programs guide. This page is the application-and-documents checklist.
Step 1
Indiana splits its waivers by need: FSW and CIH serve people with intellectual/developmental disabilities through BDS, while the Health & Wellness Waiver (under 60) and PathWays for Aging (60+) serve the aged-and-disabled population. Which track you are on determines where you apply.
Official source ↗Step 2
The BDS Gateway portal is Indiana's primary application route for the FSW and CIH waivers, available 24/7. Save your username, submission date, and any confirmation number the moment you submit.
Official source ↗Step 3
If the portal is not workable for your family, FSSA still accepts the paper application (State Form 55068), completed, signed, and returned to your local BDS district office. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Official source ↗Step 4
The Health & Wellness Waiver and PathWays for Aging start with phone intake through your local Area Agency on Aging (statewide line 1-800-986-3505), not the BDS Gateway. Log the date, who you spoke with, and what they asked for.
Official source ↗Step 5
Gather diagnosis records, evaluations, school records (IEP), proof of Indiana residency, and identity documents before intake so nothing stalls the review. Index each document with its date and source.
Official source ↗Step 6
FSSA announced FSW and CIH reached maximum capacity in December 2025, with no new slots expected until at least July 2026. Applying still matters — it establishes your place — but set expectations and note the date you read any capacity update.
Official source ↗Step 7
BDS launched an online waitlist portal/dashboard so families can confirm they are registered and check status (allow about five business days after applying for a registration to appear). Record the date and what you saw each time you check.
Official source ↗Step 8
Waiver invitations go out to the contact information on file. Families with stale addresses, phones, or emails can miss a targeted invitation entirely — verify your details through the waitlist dashboard and after any move.
Official source ↗Step 9
Keep one running log of every BDS, AAA, and FSSA contact: date, person, what was said, and the next action. FSSA directs waiver questions to local BDS offices or BDS.Help@fssa.in.gov — record which channel you used.
Official source ↗Step 10
Families often search for an Indiana Medicaid waiver pick list PDF. WaiverPath does not host official FSSA PDFs. When BDS or your case manager offers a slot or walks through authorized services, save the official materials they give you, the date, and any questions still open. Confirm the current service array and any official pick-list packet with BDS or your case manager — lists change.
Official source ↗If you landed here searching for a free Indiana Medicaid waiver pick list PDF, start with official FSSA materials — not a third-party reprint.
Search traffic for “Indiana Medicaid waiver pick list PDF” usually means one of two things: the official list of services that can be authorized on FSW or CIH after a slot is offered, or how BDS invites people off the waitlist when capacity opens. Those are different packets. Confirm which document you need with BDS or your case manager before you download anything unofficial.
We do not republish FSSA service arrays, rate sheets, or pick-list PDFs. Official materials change. Start at the FSSA BDS Medicaid HCBS waivers page and the HCBS waiver waiting-list page, or ask BDS.Help@fssa.in.gov / your local BDS district office for the current packet.
Record the date, the person’s name and office, the document title they referenced, and any questions still open. If they email or hand you a service list, keep that file with your Gateway confirmation — do not rely on memory months later.
Official starting points: FSSA BDS Medicaid HCBS waivers ↗ and FSSA HCBS waiting-list information ↗.
Having these in hand prevents stalls during BDS eligibility review. Collect them before you open the BDS Gateway. Confirm the current list with BDS.
Current diagnosis records or developmental evaluation
Must confirm the qualifying disability.
IEP or school testing records
If the applicant is school-age.
Proof of Indiana residency
Utility bill, lease, or official mail.
Identity documents
Birth certificate, state ID, or Social Security card.
Prior medical records and evaluations
Specialist notes, psych evals, therapy reports.
BDS Gateway account credentials
Username and confirmation number after submitting — save immediately. Never store passwords here.
Waitlist position is easier to confirm with the agency when you have a dated paper trail. Write these down the day you submit.
These are paperwork and follow-up errors families report — not legal advice. Confirm process questions with BDS or your AAA.
The December 2025 capacity pause means new slots were not expected until at least July 2026. Applying still establishes your waitlist date. Confirm the current status with BDS — do not assume a pause means “do not register.”
Those programs start with AAA phone intake (1-800-986-3505), not the Gateway. Using the wrong channel delays the record that later becomes your waitlist proof.
A targeted invitation can be missed entirely if the phone, email, or address on file is old. Verify details in the waitlist dashboard after any move.
Service arrays and invitation rules change. Use FSSA pages or materials your BDS office or case manager gives you. Confirm every list with the agency before you plan services around it.
The path depends on which waiver you need. For FSW and CIH (I/DD waivers), apply online through the BDS Gateway portal at bddsgateway.fssa.in.gov — the portal is open 24/7 and immediately time-stamps your place on the waitlist. Paper State Form 55068 is a fallback you can return to a local BDS district office. For the Health & Wellness Waiver (under 60) or PathWays for Aging (60+), call the statewide Area Agency on Aging intake line at 1-800-986-3505 — those programs start with a phone intake, not the portal.
Yes. The FSW and CIH waivers have a significant waitlist managed through the BDS Gateway. FSSA announced those waivers reached maximum capacity in December 2025 with no new slots expected until at least July 2026. Applying still matters — it establishes your date on the waitlist. You can check your status through the online BDS waitlist dashboard. Health & Wellness and PathWays for Aging may have their own wait times through the AAA. Confirm current counts and invitation rules on the official FSSA waiting-list page.
Before you apply, gather: (1) a current diagnosis record or evaluation confirming the qualifying disability, (2) school records or IEP if the applicant is school-age, (3) proof of Indiana residency, (4) identity documents (birth certificate, state ID), and (5) any prior evaluations or medical records. Having these in hand prevents delays during BDS's eligibility review. Confirm the current document list with BDS — this is an organizer list, not an official determination checklist.
Timelines vary by program and waitlist position. For FSW/CIH, the BDS waitlist can span years depending on capacity — FSSA froze new slots in December 2025. After a waiver slot is offered, there is an assessment and service-plan process before services begin. Health & Wellness and PathWays timelines run through the AAA and managed care. Log every interaction and date so you can follow up accurately. Confirm current timelines with BDS or your AAA.
Both are I/DD waivers administered by BDS. The Family Supports Waiver (FSW) is Indiana's entry-level waiver — it provides supports for people living at home or with family. The Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waiver is the more intensive program for people with higher support needs. A 365-day group-home prerequisite for certain CIH pathways took effect in January 2026. Confirm which track and which prerequisite apply with your BDS district office — WaiverPath does not decide the track.
Yes. BDS launched an online waitlist portal so families can confirm their registration and check position. Allow about five business days after submitting your BDS Gateway application for the registration to appear. Log in regularly and record the date and what you see each time — and update your contact information through the portal if anything changes, so a waiver invitation is never missed.
Families use "pick list" in two ways: the official FSW/CIH service array they may choose from after a slot is offered, and the process BDS uses to invite people from the waitlist when capacity opens. WaiverPath does not host an official pick-list PDF. Ask BDS or your case manager for the current official materials, and start at the FSSA BDS Medicaid HCBS waivers page. Confirm every list before you plan services around it.
State Form 55068 is the paper FSW/CIH application FSSA still accepts when the BDS Gateway is not workable for a family. Complete it, sign it, keep a copy, and return it to your local BDS district office. Record the office, the delivery method, and the date. Confirm the current form number and office address on the official FSSA BDS page before you mail anything.
FSSA publishes BDS district office contacts on the official BDS Medicaid HCBS waivers page. Waiver questions can also go to BDS.Help@fssa.in.gov. For Health & Wellness or PathWays, start with the AAA statewide line 1-800-986-3505 instead of a BDS office. Confirm the office that serves your county before you send paper forms.
No — WaiverPath is an organizer for families, not an agency or representative. Free accounts open the Indiana checklist and remind you of key follow-up dates. Plus ($6.99/mo or $49/yr) adds a forms assistant for capturing your BDS Gateway submission record, document inventory, waitlist log, and AAA intake notes in one place. Confirm eligibility, program tracks, and timelines with BDS (BDS.Help@fssa.in.gov) or your local BDS district office.
Last reviewed by WaiverPath: August 17, 2026.
WaiverPath is not a government agency, law firm, Medicaid provider, or benefits advisor. We help you organize information, documents, and follow-up tasks. Always verify requirements with the official agency or a qualified professional. Last reviewed: August 2026.
