CMS Approves the Renewal of the AAW, Effective July 1, 2026

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced that the renewal of the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) was approved by CMS on June 11, 2026. The renewed AAW is effective July 1, 2026. There were several additional changes made to the proposed waiver application. Some of the changes that were made after the renewal was submitted to CMS are listed below:

• The Speech/Language Therapy component was re-added to the Therapies service definition and all relevant sections of the waiver application. No services can be removed from any waivers until Pennsylvania has a letter from CMS that closes out American Rescue Plan Act spending.
• Information related to billing for the American Sign Language–English Interpreter service was added to the service definition.
• Information was updated in Appendix C-5 to reflect AAW specific information outlined in Pennsylvania’s Home and Community-Based Services Statewide Transition Plan.
• Appendix I-1 was updated to include a list of AAW services subject to Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) and the policies related to any edits and exceptions to EVV.
• Appendix I-2-a was updated to include information describing ODP’s rate review and setting process.

The full AAW waiver application, as well as a record of all substantive changes, are available online on the Department of Human Services (DHS) website.

ODP will hold a webinar to provide a general overview of the major changes made in the approved AAW renewal on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 10:00 am. Interested parties may register here. There will be time during the session for the presenters to answer questions submitted by participants during the webinar.

Please see announcement ODPANN 26-064 for more information.