About the Program
These two home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers are designed to help MassHealth-eligible persons with an acquired brain injury (ABI) move from a nursing facility or chronic disease or rehabilitation hospital back to their community. The ABI waivers help by making the move from the facility to the community easier and by providing community-based services.
The two ABI waivers are
- ABI–Residential Habilitation (ABI-RH) – for people who need supervision and staffing 24 hours a day, seven days a week in a provider-operated residence
- ABI–Non-residential Habilitation (ABI-N) – for people who can move to their own home or apartment or to the home of someone else and receive services in the community.
ABI applications may be submitted at any time.
Eligibility Criteria for ABI Waivers
MassHealth applicants or members who live in a nursing facility or a chronic or rehabilitation hospital and have an ABI may apply for one of these waivers, which would support these persons to move into the community and offer resources to provide ongoing services in the community. An individual may not participate in more than one waiver at a time.
To qualify for one of the ABI waivers, an individual must
- Be living in a nursing facility or in a chronic or rehabilitation hospital for at least 90 days
- Meet clinical eligibility requirements
- Have experienced an acquired brain injury at age 22 or older. An acquired brain injury can result from a stroke, brain trauma, infection of the brain (such as encephalitis), brain tumor, or anoxia (lack of oxygen)
- Need ABI waiver services
- Be able to be safely served in the community within the terms of the ABI waivers and
- Meet the financial requirements to qualify for MassHealth Standard in the community.
Special financial rules exist for waiver applicants and participants.
Also, for the ABI-RH waiver, the person must need residential support services with staff supervision 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Services Offered to ABI Waiver Participants
All waiver participants will work with a case manager/service coordinator to develop their individual service plan that will include their goals and the waiver services and supports the participant needs in the community.
ABI Waiver services include the following:
Yes means the service is available
No means it’s not available
|
Service |
ABI-RH |
ABI-N |
|---|---|---|
|
Adult Companion |
No |
Yes |
|
Assisted Living Services |
Yes |
No |
|
Chore Services |
No |
Yes |
|
Community Based Day Supports |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Community Support and Navigation |
No |
No |
|
Day Services |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Family Training |
No |
No |
|
Home Accessibility Adaptations |
No |
Yes |
|
Home Health Aide |
No |
No |
|
Homemaker |
No |
Yes |
|
Independent Living Supports |
No |
No |
|
Individual Support and Community Habilitation |
No |
Yes |
|
Occupational, physical, or speech therapy |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Orientation and Mobility Services |
No |
No |
|
Peer Support |
No |
No |
|
Personal Care |
No |
Yes |
|
Prevocational Services |
Yes |
No |
|
Residential Habilitation (group home) |
Yes |
No |
|
Respite |
No |
Yes |
|
Shared Home Supports |
No |
No |
|
Shared Living – 24-Hour Supports |
Yes |
No |
|
Skilled Nursing |
No |
No |
|
Specialized Medical Equipment |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Supported Employment |
Yes |
No |
|
Supportive Home Care Aide |
No |
No |
|
Transitional Assistance Services |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Transportation |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Vehicle Modification |
No |
No |
ABI Waiver Application Process and Applications
You may submit an application to participate in the ABI waiver at any time. See links to the application below.
Send the completed application to
UMass ABI Waiver Unit
333 South Street
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2732
For more information contact
UMass ABI Waiver Unit
Phone: (866) 281-5602
Email: ABIinfo@umassmed.edu
ABI Applications for HCBS Waiver
Additional Resources
Participant Handbook
Additional Resources
ABI Waiver Brochures
The following are ABI waiver brochures.
Additional Resources
Contact for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers
Online
Phone
For persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled.