Medicaid Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs: Home and community Based Supports
Rhode Island Medicaid offers various services for children with special needs who meet eligibility criteria. These programs allow children to receive care in their homes and communities, rather than in institutions, with services tailored to their specific needs.
Learn more about services and programs on the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ website. This is not an exhaustive list of all services and resources provided by Medicaid. Families should contact their health insurance provider or Medicaid to ask about other options that may be.
Some of the types of services provided are:
- Cedar Family Center: a care coordination service that works with families to develop a care plan that provides information and potential referrals to services and support options available for all children enrolled in Medicaid who have disabilities and special needs.
- Home Based Therapeutic Services (HBTS): medically necessary, intensive services that can help families of children with moderate to severe behavioral health, developmental, or physical disabilities. HBTS is provided to children in the home or community setting.
- Personal Assistance Services and Supports (PASS): family-directed service that can help families of children with special healthcare needs. PASS is provided in the home or community setting to help improve a child’s ability to do activities of daily life, maintain safety, and/or gain social skills.
- The Respite Program for Children: allows parents or guardians caring for a child with disabilities to have time off for themselves. To be eligible for the Respite for Children Program, a child must need an institutional level of care that can best be described as the type of care typically provided in a hospital or residential facility. Parents/guardians are required to find their own respite worker. Assistance is available from certified Respite agencies.
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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy: ABA Therapy services help children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disabilities build skills for everyday life. These skills can include communication, social interaction, emotional regulation, and daily routines. It uses positive reinforcement to support learning and reduce behaviors that may interfere with safety or participation.
ABA therapy is usually provided one-on-one by a trained professional, with supervision from a licensed clinician, and it can take place at home or in a center. Families are active partners in ABA, helping to set goals and use strategies during daily routines. ABA is individualized for each child, with the goal of supporting growth, independence, and quality of life.
To access ABA therapy services, contact your health insurance provider for coverage eligibility.
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KIDS CONNECT The RI KIDS CONNECT program provides specialized services for children with special healthcare needs at select licensed childcare centers and after-school programs. KIDS CONNECT enables children to fully participate in daily classroom routines, activities, and learning opportunities. Through participation in KIDS CONNECT, childcare programs can provide an additional classroom staff member who has been trained to deliver therapeutic services.
To access KIDS CONNECT services, your child must be Medicaid-eligible and attend a participating childcare program.