Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers

MassHealth has two ABI waivers.

About the Program

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers are MassHealth programs for members who would otherwise require care in a facility. These programs meet the needs of those who prefer to get long-term care services and supports in their home or community, rather than in an institutional setting. 

The two Acquired Brain Injury Waivers help members with an acquired brain injury move from a nursing facility or chronic disease, rehabilitation, or psychiatric hospital back into their communities.   

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.

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. The waiver would help the individual 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, seven 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 plan 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 Waiver	ABI-N Waiver
Adult Companion	No	Yes
Assisted Living Services	Yes	No
Assistive Technology	Yes	Yes
Chore	No	Yes
Community Based Day Supports	Yes	Yes
Community Behavioral Health  Support and Navigation	Yes	Yes
Day Services	Yes	Yes
Family Training	Yes	Yes
Home Accessibility Adaptations	Yes	Yes
Home Delivered Meals	No	Yes
Home Health Aide	No	Yes
Homemaker	No	Yes
Independent Living Supports	No	Yes
Individual Support and Community Habilitation	Yes	Yes
Laundry	No	Yes
Occupational Therapy	Yes	Yes
Orientation and Mobility Services	Yes	Yes
Peer Support	Yes	Yes
Personal Care	No	Yes
Physical Therapy	Yes	Yes
Prevocational Services	Yes	Yes
Residential Habilitation (group home)	Yes	No
Respite	No	Yes
Shared Home Supports	No	Yes
Shared Living – 24-Hour Supports	Yes	No
Skilled Nursing	Yes	Yes
Specialized Medical Equipment	Yes	Yes
Speech Therapy	Yes	Yes
Supported Employment	Yes	Yes
Supportive Home Care Aide	No	Yes
Transitional Assistance Services	Yes	Yes
Transportation	Yes	Yes
Vehicle Modification	No	Yes

ABI Waiver Application Process and Applications

You may submit an application to participate in the ABI waiver at any time.

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 [phone]
Email [e-mail]

Additional Resources