The goal of the Children’s System Redesign is to implement a system of care that has an improved array of Medicaid benefits for children with developmental disabilities. The new benefits are based on the individual needs of the child and include interventions, supports and collaboration services. 

The new system emphasizes evidence-based treatment methods, community integration, and family empowerment. The Children’s Redesign Rules were approved by the Idaho Legislature in early February 2011. The transition to the new benefits will be a gradual process.

Beginning July 1, 2011, children will be phased into the new system according to their birth dates.

Families will have the choice to use their budgets to access Medicaid services through two options:

Traditional Model - Families who want to access services through the traditional model will continue to receive services from DD agencies who are paid for providing defined Medicaid benefits.

Family-Directed Services Model - Families who want to access services through the new family-directed services model will have the ability to purchase services and supports defined by the family from persons and businesses of their choice. Visit our Family-Directed Services page for more information.

Children’s Redesign Transition: This notice is to inform providers and families who have not yet transitioned to the children’s redesign services that they are at high risk of experiencing a gap in services for their child if they do not contact the Department immediately.

The final rules to discontinue children’s developmental therapy, intensive behavioral intervention (IBI), and developmental disabilities service coordination have been approved by the 2013 Idaho Legislature and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This means these services for children will end on June 30, 2013.

There are still over 2,000 families who have not transitioned, as well as provider agencies that have not started delivering the new services. It is important to take the steps now to begin the new program or services will no longer be available to you on July 1, 2013. 

Families Need to Know:

• Families must contact their local Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Family and Community Services (FACS) office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. See Regional Contacts on this website for contact information.
  
  
• Families with a scheduled appointment will be the first priority. 
  
  
• The eligibility and planning process takes up to 90 days, but may take longer given the volume of children enrolling at once.