New Mexico · Packet checklist

New Mexico DD Waiver checklist

This checklist helps New Mexico families organize the DD Waiver and Mi Via Self-Directed Waiver paper chain through DDSD — Central Registry registration, the mailed packet, the 60-day documentation window, and the 30-day Freedom of Choice response. The Medically Fragile Waiver uses a separate DDSD intake — confirm the correct door with DDSD; do not treat this Central Registry checklist as the MFW application path. It is an organizer, not an eligibility decision. Confirm every current form, address, and clock with DDSD, PSIB, 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.

What to gather, and where each piece goes

PSIB, the Institutional Care Waiver Unit, and the Third Party Assessor are not interchangeable. Pick the row that matches the paper, then confirm the current address on the official HCA page before you send it.

Central Registry registration confirmation

Who completes it: Family
Where families send it: Pre-Service Intake Bureau (PSIB) — phone 505-630-9555 or 575-997-7980, mail or fax 505-533-6077, or a DDSD regional office in person.
What to log: Date DDSD received the registration (that date is the official registration date) and who you spoke with. Confirm current phone, fax, and office options with PSIB.

HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID Application Form

Who completes it: Family
Where families send it: Return the packet DDSD mailed to PSIB. Do not download a substitute form independently — use the packet DDSD sends.
What to log: Packet-received date, mail-back date, and tracking number. Confirm the current packet return address with PSIB before you mail.

Release of Information forms

Who completes it: Family
Where families send it: Same PSIB packet return as the application form.
What to log: Date each release was signed and that a copy stayed with the family. Confirm current release forms in the mailed packet — do not invent extras.

Supporting documentation (records and evaluations)

Who completes it: Family gathers; providers complete
Where families send it: PSIB within the supporting-documentation window that starts when the packet arrives.
What to log: Request dates, what is still owed, and the mail date. Confirm the current documentation list and window with PSIB — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Letter of Interest / Primary Freedom of Choice

Who completes it: Family
Where families send it: By postal mail back to DDSD within the response window printed on the letter.
What to log: Arrival date, program choice (DD Waiver, Mi Via, ICF/IID, or hold), case-management agency, and mail-back date. Confirm the current response window with DDSD — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Medicaid financial application

Who completes it: Family
Where families send it: Institutional Care Waiver Unit, PO Box 830, Bernalillo, NM 87004 — at allocation, not at registration.
What to log: Mail date and tracking number. Confirm the current ICWU address with HCA before you print a label.

Physician forms for medical eligibility

Who completes it: Applicant's physician
Where families send it: Third Party Assessor at allocation. Book the visit early so the physician pages are not the bottleneck.
What to log: Appointment date and the date the office sent the forms. Confirm current Third Party Assessor routing with DDSD.

Document	Who completes it	Where families send it	What to log
Central Registry registration confirmation	Family	Pre-Service Intake Bureau (PSIB) — phone 505-630-9555 or 575-997-7980, mail or fax 505-533-6077, or a DDSD regional office in person.	Date DDSD received the registration (that date is the official registration date) and who you spoke with. Confirm current phone, fax, and office options with PSIB.
HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID Application Form	Family	Return the packet DDSD mailed to PSIB. Do not download a substitute form independently — use the packet DDSD sends.	Packet-received date, mail-back date, and tracking number. Confirm the current packet return address with PSIB before you mail.
Release of Information forms	Family	Same PSIB packet return as the application form.	Date each release was signed and that a copy stayed with the family. Confirm current release forms in the mailed packet — do not invent extras.
Supporting documentation (records and evaluations)	Family gathers; providers complete	PSIB within the supporting-documentation window that starts when the packet arrives.	Request dates, what is still owed, and the mail date. Confirm the current documentation list and window with PSIB — WaiverPath does not extend it.
Letter of Interest / Primary Freedom of Choice	Family	By postal mail back to DDSD within the response window printed on the letter.	Arrival date, program choice (DD Waiver, Mi Via, ICF/IID, or hold), case-management agency, and mail-back date. Confirm the current response window with DDSD — WaiverPath does not extend it.
Medicaid financial application	Family	Institutional Care Waiver Unit, PO Box 830, Bernalillo, NM 87004 — at allocation, not at registration.	Mail date and tracking number. Confirm the current ICWU address with HCA before you print a label.
Physician forms for medical eligibility	Applicant's physician	Third Party Assessor at allocation. Book the visit early so the physician pages are not the bottleneck.	Appointment date and the date the office sent the forms. Confirm current Third Party Assessor routing with DDSD.

The step-by-step filing map is on the New Mexico DD Waiver application guide. This page is the gather-and-track checklist.

The organizer steps

Step 1

Register on the Central Registry

HCA says registration goes through the Pre-Service Intake Bureau (PSIB): call 505-630-9555 or 575-997-7980, mail or fax the registration form (fax 505-533-6077), or visit a DDSD regional office in person. The date DDSD receives the registration is the official registration date — log it. Confirm current registration phone, fax, and office options with PSIB before you call or mail.

Official source ↗

Step 2

Watch the mail for the application packet

After registration, DDSD MAILS the HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID Application Form (English or Spanish) plus Release of Information forms. Nothing arrives online — check the mailbox and open every DDSD envelope the day it arrives. Confirm current packet mailing steps with DDSD — WaiverPath does not mail the packet.

Official source ↗

Step 3

Return the completed packet to PSIB

The completed application packet goes back to the Pre-Service Intake Bureau (packet questions: 505-350-0034). HCA says the date PSIB receives it becomes the application date and sets the position for service offers — every day the packet sits on the counter costs position. Confirm the current packet return address and questions line with PSIB before you mail.

Official source ↗

Step 4

Send supporting documentation within 60 days

Families have 60 days from receiving the packet to return supporting documentation. Start the document hunt (medical records, evaluations, releases) the day the packet arrives so the clock never runs out. Confirm the current documentation window with PSIB — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Official source ↗

Step 5

Copy everything and use certified mail

New Mexico's chain is paper end to end, so the family's copies ARE the record. Photocopy or scan every signed page before mailing and send by certified mail or with tracking so receipt dates can be proven. Confirm current mailing instructions on the official HCA page before you send.

Official source ↗

Step 6

Answer the Letter of Interest within 30 days

At allocation, a Letter of Interest and Primary Freedom of Choice form arrive BY MAIL with 30 days to respond — choosing the DD Waiver, Mi Via, or ICF/IID plus a case-management agency, or asking to hold. Missing this letter is the most expensive mistake in the process. Confirm the current response window with DDSD — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Official source ↗

Step 7

Mail the Medicaid financial application to Bernalillo

The Medicaid financial application at allocation is mailed to the Institutional Care Waiver Unit, PO Box 830, Bernalillo, NM 87004. Medical eligibility runs separately through physician forms sent to the Third Party Assessor. Confirm the current Institutional Care Waiver Unit address with HCA before you mail.

Official source ↗

Step 8

Keep Central Registry contact info current

Every step in this process arrives by postal mail, so a stale address on the Central Registry means missed packets and missed deadlines. Update PSIB after any move or phone change and confirm contact details at least once a year. Confirm current contact-update procedures with PSIB after any move.

Official source ↗

Clocks, destinations, and copies — what to save

These are paperwork clocks, not eligibility rules. Confirm current windows with DDSD, PSIB, HCA, or your case manager.

The registration date is the priority date

HCA materials treat the date DDSD receives Central Registry registration as the official registration date used for later service offers. Ask PSIB for written confirmation the same day and keep it. Confirm current registration-date rules with PSIB — WaiverPath does not set your position.

There is no application portal

New Mexico's DD Waiver chain is paper and phone: DDSD mails the HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID Application Form plus Release of Information forms. Medicaid enrollment is a separate track through YES.NM.GOV (yes.nm.gov) or a local Income Support Division office. Confirm current packet steps with DDSD — WaiverPath does not mail the packet.

The 60-day supporting-documentation window starts when the packet arrives

Families generally have 60 days from receiving the mailed packet to return supporting documentation. Start records requests the day the envelope arrives and aim to mail by day 45 with tracking. Confirm the current documentation window with PSIB — WaiverPath does not extend it.

The Letter of Interest is a 30-day response, not junk mail

At allocation, a Letter of Interest and Primary Freedom of Choice form arrive by postal mail. Families generally have 30 days to choose the DD Waiver, Mi Via, ICF/IID, or a hold, and to name a case-management agency. Confirm the current response window with DDSD — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Financial Medicaid and medical eligibility are two later mailings

The Medicaid financial application at allocation mails to the Institutional Care Waiver Unit, PO Box 830, Bernalillo, NM 87004. Medical eligibility runs separately through physician forms sent to the Third Party Assessor. Confirm both current destinations with HCA or DDSD before you send anything.

A stale mailing address silently burns clocks

Every allocation letter arrives by postal mail. Update PSIB after any move or phone change and confirm contact details at least once a year. Confirm current contact-update procedures with PSIB.

Official starting points: NM HCA Eligibility Determination ↗ and NM HCA Allocation Process & Resources ↗.

After you apply — what to log

• Date DDSD received Central Registry registration, the method used (phone, fax, mail, or in person), and who you spoke with.
• Written confirmation of that registration date from PSIB, if they provided one.
• Packet-received date (this starts the supporting-documentation window) and the language of the packet (English or Spanish).
• Date the completed packet and signed releases were mailed to PSIB, plus the certified-mail or tracking number.
• Follow-up call to PSIB at 505-350-0034 confirming the packet was received and the recorded application date.
• Every supporting-document request: who owes it, the date requested, and the date mailed.
• Letter of Interest arrival date, program choice, case-management agency, and the date the Freedom of Choice response was mailed.
• Medicaid financial-application mail date to the Institutional Care Waiver Unit and the physician-form send date to the Third Party Assessor.
• Every address or phone change reported to PSIB, with the date you reported it.

Organizer mistakes on a New Mexico DD Waiver checklist

These are paperwork and follow-up errors — not legal advice. Confirm current rules with DDSD, PSIB, HCA, or your case manager.

Treating this checklist as an eligibility decision

The DD Waiver and Mi Via are generally designed for people DDSD determines meet an ICF/IID level of care, including related conditions generally treated as requiring onset before age 22. Confirm current eligibility criteria with DDSD — WaiverPath does not determine eligibility.

Downloading a substitute application instead of using the mailed packet

DDSD mails the HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID Application Form after registration. Use that packet. Confirm current packet steps with DDSD — WaiverPath does not mail or accept the form.

Letting the 60-day documentation window run out

Records requests to clinics and schools can take weeks. Log the packet-received date the day it arrives. Confirm the current window with PSIB — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Skipping certified mail or copies

Registration and application dates are set by when DDSD receives paper. Tracking and a full copy are the family's proof if a receipt date is ever disputed.

Leaving the Letter of Interest unopened

The allocation envelope carries the Freedom of Choice deadline. Log the arrival date the day it lands and confirm the current response window with DDSD.

Mailing the financial application to PSIB (or the packet to Bernalillo)

Registration and the waiver packet go to PSIB. The Medicaid financial application at allocation goes to the Institutional Care Waiver Unit in Bernalillo. Confirm current destinations with HCA before you print labels.

Save this New Mexico checklist Step-by-step application guide New Mexico DD Waiver overview New Mexico programs guide

New Mexico DD Waiver checklist FAQ

What belongs on a New Mexico DD Waiver checklist?

Families typically log Central Registry registration (date DDSD received it), watch the mail for the HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID packet, return the completed packet and releases to PSIB, gather supporting documentation inside the 60-day window, answer the Letter of Interest within 30 days, and later mail the Medicaid financial application to Bernalillo. Confirm current steps with DDSD or PSIB. This checklist is an organizer — not an eligibility decision.

How do I register on the New Mexico DDSD Central Registry?

HCA says registration goes through the Pre-Service Intake Bureau: call 505-630-9555 or 575-997-7980, mail or fax the registration form (fax 505-533-6077), or visit a DDSD regional office in person. The date DDSD receives the registration is the official registration date. Ask for written confirmation the same day. Confirm current registration options with PSIB before you call or mail.

Does New Mexico mail the DD Waiver application packet?

Yes. After Central Registry registration, DDSD mails the HCBS Waivers & ICF/IID Application Form (English or Spanish) plus Release of Information forms. There is no waiver-application portal. Do not download a substitute form independently — use the packet DDSD sends. Confirm current packet mailing steps with DDSD — WaiverPath does not mail the packet.

How do I track the 60-day supporting-documentation window?

Write down the date the mailed packet arrived. Families generally have 60 days from that date to return supporting documentation to PSIB. Start records requests immediately and keep copies plus tracking. Confirm the current documentation window with PSIB — WaiverPath does not extend it.

What is the Letter of Interest on a New Mexico DD Waiver checklist?

At allocation, DDSD mails a Letter of Interest and Primary Freedom of Choice form. Families generally have 30 days to choose the DD Waiver (agency-directed), Mi Via (self-directed, with a Support Consultant and Financial Management Agency), ICF/IID, or a hold, and to name a case-management agency. Confirm the current response window with DDSD — WaiverPath does not extend it.

Where does the New Mexico Medicaid financial application go?

At allocation — not at registration — the Medicaid financial application is mailed to the Institutional Care Waiver Unit, PO Box 830, Bernalillo, NM 87004. Medical eligibility runs separately through physician forms sent to the Third Party Assessor. Confirm both current destinations with HCA or DDSD before you mail. Medicaid enrollment itself is a separate track through yes.nm.gov or a local Income Support Division office.

What copies should I keep before mailing New Mexico DD Waiver papers?

Keep a full copy of the signed application packet, every Release of Information form, supporting records, the Freedom of Choice response, and the financial application, plus certified-mail or tracking receipts. In a paper-only process, those copies are the family's record if a receipt date is questioned.

How do I keep my Central Registry mailing address current?

Every packet and allocation letter arrives by postal mail. Update PSIB after any move or phone change and confirm contact details at least once a year. Confirm current contact-update procedures with PSIB — a stale address can silently burn a 30- or 60-day window.

How long is the wait for the New Mexico DD Waiver or Mi Via?

New Mexico's DD Waiver has historically had significant waitlists. Wait times vary by region and change with available allocations. WaiverPath cannot provide current waitlist figures. Contact your DDSD regional office or PSIB for current wait estimates, and confirm your registration is still active at least annually.

Does WaiverPath complete the New Mexico DD Waiver checklist for me?

No — WaiverPath is an organizer for families, not an agency, case manager, or representative. Free accounts open the New Mexico checklist and remind you of follow-up dates. Plus ($4.99/mo or $39/yr) adds a Central Registry packet assistant for capturing registration dates, 60-day clocks, and Freedom of Choice logs in one place. Confirm eligibility, packet contents, and timelines with DDSD, PSIB, or your case manager.

Official sources

Last reviewed by WaiverPath: August 25, 2026.

Medicaid.gov Home & Community Based ServicesFederal HCBS overview describing home and community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries.NM HCA Eligibility DeterminationNew Mexico HCA page describing Central Registry registration through the Pre-Service Intake Bureau, phone/fax/mail options, and how registration and application dates are set.NM HCA Allocation Process & ResourcesNew Mexico HCA page on the mailed application packet, the 60-day documentation window, the Letter of Interest, the 30-day Freedom of Choice response, and the Medicaid financial application.NM HCA Developmental Disabilities WaiverOfficial DD Waiver (1915(c)) program page under the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division.NM HCA Mi Via Self-Directed WaiverOfficial Mi Via Self-Directed Waiver program page for self-directed services and supports.UNM Center for Development & Disability: How to ApplyUniversity of New Mexico CDD Information Network walkthrough of applying for the DD Waiver through the Central Registry.

Last reviewed: August 2026.