HCBS IDD Waiver Program
Functional Assessment
After being determined eligible under the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act, you will be contacted by the HMCDDO Functional Assessment Coordinator to participate in the Functional Assessment process.
Functional Assessment Process
After you have been determined eligible — meaning you meet the criteria as set forth in the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act (DDRA) in the Eligibility Phase — you will be contacted by the HMCDDO Functional Assessment Coordinator to participate in the Functional Assessment process.
The assessment is used to determine your functional eligibility for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Intellectual/Developmentally Disabled (IDD) Waiver Program.
During the meeting, the Assessment Coordinator will ask you a series of questions related to demographic information, ability to perform a variety of daily living skills, medical conditions, any challenging behaviors, and so on.
The assessment will then be entered into the State's electronic system to be scored, and the resulting tier score will be mailed to you via a "Notice of Action."
Initial & Annual Notification Webform Packets
Initial & Annual Notification Paper Packets
Medicaid Functional Eligibility Instrument (MFEI)
Effective July 1, 2025Kansas implemented the Medicaid Functional Eligibility Instrument (MFEI) as part of a broader effort to modernize how supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are assessed and provided.
The IDD Modernization Committee strongly recommended transitioning away from the BASIS assessment, which has long been criticized for being deficit-based and failing to provide a complete picture of an individual's strengths and support needs.
The shift to the MFEI, built on the interRAI framework, ensures that functional eligibility determinations are more accurate, standardized, and person-centered. In addition, Kansas is currently conducting a rate study to inform future rates and funding models.
The MFEI is replacing BASIS to ensure a more standardized, accurate, and person-centered approach to assessing Level of Care (LOC) eligibility for IDD waiver services. LOC evaluations determine whether a person is eligible for the IDD waiver — it is a yes/no determination based on the person's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), behavioral needs, and other support requirements.
MFEI vs. BASIS: Key Differences
Functional Assessment Appeal Information
Local Review of Findings
Every effort is made to capture accurate, complete information at the time of the assessment. All supporting documentation is required at the time of the assessment. Anything concerning previous assessments is strictly historical and no longer relevant to the current year.
If there is concern that information in the assessment scoring is inaccurate, you may request a review of the assessment by contacting the CDDO Director, in writing, within 14 days of receiving notification of the MR4.
If an individual is found to be functionally ineligible via the MFEI assessment, the BASIS will be administered to provide further insight into functional eligibility.
Tier Zero Finding
If the result of the BASIS assessment is a tier change between 1 and 5, the individual continues to be eligible for HCBS IDD waiver services and has no appeal rights.
A request for a state fair hearing must be made in writing and signed within 30 days of receipt of the Notice of Action (NOA) of the Tier 0 finding.
1020 South Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612