ELIGIBILITY & INTAKE

The CDS is the sole entity in the six-county Heart of Texas Behavioral Health (formerly HOTRMHMR) region to determine that someone is eligible for the various services overseen by the Health and Human Services Commission to people with IDD, Autism, and Related Conditions.  The Determination of Intellectual Disability, or DID, is governed by the DID Best Practices Guidelines, published by the Department of Aging and Disability Services on April 1, 2016.  The Best Practices Guidelines are available at:

https://hhs.texas.gov/doing-business-hhs/provider-portals/long-term-care-providers/local-intellectual-developmental-disability-authority-lidda/did-best-practice-guidelines

The eligibility process takes time, but you can do several things to speed up the process when you seek eligibility.  Your first call to the Intake Social Worker will result in understanding the intake process, specifically focusing on the types of reports that may be requested to help facilitate the process and set up an initial appointment.  At the first appointment with the Intake Social Worker, the eligibility process is again reviewed, state-required documentation is completed, and consent to gather information not provided is signed.  Since the process involves gathering information, including school and medical records, previous psychological testing, and social and familial history, providing as much documentation and information as possible at the initial appointment will speed up the DID process.  Keeping your appointments and communicating regularly with the intake SW before the appointment is also critical.

After receiving the requested documentation, the diagnostician reviews it to get an initial impression of eligibility status.  If the determination is that the individual is likely to be eligible, testing will be scheduled.  On the day of testing, the individual/family is expected to block as much as 4 hours for the entire process because several different tasks are accomplished.

1. The individual/family will meet with a benefits eligibility specialist who conducts a state-mandated Financial Assessment to determine the presence of a Maximum Monthly Fee for services and determines that the individual may be eligible for additional benefits, such as social security and Medicaid.  The eligibility specialist can help you get these benefits once you are in services.
2. The individual meets with the intake social worker and the diagnostician to discuss social and medical history and to complete an assessment for deficits in adaptive skills.
3. The individual meets with the diagnostician for Intelligence Testing.

All testing and other information collected is included in a report titled The Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID).  The determination is yes or no, eligible or not eligible.  Most people who go through intake are determined eligible for services.  If not, there is a process for the appeal of the results.

FOUR WAYS TO BE ELIGIBLE

There are four ways that an individual can be determined eligible for IDD services.  These are important because how a person is determined eligible may also decide the services the individual will qualify for.

1. An IQ of 69 or below:  Eligible for the full range of IDD Services and Supports
2. An IQ of 69 or below with a Related Condition:  Eligible for the full range of IDD Services and Supports
3. An IQ of 70 to 75, with a Related Condition and deficits in adaptive skills: Eligible for the full range of IDD Services and Supports in General Revenue Services*, and eligible for ICF services, but not currently eligible for IDD waiver services like HCS, TxHmL or DBMD.
4. A diagnosis of Autism with an IQ above 75:  Eligible for the full range of IDD Services and Supports in General Revenue Services but not currently eligible for IDD waiver services like HCS, TxHmL, or DBMD.

After the determination is made and the report is written, a copy of the report is given to the individual, and the results are discussed.  When people are determined eligible, and if they are seeking actual services from CDS, they will be referred to the Service Coordination Unit.

The Eligibility and Intake Unit can be reached by calling 254-757-3933 and expressing your desire to speak with someone in this unit.

‍