The Program
Frequently asked questions
Questions are grouped by stakeholder — jump to your group below, and follow the link in each section for the full guide.
Families & guardians
Read the full guide →- Do I need a special form?
- No — there is no family-facing referral form. Raising HES with your Care Manager is the first step; the Care Manager submits the request to OPWDD. See the full process.
- Can HES buy an iPad, a phone, or internet service?
- Cell phones and internet service are excluded entirely, along with unmodified household appliances, one-way cameras, and therapy animals. Laptops and tablets can be provided only as a managed lease through the HES provider — never purchased outright.
- Does living with us count as a non-certified home?
- Yes — a family home that isn't an OPWDD-certified residence is an eligible setting.
- What if my loved one lives in a group home?
- OPWDD-certified homes (group homes / IRAs, Family Care, ICFs) aren't HES-eligible — HES becomes available once your loved one is living outside the certified setting. If a move is in the plan, the Care Manager, the provider, and an HES vendor can prepare the referral ahead of time so it is ready once the move is complete. Technology can also help make the move itself smoother outside of HES — ask the provider or a vendor. More on setting eligibility.
Care managers
Read the full guide →- RSA or SART?
- In practice, a Request for Service Authorization (RSA) opens a new HES authorization and a Service Amendment Request Tool (SART) amends an existing one. ADM 2024-02 names both forms without a firm when-to-use rule, so confirm the right form with your DDRFO.
- Can the person change HES providers?
- The ADM doesn't spell out a provider-change procedure. In practice it runs through a service amendment with your DDRFO. Confirm the required form — and whether the new provider re-assesses — before promising a timeline.
- Can a person have HES alongside other waiver services?
- Yes — and HES alone is not enough. It does not satisfy the "reasonable indication of need" requirement for ongoing waiver enrollment. The person must also receive at least one monthly HCBS waiver service or monthly health-and-safety monitoring — care management counts (42 CFR §441.302(c); ADM 2023-06).
Self-direction brokers
Read the full guide →- Can a self-directed participant use HES?
- Yes — but it isn't extra money. The acquisition cost, up to the $5,000-per-calendar-year cap, is drawn from the person's PRA. What HES adds is the managed service around it: assessment, setup, a 3-month training window, and ongoing troubleshooting.
- Do the HES provider's fees come out of the PRA too?
- The provider's administrative fees ($189 assessment, $315 setup, $63/month troubleshooting or subscription management) sit outside the $5,000 acquisition cap. They are offset against OPWDD's broader annual AT threshold (ADM 2021-04). The ADM ties only the acquisition cost to the PRA. Funding details.
Self-advocates
Read the full guide →- Who decides if I can get HES?
- OPWDD does, after your Care Manager submits a request.
- What if I live in a group home (an IRA)?
- You can use HES once you have moved out of the group home. Talk to your Care Manager early — they, your provider, and an HES vendor can plan ahead so it is ready when you move. Some technology can also help make the move itself easier before HES starts — ask your provider or a vendor. Read more about which homes count.
- Can I say no to something I do not want?
- Yes. Anything that touches your privacy — a camera, a microphone, GPS — needs your written consent first. You can take that consent back at any time.
Provider agencies
Read the full guide →- Can we refer directly?
- No — referrals go through the Care Manager, who submits the request to OPWDD. But you can prompt the conversation, and you should.
- Does HES replace day program supports?
- No. HES is aimed at safety and independence in the home — less reliance on paid staff for supervision and assistance — not a substitute for day services.
HES agencies
Read the full guide →- Is this an official OPWDD resource?
- No. This is an independent, plain-language guide. It doesn't replace OPWDD's guidance (ADM 2024-02) or your own procedures — use it as a reference, and confirm anything load-bearing with OPWDD.
- How can our staff use it?
- As a shared reference: plain-language explanations of eligibility, funding, and the three service categories for onboarding and family conversations, plus a neutral vendor directory for seeing what technology is available and what it does.
- What will the HES Assessment tool do?
- It will help structure the technology-fit conversation — matching a person's goals and living situation to candidate technology options. It runs in the browser with nothing to install, and it's coming soon.
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