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NHTD Waiver Program

Headway of WNY, Inc. is contracted with the NYS Department of Health to administer and develop the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver (NHTD).

Once you have filled out the NHTD referral form, please fax it to Headway of WNY, Inc. at 716-817-2530.

Or scan and email the form. Email all NHTD referrals to NHTDwaiver@headwayofwny.org 

The Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Waiver is one of the options available to New Yorkers with disabilities and seniors so they may receive services in the most appropriate, least restrictive setting. The summary below provides a general overview of the NHTD waiver. This waiver may help people leave a nursing home (Transition) or remain in the community (Diversion).

Philosophy

The NHTD Medicaid waiver was developed based on the philosophy that individuals with disabilities and/or seniors have the same rights as others to:

  • Be in control of their lives.
  • Encounter and manage risks and learn from their experiences.

Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver

Services to enable you to stay at home or return home if currently living in a nursing home facility that cannot be acquired by another means.

Eligibility:

  1. Be authorized to receive Medicaid Community Based Long Term Care in NY State
  2. Need at least one waiver service to stay at home or return home from the Nursing Home
  3. Be able to live safely with the help of the waiver and available community resources
  4. Be 18 years old or older

Available NHTD Waiver Services Buffalo Region

All Services are paid for by Medicaid if Waiver is authorized.

Service Coordination

  • A manager of your services.
  • Personal care aides that help you live in your home by helping with personal care and reminders. This service has additional eligibility requirements.
  • A goal-oriented trainer who helps you develop skills to be more independent.  ILST is not intended to be a long-term support.
  • Changes in your home to help you be more independent such as installing ramps or modifying bathrooms.
  • Equipment to help a person live at home and be more independent such as special cooking equipment.
  • A counselor to help you deal with the problems that brought you to the program.
  • Support from someone who is also dealing with problems that make it difficult to live independently.
  • A monthly visit by a nurse to help you stay well.
  • Home delivered meals, currently Erie County Only.
  • A therapist who works with you to change things that you do that cause you and others problems.
  • Funds to help you set up a home with essentials after being in a Nursing Home and before entry to NHTD waiver.
  • Workers who help take care of you if family or caregivers must leave for short periods of time.
  • Home and Community Support Services
  • Independent Living Skills Training
  • Environmental Modifications
  • Assistive Technology
  • Community Integration Counseling
  • Peer Mentoring
  • Wellness Counseling
  • Congregate and Home Delivered Meals
  • Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
  • Community Transition Services
  • Respite Services

NHTD Waiver Application Process

  1. The NHTD Referral Form must go to the regional office at Headway of WNY (NHTD Fax number: 716-817-2530). Headway of Western New York conducts a personal interview that helps determine appropriateness and eligibility of participant for waiver services.
  2. The potential participant signs the Freedom of Choice form, Application for Participation and Potential Participant Interview Applicant Acknowledgement Form.
  3. The potential participant is given both the provider list and the service coordinator list. The participant may indicate at this point a choice of Service Coordinator perhaps based on prior experience or move on to the interviewing steps. The participant is asked to not call anyone on the list until step 5 is completed.
  4. The RRDS Office contacts all eligible Service Coordinators regarding their potential interest in providing services by sending them a general description and information regarding geographical area.
  5. The potential participant is contacted by the RRDS with who on the list would like to be interviewed and the participant is given their code # which identifies them to the possible providers.
  6. The participant schedules at their convenience interviews to pick a Service Coordinator.
  7. It is recommended that the participant meet with all of the Service Coordinators and then decide with whom s/he felt would work best. Although this is encouraged, the waiver participant may choose whomever s/he felt most comfortable with at the time. When you interview, please be sure the person you are interviewing, if picked, will be your Service Coordinator.
  8. Once the Service Coordinator has been selected, the RRDS needs to be notified with appropriate forms and by e-mail by the selected Service Coordinator.

The Service Coordinator will guide you through the rest of the process.

Other Service Coordinator responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Being the main contact for the participant.
  • Revising/reviewing the Service Plan on an annual basis
  • Evaluating the services being provided and run a monthly clinical  team meeting with the participant and all the providers.
  • Have a monthly face to face meeting with the participant regarding their waiver services.
  • Reviewing the outcomes of the Service Plan with the participant
  • Maintaining records
  • Ensuring the desirability and appropriateness of community placement

If, for any reason, the participant is concerned about the work of the Service Coordinator, or wishes to change Service Coordinator, s/he may call the RRDS Office 716-408-3120 for assistance.

NHTD Referral

Becoming a Waiver Participant

Contact RRDS and complete referral form link below:

  • Meet with RRDS for Intake
  • Select Service Coordinator
  • Participant is primary in Service Plan development
  • Select Waiver Providers
  • Review of Application Packet by RRDS (including ISP)
  • Receive Notice of Decision
  • Begin Services (as authorized)

NHTD Referral Form

Once you have completed the referral form, please fax it to Headway of WNY, Inc. at 716-817-2530.

If you prefer, scan and email the form to NHTDWaiver@headwayofwny.org 

Headway Virtual Connection - #1

Individuals who have appointments scheduled by phone with Headway/Headway Waiver Programs can access video or auditory conferencing by simply CLICKING HERE.

This connection will allow you to enter a virtual waiting room where you will be called into a virtual meeting with a staff member of Headway. Please be patient during this process.

Please note: If you are using an Apple Device (IPAD, Smart Phone or Apple Computer) you will need to use Safari 11 or greater. If you have Android or a Microsoft computer, your default browser must be Chrome or Firefox in order to make the connection. If your default browser is not set up as one of these, you will need to paste the link https://doxy.me/supportheadway in an acceptable browser (as noted above).

These meetings are to provide communication for TBI/NHTD intake, as well as Headway support groups and other related functions.

If you are having difficulty with this link, please call 716-408-3120, during regular business hours.

Please read the Message from the Director for more information during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Headway Virtual Connection - #2

Individuals who have appointments scheduled by phone with Headway/Headway Waiver Programs can access video or auditory conferencing by simply CLICKING HERE.

This connection will allow you to enter a virtual waiting room where you will be called into a virtual meeting with a staff member of Headway. Please be patient during this process.

Please note: If you are using an Apple Device (IPAD, Smart Phone or Apple Computer) you will need to use Safari 11 or greater. If you have Android or a Microsoft computer, your default browser must be Chrome or Firefox in order to make the connection. If your default browser is not set up as one of these, you will need to paste the link https://doxy.me/headway2 in an acceptable browser (as noted above).

These meetings are to provide communication for TBI/NHTD intake, as well as Headway support groups and other related functions.

If you are having difficulty with this link, please call 716-408-3120, during regular business hours.

Please read the Message from the Director for more information during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Become a NHTD Provider

If your agency does not currently provide NHTD Waiver Services and would like to find out about becoming a provider, please click here to review all the New York State requirements.

Once you have reviewed this information and you are still interested, you may contact Ronald Fernandez, RRDS at 716-408-3120, who will help you with the rest of the process.

RRDC at Headway reviews all submitted forms and Policy and Procedures.

Final review by RRDC at Headway with submission to Department of Health (DOH).

Final determination is made by DOH.