Glossary
Every HES term, defined
The acronyms, documents, and roles you'll meet across the program — all in one place.
- AT Assistive Technology
- The OPWDD waiver benefit (limits and definitions set by ADM 2021-04) of which HES is a sub-component.
- ATP Assistive Technology Practitioner
- A RESNA-credentialed clinician who can assess and recommend AT solutions. One of the credentials HES Provider assessment staff can hold.
- CCO Care Coordination Organization
- The organization that employs the Care Manager. Most HES referrals originate with a CCO Care Manager.
- CHOICES OPWDD data system
- OPWDD's data system. The HES Provider uploads HES outcomes data here for the Care Manager.
- DDRFO Developmental Disabilities Regional Field Office
- The OPWDD regional office that reviews RSAs and issues HES authorizations.
- DDSOO Developmental Disabilities State Operations Office
- OPWDD's state-operations office. Not the office that authorizes HES — prior authorization goes through the DDRFO.
- DSP Direct Support Professional
- The frontline workforce that delivers direct care. Remote Supports use off-site DSPs.
- ETIS Assessor certification (expansion not published)
- A certification HES Provider assessment staff can hold. Assessors must hold an ETIS or ATP credential, or be a clinician with at least two years of I/DD experience.
- HACS Health Assessment & Coordination Services
- A sub-service of HES — 24/7 telemedicine and care coordination delivered by I/DD-trained clinicians.
- HCBS Home and Community Based Services
- The Medicaid 1915(c) waiver under which HES is funded.
- HES Home-Enabling Supports
- The Medicaid waiver benefit this site is about — funds assistive tech, remote supports, and HACS for people in non-certified homes.
- ICF Intermediate Care Facility
- A certified institutional setting. Not HES-eligible.
- I/DD Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- The broad population served by OPWDD.
- IRA Individualized Residential Alternative
- A certified residential setting — either Supervised IRA or Supportive IRA. Not HES-eligible unless transitioning out.
- NOD Notice of Decision
- The DDRFO's written approval (or denial) of an RSA or SART.
- OPWDD Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
- The NY state agency that administers services for people with I/DD, including HES.
- PRA Personal Resource Account
- The Self-Direction budget category. For self-directed participants, HES acquisition costs are paid from the PRA — HES does not add new money to the budget.
- RSA Request for Service Authorization
- The form a Care Manager submits to DDRFO to authorize a new HES service.
- SART Service Amendment Request Tool
- The form used to modify an existing authorization.
- SETT Student, Environment, Tasks, Tools
- A common framework for matching assistive technology to a person's context.
Documents & roles
Longer-form terms — the documents, the people, and the agencies that aren't acronyms.
ADM 2021-04
OPWDD Administrative Directive Memorandum 2021-04
The parent Assistive Technology directive. It sets the AT limits and definitions that HES administrative fees offset against.
ADM 2023-06
OPWDD Administrative Directive Memorandum 2023-06
OPWDD's HCBS Waiver enrollment directive. Together with 42 CFR §441.302(c), it is the source of the rule that HES alone does not demonstrate the "reasonable indication of need" for waiver enrollment.
ADM 2024-02
OPWDD Administrative Directive Memorandum 2024-02
The official guidance that defines HES, what it funds, and how it is administered. Everything on this site traces back to this document and its attachments.
Care Manager
Care Manager (sometimes "Care Coordinator")
The CCO staff member who coordinates a person's OPWDD services and is the gateway to HES. There is no family-facing HES referral form — the Care Manager initiates the request.
HES Plan
Home-Enabling Supports Plan
The written plan the HES Provider produces after its assessment (within 30 days of enrollment) — the specific devices, services, and configuration the person will receive.
HES Provider
Designated HES Provider
One of the agencies OPWDD has designated, by region, to actually deliver HES services. Different from the Care Manager (who initiates) and different from vendors (who make the technology).
Life Plan
OPWDD Life Plan
The person-centered planning document that documents goals, supports, and outcomes. HES dollars must align with goals in this plan.
Remote Support Base
Remote Support Base
The off-site location from which Remote Supports staff deliver live, two-way, real-time supervision and coordination.
Missing a term? Tell us. Or head back to the program overview.
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