CLASS Program Services

A person enrolled in the CLASS Program

A person seeking services in the CLASS Program.

CLASS services are available to Texas residents not living in an institutional setting who:

• Have been diagnosed with a related condition prior to age 22 as described in the Texas Approved Diagnostic Codes for Persons with Related
• Have a qualifying adaptive behavior
• Meet the level-of-care criteria for placement in an ICF/IID.
• Do not exceed specified income and resource
• Are not enrolled in any other Medicaid waiver
• Demonstrate need for one or more services

The diagnosis may be due to a condition such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, epilepsy, head injuries or any of the approved diagnoses for related conditions.

Individuals must also exhibit substantial functional limitation in at least three of the following areas of major life activities:

• Learning
• Mobility
• Self-care
• Language
• Self-direction (age 10 and over)
• Independent living (age 10 and over)

Individuals must be eligible for or be receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. Financial eligibility is determined by the Social Security Administration or by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) using SSI-related criteria. Note: CLASS services may not be available right away. The applicant’s name may be placed on an interest list and then contacted when services become available.

Through CDS, individuals who live in their own home or family home can self-direct certain services and will assume and retain responsibility to:

1. Recruit their service
2. Conduct criminal history
3. Determine the competency of service
4. Hire, train, manage and fire their service

The following services are available through the CDS option:

• Employment Assistance
• Financial Management Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Nursing Services
• CFC PAS/HAB
• Respite Care (in-home and-out-of-home)
• Support Consultation
• Supported Employment
• Speech and Language Pathology
• Transportation-Habilitation
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy

Individuals who use the CDS option must select a financial management services agency (FSMA) that will provide training, pay the service providers, pay federal and state taxes, and conduct criminal history checks.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission contracts with public and private entities to provide CLASS services. HHSC regularly monitor these providers to ensure quality of services. When enrolling in CLASS, applicants choose a CMA and a DSA in their area. The CMA will meet with the applicant to determine basic program requirements. The DSA will coordinate the assessments required to determine eligibility and a level of care.

The case manager will notify the applicant regarding eligibility for the program. If eligibility criteria are not met, the case manager will send a letter explaining how to appeal this decision. Individuals are able to change providers at any time, even if they move to another area of Texas. Individuals can also choose to hire and train their own service providers under the CDS option.

Those interested in receiving CLASS are placed on an interest list by calling 877- 438-5658 and asking for the CLASS Waiver Program. The person will be contacted when funding becomes available. An offer of the CLASS Program depends on individual need and one’s date of placement on the interest list. Current contact information is required for each person on the CLASS interest list, and HHSC must be notified of any changes to address or telephone number.

Applying for CLASS & CFC services call  877-438-5658. Please be prepared to provide Social Security and Medicaid numbers, type of disability, age of the onset of the disability, date of birth, address and telephone number of the person needing services.