Nearly one in three Tennesseans lives with a disability. Some of these individuals need assistance with activities of daily living, others may need help with transportation and still others may need support for housing or employment. These types of support allow Tennesseans with disabilities to live in their communities, to be included in our society and to lead lives of their choice.
To provide this help, the state of Tennessee offers Long-Term Supports and Services (LTSS) programs. Tennessee’s LTSS offerings are part of several Medicaid waivers that provide Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for Tennesseans with disabilities.
These waivers represent a partnership between the state of Tennessee and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). CMS matches state funding for programs that provide HCBS for people with disabilities, and the agency sets some general guidelines about how states should provide HCBS. Ultimately, however, each state has a great deal of flexibility in designing the programs, determining who is eligible, deciding what services will be available, and how they should be delivered.
Download Document (PDF)