Indiana · HCBS Programs

Indiana Medicaid waiver programs

Indiana operates four home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers through FSSA: two I/DD waivers (FSW and CIH) administered by the Bureau of Disabilities Services and two aging/disability waivers (Health and Wellness, PathWays for Aging) delivered through Area Agencies on Aging. Eligibility rules, application channels, and waitlists differ across programs. This guide explains each — confirm current details with the administering agency.

2026 capacity notice: FSW and CIH reached maximum capacity in December 2025. No new slots were expected until at least July 2026. Applying still establishes your waitlist registration date. Confirm current capacity status with FSSA before planning a timeline.

Indiana HCBS waiver programs at a glance

Family Supports Waiver (FSW)

Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS) · FSSA

Who it serves: Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) with moderate support needs.

How to apply: Online through the BDS Gateway portal at bddsgateway.fssa.in.gov. Paper fallback: State Form 55068, returned to a local BDS district office.

FSW and CIH reached maximum capacity in December 2025. Applying still establishes your registration date and waitlist position. No new slots were expected until at least July 2026 — confirm current status with FSSA.

Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH)

Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS) · FSSA

Who it serves: Individuals with I/DD who have intensive support needs — a higher level of care than FSW.

How to apply: Same BDS Gateway portal as FSW. A 365-day group-home prerequisite for certain CIH pathways took effect in January 2026.

Part of the same FSW/CIH capacity pause as of December 2025. CIH is the more intensive I/DD track and typically has a longer waitlist. Confirm the 365-day requirement with your BDS district office before planning transitions.

Health and Wellness Waiver

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) · FSSA Division of Aging

Who it serves: Adults under 60 with physical disabilities who meet nursing-facility level-of-care and require long-term community services.

How to apply: Phone intake through your local Area Agency on Aging — statewide line 1-800-986-3505. Not applied for through the BDS Gateway.

Indiana split its former Aged and Disabled waiver into this under-60 track and PathWays for Aging (60+) effective July 2024. About 7,400 people were on the Health and Wellness waitlist as of June 2026 (FSSA official count).

PathWays for Aging

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) · FSSA Division of Aging

Who it serves: Adults 60 and older who meet nursing-facility level-of-care and require community supports to remain at home.

How to apply: Phone intake through your local Area Agency on Aging — statewide line 1-800-986-3505. Delivered through managed care since July 2024.

About 12,169 people were on the PathWays for Aging waitlist as of June 2026 (FSSA official count). Nursing-facility transitions, CHOICE participants, and hospital discharges receive first priority for available slots.

How to apply for an Indiana Medicaid waiver — 6 steps

Step 1

Identify which waiver program fits the applicant's diagnosis and age

Indiana's four HCBS waivers serve distinct populations. FSW and CIH are for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) — the key difference is level of care intensity. Health and Wellness is for adults under 60 with physical disabilities. PathWays for Aging is for adults 60 and older. Start by identifying the correct track — the application portal and administering agency differ across these two routes, and applying to the wrong one can delay your eligibility determination.

Step 2

Confirm Medicaid enrollment status or begin enrollment simultaneously

Most Indiana HCBS waivers require active full-benefit Medicaid enrollment before a waiver slot can be activated. Check your state Medicaid portal to confirm enrollment. If not enrolled, apply for Medicaid through the DFR (Division of Family Resources) simultaneously — most programs allow you to join a waitlist while Medicaid enrollment is pending, but the slot cannot be finalized until enrollment is confirmed. Medicaid enrollment status is separate from waiver eligibility.

Step 3

Gather documentation before the intake appointment

Eligibility requires documentation. For FSW and CIH: a current IQ and adaptive behavior evaluation from a qualified psychologist (required to confirm I/DD diagnosis), plus physician records and any existing functional assessment reports. For Health and Wellness and PathWays: physician documentation of the medical condition limiting daily activities, current medications list, and records of any recent hospitalizations or skilled nursing stays. Also gather proof of identity, proof of Indiana residency, and Social Security number for all applications.

Step 4

Submit through the correct channel for the applicant's program

FSW and CIH applications go through the BDS Gateway portal at bddsgateway.fssa.in.gov — this is the primary route Indiana uses for its I/DD waivers. Paper State Form 55068 is a fallback submitted to a local BDS district office. Health and Wellness and PathWays for Aging are not applied for through the Gateway — intake for both starts with a phone call to your local Area Agency on Aging (statewide: 1-800-986-3505). Using the wrong channel delays the process.

Step 5

Record your submission date and confirmation details immediately

Waitlist position in Indiana is determined by the date your application or registration is received, not by the severity of need. Write down the exact date and time of your submission, any confirmation number or receipt the portal provides, and the name of any representative you spoke with. Screenshot or print the confirmation page. If you submit by phone (Health and Wellness / PathWays), follow up in writing to confirm the intake date was recorded — this paper trail is your proof of position.

Step 6

Monitor the waitlist portal and respond to every annual renewal notice

BDS launched an online waitlist portal where families can confirm registration and check status — allow about five business days after applying for a registration to appear. For Health and Wellness and PathWays, your AAA contact is the primary source of waitlist status updates. Both systems send annual renewal notices to confirm continued interest. Missing a renewal or becoming unreachable is the most common reason families lose waitlist position after years of waiting — update your contact information any time it changes and open every letter from FSSA or your AAA.

Start my Indiana waiver organizer — free Step-by-step BDS application guide Indiana waiver checklist

Documents to gather before applying

Collect these before submitting to any Indiana waiver program. Missing documentation is the most common reason eligibility determinations are delayed.

✓Proof of identity (state ID or birth certificate)
✓Proof of Indiana residency (utility bill, lease, or government mail)
✓Social Security number for the applicant
✓Active Medicaid enrollment confirmation (or DFR case number if enrollment is pending)
✓Qualifying diagnosis documentation (IQ/adaptive behavior evaluation for FSW/CIH; physician letter for Health and Wellness / PathWays)
✓Existing functional assessment or level-of-care evaluation reports, if any
✓List of current medications and treating physicians
✓Records of recent hospitalizations or skilled nursing stays (if applicable)
✓Previous FSSA or BDS correspondence (if reapplying or updating a prior application)

More Indiana waiver guides

Indiana Medicaid waiver guide Indiana waiver checklist BDS Gateway application guide HCBS waiver eligibility (national)Medicaid waiver waitlist guide Application checklist (national)

Indiana Medicaid waiver programs FAQ

What Medicaid waiver programs does Indiana offer for home and community services?

Indiana operates four main HCBS waivers under FSSA: the Family Supports Waiver (FSW) for individuals with I/DD and moderate support needs, the Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waiver for individuals with I/DD and intensive support needs, the Health and Wellness Waiver for adults under 60 with physical disabilities, and PathWays for Aging for adults 60 and older. FSW and CIH are administered by the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS) and applied for through the BDS Gateway portal. Health and Wellness and PathWays are administered through the FSSA Division of Aging via Area Agencies on Aging.

What is the difference between the FSW and CIH waivers in Indiana?

Both FSW and CIH serve individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, but they target different levels of need. FSW — the Family Supports Waiver — is the entry-level I/DD waiver and covers individuals with moderate support needs who live at home or with family. CIH — Community Integration and Habilitation — is the more intensive waiver for individuals with significant needs who require a higher level of community-based support. CIH also added a 365-day group-home prerequisite for certain pathways effective January 2026. Both are applied for through the same BDS Gateway portal, but CIH typically has more stringent eligibility standards.

Are Indiana's FSW and CIH waivers accepting new applications in 2026?

FSSA announced that FSW and CIH reached maximum capacity in December 2025, with no new waiver slots expected until at least July 2026. Applying still matters — it establishes your registration date and waitlist position. Monitor the BDS waitlist portal and the FSSA website for updates on capacity, and confirm current status directly with FSSA or your local BDS district office, as capacity situations can change.

How do I apply for the Health and Wellness Waiver or PathWays for Aging?

Neither program uses the BDS Gateway portal. Intake for both the Health and Wellness Waiver (under 60) and PathWays for Aging (60+) starts with a phone call to your local Area Agency on Aging — the statewide AAA intake line is 1-800-986-3505. An intake coordinator will conduct a screening, explain the process, and guide next steps. Record the date, time, and representative's name from your initial call.

How long is the Indiana waiver waitlist?

Per FSSA's official waiting-list page as of June 2026: approximately 7,402 people were waiting for the Health and Wellness Waiver and approximately 12,169 for PathWays for Aging. Third-party compilations estimated the combined FSW/CIH waitlist at around 9,453 people — this is an unofficial figure since FSSA does not publish a single consolidated count. Nursing-facility transitions, CHOICE participants, and hospital discharges receive first priority for available waiver invitations each month. Waitlist numbers and priority rules can change — confirm current figures with FSSA.

What documentation is required for an Indiana waiver application?

Required documentation varies by program. For FSW and CIH: proof of I/DD diagnosis including an IQ evaluation and adaptive behavior assessment from a qualified psychologist, plus physician records and any existing functional assessment reports. For Health and Wellness and PathWays: physician documentation of the medical condition, current medications list, and records of hospitalizations or skilled nursing stays. All programs require proof of identity, Indiana residency, and active Medicaid enrollment (or enrollment in process). Gather multiple years of records where available — a single recent document can leave gaps that delay the eligibility decision.

What changed with Indiana's HCBS waivers in 2024 and 2026?

Two significant changes: In July 2024, Indiana split its former Aged and Disabled waiver into two separate programs — the Health and Wellness Waiver (under 60) and PathWays for Aging (60+, delivered through managed care). In January 2026, a 365-day group-home prerequisite for certain CIH pathways took effect. FSSA has also proposed August 2026 amendments including a 40-hour-per-week cap on caregiving by legally responsible individuals (LRI), rate changes, and case-management organization consolidation — treat those as proposed and confirm current status with FSSA.

Does WaiverPath apply for Indiana waivers on my behalf?

No. WaiverPath is an organizer — not a government agency, representative, or benefits advisor. Indiana's I/DD waiver process is portal-based (BDS Gateway), and the aging/disability track starts with a phone intake call. WaiverPath helps you track the right program, organize required documents, log your submission date and confirmation details, set renewal reminders, and stay current with waitlist status. The free account includes this guide and basic document tracking. Plus ($6.99/mo or $49/yr) adds a forms assistant for capturing agency contacts, assessment notes, correspondence records, and deadline reminders. Always confirm requirements and current program status with FSSA or the relevant administering agency.

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.