Since 2024, PCG has collaborated with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to develop a new Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that will expand access to supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). On July 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Kansas’ new Community Support Waiver, with services scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026, approving enrollment for 500 participants for the first year.

Supporting Better Outcomes for Kansans

Kansas’ new Community Support Waiver offers a more flexible service option for individuals ages 5 and older with I/DD who do not require 24-hour support but would benefit from targeted services that promote independence, employment, and community participation. Services include employment supports, personal care, respite care, therapies, assistive technology, transportation, caregiver training, and more.

PCG worked alongside KDADS, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and a broad coalition of stakeholders to design the waiver from the ground up. The effort included defining services, establishing provider qualifications, facilitating stakeholder engagement, developing communication materials, and preparing the federal waiver application.

For many individuals and families, the waiver represents a new pathway to services without having to wait for access to comprehensive supports.

“Rather than having to wait years and years to enroll in the existing program, individuals whose needs are appropriate for this waiver will have access to supports sooner,” said Katie Alijewicz, Senior Consultant at PCG. “There is definitely a desire to have this as an option.”

PCG also facilitated extensive stakeholder engagement efforts, developed educational resources, and built communication tools to help individuals, families, providers, and advocates understand how the new waiver would work.

Alijewicz noted that stakeholder engagement was a critical component of the project’s success. “By the time the waiver was approved, the community knew what was in it, understood the why behind it, and felt like they were part of the process,” she said.

One of the project’s most notable achievements was the speed of federal approval. After submission to CMS, the waiver was approved in approximately three months, significantly faster than the six-month review timeline state officials were advised to expect. The accelerated approval highlights the strength of the waiver design process and the collaborative approach taken throughout the project.

In a statement announcing the waiver, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly called CMS approval of the waiver “a monumental step” that will help ensure Kansans with I/DD can access the care they need while living fuller, more independent lives.

“PCG was an invaluable partner in helping Kansas design and secure approval for our new Community Support Waiver. Their team combined deep CMS waiver expertise with practical operational insight, supporting us through stakeholder engagement, business process review, waiver development, and submission,” said Michele Heydon, LTSS Commissioner for KDADS.  “PCG’s guidance helped us move efficiently through the CMS review process with approval in only three months and minimal requests for additional information. Their support helped Kansas develop a waiver that reflects stakeholder priorities and is positioned for successful implementation.”

The Community Support Waiver is more than a milestone for Kansas—it demonstrates what is possible when states combine a clear vision with meaningful stakeholder engagement, thoughtful program design, and experienced implementation support. From initial planning through CMS approval, PCG helped guide a collaborative process that delivered results ahead of expectations. As other states explore ways to expand access to home and community-based services, Kansas offers a blueprint for developing innovative, person-centered waivers that can successfully navigate the federal approval process and deliver meaningful outcomes for the people they serve.

Learn More:

• Kansas Community Support Waiver
• Governor Kelly Announces CMS Approval of Kansas’ Community Supports Waiver Effective October 1, 2026
• Fundamentals of the 1915(c)(11) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Authority
• PCG’s Human Services Solutions