Overview
The Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) is a Medicaid waiver administered by the Bureau of Autism Services and designed to support community living for adults 21 or older with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clarvida is an available provider for services under the Pennsylvania Adult Autism Waiver.
Goals:
- Increase the person’s ability to care for themselves
- Decrease family/caregiver stress
- Increase quality of life for both the person and the family
- Provide specialized supports to adults with autism spectrum disorder based on need
- Help adults with autism spectrum disorder reach their employment goals
- Support more involvement in community activities
- Decrease crisis episodes and psychiatric hospitalizations
Program Highlights:
- Does not use IQ as an eligibility factor
- Providers required to complete autism-specific training and meet standards
- Clinical and behavioral support, as well as technical assistance, is available to enrolled providers
- Service planning and measures of success based on individual goals
- Services based on proven approaches to help participants realize these goals
- Priority given to individuals not receiving ongoing state/federally funded services
- Physical health services are not included as a waiver service; participants retain existing medical insurance
- Choice of enrolled provider for each service
- Residential Habilitation services (24/7) available if assessment determines need
- Higher income eligibility threshold than the eligibility threshold usually applied to persons living in the community
Design:
- When an individual reaches the top of the Interest List, and there is available capacity, an application packet is sent out and the application process starts.
- Upon receipt of the application packet, the Bureau of Autism Services and Special Populations (BSASP) assesses initial eligibility.
- After eligibility has been assessed, the Bureau of Autism Services and Special Populations mails a welcome packet to the participant.
- Within 5 days, the participant selects a Supports Coordination Agency to assist in the development of an initial plan and coordination of desired service providers.
- A Supports Coordinator will schedule their initial visit to complete an intake assessment. The Supports Coordinator will score them, and submit them to BSASP for the results.
- The Supports Coordinator will then schedule a second visit in order to complete the Individual Service Plan (ISP) and provide you with a directory to choose the provider that will support you in the community setting. The Supports Coordinator will call the agencies you have an interest in to determine if they have available staff.
- Additionally, you will be encouraged to call and ask the providers questions to assist you in making the best decision.
- The provider that you selected will schedule an intake and during this time a schedule for services will be developed. You will meet your staff and then begin services.
We provide AAW services in the following counties: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Jefferson, Juniata, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mercer, Mifflin, Montgomery, Perry, Philadelphia, Somerset, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland, and York.
