Dirk Wilke Executive Director, Public Health Division at HHS | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
Dirk Wilke Executive Director, Public Health Division at HHS | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting public input on an amendment to the state's Medicaid Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (IID/DD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver. The comment period runs from August 29 through September 28.
The IID/DD HCBS waiver provides a variety of in-home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, aiming to support them in the least restrictive environment possible.
A significant proposed change involves adding host homes as a new service option for youth with developmental disabilities. Host homes would offer licensed family settings where young people can stay temporarily during times of crisis. In these settings, they would receive specialized training and support designed to address their needs, while remaining connected to their biological families and working toward reunification. According to HHS, "Host homes will help families during a crisis by providing a licensed family setting where a youth can live temporarily to receive specialized training and support to meet his or her needs. This model helps youth move from crisis to stabilization while staying connected to their biological families and working toward reunification."
Funding for the host home initiative was approved by the 2025 North Dakota Legislature. HHS states that this addition aligns with its strategic goal of improving access to high-quality services for individuals with disabilities.
Other changes in the amendment include updates to language regarding internal processes and requirements for provider compliance related to incident reporting.
The proposed changes are available online at hhs.nd.gov/waivers, with printed copies available upon request. Public comments may be submitted by mail, email, or phone as detailed in the official announcement: "Comments can be submitted by mail to North Dakota Health and Human Services – Developmental Disabilities Section, Attn: Heidi Zander, 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 1A, Bismarck, N.D., 58501, by email to hzander@nd.gov, or by phone at (701) 328-8945, 711 (TTY)."
After reviewing public feedback, HHS plans to submit the waiver amendment application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). If approved within standard CMS timelines, the changes are expected take effect January 1, 2026.
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