Children's Long-Term Support Program: Waiver Renewal Information and Supports for Providers
Preparing for the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is preparing for implementation of the 2027–2031 Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Program waiver.
The 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver includes changes to CLTS Program benefits, including new benefit categories, services that will end, and updates to benefit descriptions and provider qualifications.
DHS will provide information, resources, and technical assistance to help providers understand how the changes affect the service(s) they are enrolled to deliver and what they need to do to prepare.
What do providers need to do?
The impact of the waiver renewal will vary depending on the benefit providers are currently enrolled to deliver. Providers should first identify which of the following applies:
- My benefit category is changing.
You may need to meet new service requirements, qualifications, or limitations. - My benefit category is continuing with revisions.
You should review the updated requirements to determine whether any changes are needed to your service delivery or business practices. - My benefit category is ending.
You may need to prepare for the end of the current benefit category and work with the county waiver agency (CWA) or support and service coordinator (SSC) and families on transition planning. - I provide a service that fits under a new benefit category.
New benefit categories will be available for provider enrollment beginning mid-December 2026.
DHS will provide benefit-specific guidance and timelines as they become available.
New CLTS Program benefit categories
Three new benefit categories will be available for provider enrollment beginning mid-December 2026.
Adult day services cover adult day care and day habilitation services for participants.
This benefit includes regularly scheduled habilitative activities provided outside the participant’s home in a non-residential setting.
What do providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual regarding the scope of the adult day services benefit, provider requirements, and implementation expectations.
- Day service benefit providers should review this new benefit, as they may be eligible.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the child care and day services webinar on December 2, 2026, at 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
In-home unpaid caregiver training is intended to develop, strengthen, and maintain healthy, stable relationships between the participant and people who have a substantial role in caring for the participant.
The benefit category is for ongoing training focused on the individual’s role in caring for the participant and supporting the participant’s needs.
What do providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual regarding the scope of the in-home unpaid caregiver training benefit category, provider requirements, and implementation expectations.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the in-home unpaid caregiver training-related webinar on October 20, 2026, at 10–11 a.m.
Specialized youth care is available to participants who have aged out of typical child care settings.
The benefit category is intended to provide support in the participant’s home or in a community setting. Services may be provided individually or in a small group with the provider, or in a group setting with other individuals who may or may not have a disability.
Specialized youth care should not be used as a replacement for respite care services.
What do providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual regarding the scope of the specialized youth care services, provider requirements, and implementation expectations.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
CLTS Program benefit categories ending
This benefit category is being removed in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver.
Providers delivering this service may be eligible for the new waiver benefit, specialized youth care.
Providers can anticipate current services to discontinue by June 30, 2027.
What do child care providers need to do?
- Review information about new CLTS Program benefit categories.
- Follow DHS guidance regarding transition timelines and requirements.
- Work with the CWA/SSC as appropriate regarding transition planning for current participants.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the child care and day services webinar on December 2, 2026, at 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
This benefit is being removed in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver.
Providers can anticipate current services to discontinue by June 30, 2027.
What do day service providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Providers should review the new benefit categories, participate in applicable DHS communications, and work with the CWA/SSC as appropriate regarding transition planning for current participants.
- Attend the child care and day services webinar on December 2, 2026, at 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Participant-directed goods and services will be removed from the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver.
Families may continue receiving this service through December 31, 2026.
What do participant-directed goods and services providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027-2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Providers and other parties involved in participant-directed benefit category should review DHS guidance regarding the transition and applicable timelines.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the participant and family directed goods and services webinar on October 14, 2026, from 10–11 a.m.
Benefit categories with significant changes
The following benefit categories will continue under the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver but include changes to benefit categories, limitations, or provider qualifications.
The assistive technology benefit is being revised.
Changes include:
- Assistive technology is being revised to limit the cost-of-service dog purchases to the initial purchase of a service dog and the post-purchase from a qualified provider that is accredited by Assistance Dogs International, and ongoing veterinary costs.
- The benefit description has been updated to reflect that service animals may not perform any restrictive measures such as restraints.
- Provider qualifications have changes that require all service dog trainers must be accredited by Assistance Dogs International.
What do assistive technology providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Providers should review the revised benefit category requirements and provider qualifications before providing services under the new waiver.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
Counseling and therapeutic services will be narrowed to a set of specific therapies:
- Aquatic therapy
- Art therapy
- Dance therapy
- Deaf and hard of hearing education and orientation that fulfill a medical, social, or functional need for the participants who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Equine-assisted therapy or hippotherapy
- Massage therapy
- Music therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Vision education and orientation, and mobility training for participants who are blind or visually impaired
What do counseling and therapeutic services providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Counseling and therapeutic services providers should review the complete list of covered therapies and credentialing requirements to determine whether their current service remains covered under the new waiver.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the counseling and therapeutic services and family/unpaid caregiver supports and services webinar on November 19, 2026, at 1–2 p.m.
This benefit category will be renamed conferences and education for unpaid caregivers.
The updated name reflects the intended scope of the benefit and better aligns with program expectations.
What do family/unpaid caregiver supports and services providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Family/unpaid caregiver supports and services providers delivering services under this benefit should review the new conferences and education for unpaid caregivers benefit to determine whether their services align with the new benefit model.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the counseling and therapeutic services and family/unpaid caregiver supports and services webinar on November 19, 2026, at 1–2 p.m.
Financial management services will be required to collect caregiver Medicaid agreements from participant-hired workers.
Self-directed benefits have been reduced.
What do FMS providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- FMS providers should review updated requirements and prepare for changes to processes related to participant-hired workers.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- Attend the FMS services webinar on November 10, 2026, at 10-11 a.m.
The health and wellness benefit category is being revised to explicitly prohibit coverage of items, equipment, or things that are primarily recreational.
Food, herbs, treatments, and supplements will no longer be covered.
What do health and wellness providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Providers should review the updated benefit language and applicable policy guidance to determine what items and services may be covered under the new waiver and whether alternative coverage or benefit categories apply.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
- DHS will provide additional guidance regarding applicable limitations and any circumstances in which specific items may continue to be allowable.
The scope of personal supports has been redefined under the new waiver.
The benefit now focuses on supporting participants with functional skills, including:
- Life safety
- Medication and health management
- Communication skills
- Mobility
- Appropriate social behaviors
- Problem solving
What do personal supports providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Providers should review the revised benefit category definition and ensure service delivery aligns with the updated scope of personal supports.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
All camps will be covered under the respite benefit.
Respite camp providers must be licensed by the state or accredited by the American Camp Association.
What do respite camps/therapeutic camps providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Providers should review the updated requirements and ensure they meet applicable licensing or accreditation requirements.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
The benefit category description has been revised to clarify that supplies must have a primary purpose of addressing the participant’s disability.
The benefit may also be used to fund adaptive equipment that enables a participant to participate in health and wellness activities.
What do specialized medical and therapeutic supplies providers need to do?
- Providers should review forthcoming information in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver Manual.
- Providers should review the revised benefit category description and ensure requests meet the updated requirements.
- Email DHS CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions.
Other CLTS Program benefit category revisions
The following benefit categories will continue under the 2027–2031 CLTS Program Waiver but include clarifications, revisions, or updated requirements that may affect some providers:
- Adult family home
- Children’s foster care
- Communication assistance for community inclusion
- Community integrated employment
- Daily living skills
- Discovery and career planning
- Empowerment and self determination
- Grief and bereavement counseling
- Home modifications
- Housing support services
- Mentoring
- Participant-directed broker services
- Personal emergency response system
- Relocation services
- Safety planning and prevention
- Support and service coordination
- Transportation
- Vehicle modifications
- Virtual equipment
What should providers delivering services in these benefit categories expect?
Providers delivering services in benefit categories that have seen clarifications and/or revisions should expect:
- Direct communications from the CLTS Program outlining policy changes.
- Periodic touch bases with CLTS Provider Relations to ensure compliance with new waiver requirements.
- Service-specific timelines for program compliance and waiver implementation.
- Providers with questions regarding new service models can email CLTS Provider Relations at dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
What is my role during the transition?
The transition to the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver may require different actions depending on the benefit category providers deliver services under.
Providers are responsible for:
- Reviewing information about changes that affect their services.
- Understanding updated benefit category requirements and provider qualifications.
- Participating in applicable DHS webinars and other training opportunities.
- Completing required provider enrollment or compliance activities.
- Following DHS timelines and implementation requirements.
- Communicating with the CWA/SSC regarding participant support when transition planning is needed.
Webinars
DHS will host a series of webinars to support providers in preparing for changes included in the changes included in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver. Providers will receive email invitations for the webinar sessions most relevant to the services they provide.
To ensure timely receipt of webinar invitations and related communications, providers are encouraged to verify that their email address is current in the CLTS Program provider registry.
Participant and family directed goods and services
In-home unpaid caregiver training
Providers delivering services under family/unpaid caregiver supports and services will be invitedFinancial management services (FMS)
Counseling and therapeutic services
Child care
Day services
Stay informed
To ensure you receive updates regarding the 2027 CLTS Program waiver transition, or other notifications affecting CLTS Program providers, please subscribe to receive updates from DHS on the Medicaid Long-Term Care Email Subscriptions webpage.
For questions relating to service delivery in the 2027–2031 CLTS Program waiver, please email dhscltsproviderrelations@dhs.wisconsin.gov.