Katie Beckett Waiver Information

What is the Katie Beckett Waiver?

The Katie Beckett Program in Tennessee offers vital support for families of children under 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs who are not eligible for Medicaid due to parent income or assets. It provides services and financial assistance to help cover medical care that private insurance doesn't fully address, which allows children to receive necessary care at home or in the community.

Please note: This page has been created by licensed SLPs to serve as a general guide, but please reach out to your regional Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) (regions linked here) for more specific information!

The Katie Beckett Waiver has 3 parts for eligibility.

Part A provides full Medicaid plus up to $15,000 annually for children with significant medical needs. Part B offers up to a $10,000 yearly stipend for out-of-pocket costs for children with less intensive needs who aren’t eligible for Medicaid. Part C temporarily extends Medicaid for children losing coverage due to increased family income while waiting for a Part A slot.

Table information was gathered from the TennCare webpage and TennCare's Katie Beckett Brochure.

What services can Part A and B funding be used for?

Many of the services listed below are typically covered by Medicaid for children in Part A, so they do not come out of the $15,000 stipend. However, children in Part B (who do not receive Medicaid) can use their $10,000 annual stipend to help pay for out-of-pocket costs after insurance, such as:

Doctor and hospital visits
In-home nursing services
Medical equipment and supplies
Diagnostic assessments, which may include autism evaluations (see: resources for autism-related services in TN)
Speech, occupational, and physical therapy

Children in both Part A and B can use their program funds to help cover Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), including:

In-home and family support (respite care, caregiver training, peer/family support)
Home and vehicle accessibility modifications
Transportation assistance (non-medical/community use)
Assistive technology and equipment
Community participation support
Decision-making and planning support

What if I qualify for Medicaid?

The Katie Beckett waiver is only for families that do not qualify for Medicaid. However, for families that do qualify for Medicaid, it may be helpful to explore the Employment & Community First Choices (ECF) program, which serves people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

You can read more about this here: TennCare Employment & Community First (ECF) CHOICES Compared to Katie Beckett.

Note that Braxy only accepts the Katie Beckett Waiver at this time.

How can we apply for the Katie Beckett waiver?

1. Begin by creating a TennCare Connect account online at: https://tenncareconnect.tn.gov/

Fill in the required information to complete the application and self-referral process. It is important to be aware that all applications for Katie Beckett include applying for Medicaid, even if families are not eligible for Medicaid.

2. Completing an application on the TennCare website is the the fastest way to apply. However, if you need help applying, contact your regional DDA office for support:

West Tennessee Regional Office: (866) 372-5709
Middle Tennessee Regional Office: (800) 654-4839
East Tennessee Regional Office: (888) 531-9876

3. After completing an application, you will be contacted by a Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) case manager for an assessment. They will require medical documentation and/or proof of intellectual disability at this time.