The Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Medicaid Waiver Program

Generated from the gc-benefits catalog. It lists what the owner record states. It is not an eligibility decision; confirm current rules with the program.

The NHTD waiver program is a home and community-based program that helps New York´s Medicaid-eligible seniors and people with physical disabilities receive comprehensive services they need while they live in a community-based setting, rather than in a nursing home, congregate care setting, or other institution.

• Owner record: ny/nursing-home-transition-and-diversion-waiver
• Jurisdiction code: NY
• Frame: care_recipient
• Review by: 2026-11-14
• Also called: Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver; NHTD Medicaid Waiver Program

Offering 1: home_and_community_based_services

Program participants receive services based on their unique strengths, needs, choices, and goals. The participants are the primary decision makers. Participants choose the services they receive, the service providers they will work with, and the outcomes they will achieve.

• Availability (owner codes): {"approved_maximum": "14,079 participants for waiver years 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28.", "intake": "closed", "type": "capped"}

Conditions:

• All of these:
• Stated condition, not checked automatically: "New York State residents"
• Stated condition, not checked automatically: "Eligible for community-based Medicaid"
• Stated condition, not checked automatically: "Assessed as needing nursing home level of care"
• Any one of these:
  • All of these:
  • Fact rule: recipient.age ≥ 18
  • Fact rule: recipient.age ≤ 64
  • Stated condition, not checked automatically: "have a verified physical disability"
  • All of these:
  • Fact rule: recipient.age ≥ 65
  • Stated condition, not checked automatically: "when applying to the program"
• Stated condition, not checked automatically: "The individual must also be able to live safely in the community with the services and supports offered through Medicaid, the waiver program and other community resources."

Access route 1.1

• Where: Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC) in the applicant's area
• How: If residing in a nursing home, talk to a discharge planner, who can refer to Open Doors and/or the RRDC; the individual may also contact the RRDC directly. If residing in the community, the individual or a representative reaches out to the RRDC in their area to move forward with the application process.
• Url: https://www.health.state.ny.us/facilities/long_term_care/regional_resource_development_centers.htm

Owner confirmations

• /offerings/0/availability: sha256:f614ae2104551fe6faa6b955e193ce277800c41a77a6bb60aae2e4e76aaa7a9b

Evidence

• /name: "# The Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Medicaid Waiver Program" (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /caregiving_effect: "The NHTD waiver program is a home and community-based program that helps New York´s Medicaid-eligible seniors and people with physical disabilities receive comprehensive services they need while they live in a community-based setting, rather than in a nursing home, congregate care setting, or other institution." (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/summary: "Program participants receive services based on their unique strengths, needs, choices, and goals. The participants are the primary decision makers. Participants choose the services they receive, the service providers they will work with, and the outcomes they will achieve." (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/rules: "##### +The NHTD program is available to New York State residents who meet the following criteria:" (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/rules: "* Eligible for community-based Medicaid, \n* Assessed as needing nursing home level of care, and\n* Either between the ages of 18-64 and have a verified physical disability or are age 65 or older when applying to the program. " (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/rules: "The individual must also be able to live safely in the community with the services and supports offered through Medicaid, the waiver program and other community resources." (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/access/0: "If you are interested in becoming a waiver participant and are currently residing in a nursing home, the first step is to talk to a discharge planner about your intentions. The discharge planner can make a referral to Open Doors and/or the Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC) and help you get started. You may also contact the RRDC directly. If you are currently residing in the community and interested in becoming a waiver participant, then you or a representative will reach out to the RRDC in your area to move forward with the application process." (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/availability: "To comply with federal requirements, New York State amended the waiver to increase the maximum number of participants for waiver years 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 to 9,400 for all three years. This amendment was approved December 23, 2025. On March 31, 2026, to comply with federal regulations, New York State amended the waiver to increase the maximum number of participants. This amendment was accepted on May 15, 2026 and increased the maximum number of participants to 14,079 for the waiver years 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28." (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)
• /offerings/0/availability: "Because we have reached the approved maximum number of participants, we cannot process any additional referrals to the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion waiver at this time. Any referrals received will be closed via letter and will not move forward to intake. The Department of Health will monitor the waiver census on a routine basis and will communicate waiver availability to the Regional Resource Development Centers. The Regional Resource Development Centers will be able to share this information with the public and will process referrals for available spaces on a first-come, first-serve basis." (source, capture faaac0d8a6ca7f0f25445ff670c3433f5eb12e09223f8bea4c75d81ebe00dac4)