Provider agencies and the organizations that employ direct support professionals.
Agencies · New Jersey
New Jersey DDD will stop taking new Medicaid provider applications after Dec. 31, 2026, and plans two yearly windows starting about September 2027. DDD will now review applicants before Medicaid does and issue a Certificate of Provider Readiness. Approved providers don't need to reapply.
November 10, 2026 · New Application Process for Prospective DDD/Medicaid Providers · 4 min
Agencies · Arizona oversight
AHCCCS cut nine Legend DDD group homes after a DDD quality probe that began in November 2025. A Phoenix family says Mark Johnson died weeks after an August air-conditioning outage at one home.
November 6, 2026 · Family wants answers after disabled man dies following days without AC in group home amid state investigation · 3 min
Agencies · Deep dive
Claratel Behavioral Health has canceled two state-funded DeKalb County, Georgia, homes for adults with IDD after neighborhood opposition. The plan included 24/7 staffing, a $20-an-hour starting wage and about $3.5 million a year in operating money.
October 29, 2026 · Official Public Statement on the Wesley Chapel IDD residential development · 4 min
Agencies · Deep dive
Ohio's freeze on new Medicaid home care and waiver providers, including DD agencies and independent providers, is set to end Nov. 14. ODM says it ends then unless CMS authorizes an extension; none had been announced as of Nov. 2.
November 2, 2026 · Statewide New Provider Moratorium (provider bulletin) · 4 min
Agencies · Deep dive
A CDC study finds 20.5% of U.S. children ages 3 to 17 had a developmental disability diagnosis in 2023-2024, up from 16.7% in 2019-2020. Autism rose 42%, with the fastest growth among children ages 3 to 5.
October 23, 2026 · Trends in Parent-Reported Developmental Disabilities: 2019-2024 · 4 min
Agencies · Oversight
A $9 million suit filed Oct. 20, 2026 says a worker at Oregon's state crisis unit sexually abused a woman with an intellectual disability in 2024. The complaint says a rule requiring two staff with her at all times was not followed.
October 20, 2026 · Woman with disability sexually abused by caregiver at Oregon state facility, $9 million lawsuit alleges · 2 min
Agencies · Oversight
An Omaha father sued Nebraska DHHS on Oct. 19, 2026 after it quoted $976,263.77 and a 2076 finish date for emails about its interRAI review. A narrower request still drew a $474,383.02 estimate and a 2051 date, his court petition says.
October 19, 2026 · Omaha father suing DHHS after records-request estimate of nearly $1M, 2076 deadline · 2 min
Agencies · Oversight
Sonoma County nonprofit Becoming Independent appealed a $6 million verdict over a caregiver's abuse of a client Oct. 2, The Press Democrat reported. Jurors held the I/DD agency 80% responsible, or $4.8 million.
October 17, 2026 · A Healdsburg woman helped her brother win a $6 million sexual abuse judgment. She isn't satisfied · 2 min
Nebraska Disability Alliance urged replacing top DHHS leaders after interRAI cuts, World-Herald reported Oct. 13, 2026. Families say hundreds lost supports; DHHS says most funding levels held or rose.
October 13, 2026 · Nebraska disability advocates call for major change to DHHS over assessment frustrations · 1 min
Agencies · Provider enrollment
MaineCare will pend claims for personal care, home health and hospice providers that miss an Oct. 16, 2026, revalidation deadline. Those still not filed by Nov. 16 lose enrollment Nov. 17. HCBS waiver providers are next, with windows opening from Nov. 16 under Maine's federally required two-year plan.
October 13, 2026 · Federally Required MaineCare Off-Cycle Provider Revalidation Plan: October 2026 Update · 2 min
Agencies · Provider enrollment
Nebraska Medicaid stopped enrolling new HCBS waiver agency providers, and new sites for current agencies, for six months starting Oct. 1, 2026. Provider Bulletin 26-17 covers the Comprehensive DD, DD Adult Day, Family Support, Aged and Disabled, and TBI waivers; agencies already enrolled keep serving people.
October 1, 2026 · Notice of Temporary Medicaid Provider Enrollment Moratorium for HCBS 1915 (C) Waiver Agency Providers · 2 min
Agencies · North Carolina
Vaya Health and Partners Health Management merged Oct. 1, 2026, into Vaya Partners, an LME/MCO serving over 225,000 members in 47 NC counties. NC Medicaid says benefits and providers stay the same, while providers move to one claims system, new payer IDs and a single network rate schedule.
October 1, 2026 · Vaya Health, Partners Health Management Merge to Form Vaya Partners · 3 min
Agencies · Maine
MaineCare sent no provider payment on Oct. 7 as it moves to an upgraded claims system, and the first payment from the new system is set for Oct. 15. Weekly payments resume Oct. 21, a new provider portal with multi-factor sign-in opens Oct. 12, and the state wants Lifespan waiver provider interest by Oct. 16.
October 8, 2026 · Attention Trading Partners: MIHMS Upgrade October Payment Cycle Changes and System Access Limitations · 2 min
Agencies · Colorado
Colorado Medicaid is terminating home care agency FreedomCare, paid nearly $22 million in 2026, after a survey found nine immediate jeopardy problems. A court order lets the company keep serving its 700-plus current clients until an Oct. 29-30 administrative hearing.
October 7, 2026 · Colorado Medicaid spending on a single in-home care company jumped $21M in one year · 4 min
Agencies · Licensing
Pennsylvania revoked Resources for Human Development's license to run I/DD homes in the Southeast on Sept. 22, after a resident died in February. RHD, which has 91 homes serving 136 people there, can appeal and keep operating in the meantime.
October 2, 2026 · Pa. revokes license of Resources for Human Development after death of medically neglected Philadelphia resident · 2 min
Agencies · Program integrity
All 48 states answering KFF's 2026 question on home care fraud controls cross-check Medicaid claims against EVV data and go beyond federal rules. Twelve states already use AI tools to flag possible fraud, and eight more plan to.
October 5, 2026 · States' Use of Program Integrity Tools in Medicaid Home Care · 2 min
Agencies · Group home oversight
New Jersey advocates set an Oct. 5 State House rally for A2705, which would require some DD group homes to add common-area cameras on request. All residents and their representatives would have to consent; video only, no audio, with recordings kept 90 days.
October 3, 2026 · NJ group home camera bill draws renewed push ahead of State House rally · 1 min
Agencies · Data
CDC's proposed 2028 National Health Interview Survey redesign would keep Washington Group functional measures while dropping many detailed questions. Public comments on Docket CDC-2026-1387 close Oct. 19, 2026.
October 2, 2026 · Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations (NHIS) · 1 min
Agencies · Disaster assistance
GAO found FEMA approved disaster-aid applications from people with disabilities 4 percentage points less often than others from 2022–2025. FEMA concurred with three fixes, including restoring partner disability training halted in 2025.
October 2, 2026 · Disaster Assistance: FEMA Actions Needed to Better Support Individuals Who Are Older or Have Disabilities (GAO-26-108057) · 1 min
Agencies · Provider oversight
Arizona is investigating Legend DDD Services after AHCCCS terminated licenses for several nursing-supported group homes in September 2026. Nurses told FOX 10 they went unpaid after homes closed; DES says DDD paid authorized claims.
October 1, 2026 · Group home nurses go unpaid for weeks amid state investigation of AZ provider · 1 min
Agencies · Provider screening
NC Medicaid ended scheduled appointment times for moderate- and high-risk provider site visits on Oct. 1, 2026. Contractors will give a window, not a clock time; blocking access can mean suspension or termination.
October 1, 2026 · Unannounced Site Visits Effective October 1, 2026 · 1 min
Agencies · Provider oversight
Georgia AG Chris Carr on Sept. 29, 2026, announced a Savannah group-home manager’s indictment on three neglect counts. DBHDD referred Latisha Blake-Ulmer’s case to the Medicaid Fraud division.
September 29, 2026 · Carr Indicts Caregiver for Neglect of Disabled Adults in Savannah Group Home · 1 min
Agencies · Financial access
ACL awarded Northwestern University $3 million over three years to expand ABLE account enrollment and financial literacy. Project ReachABLE, announced Sept. 29, 2026, partners with TransCen and a majority-disabled advisory group.
September 29, 2026 · ACL Announces $3 Million to Expand ABLE Accounts Enrollment and Financial Literacy · 1 min
Agencies · Program integrity
Medicaid Fraud Control Units recovered $1.97 billion in FY 2025 with 15,810 open cases, KFF reported September 28, 2026. HHS-OIG is intensifying recertification reviews: New York and Hawaii lost federal funding after June denials, and 11 other states were conditionally recertified as of September 17.
September 28, 2026 · Understanding the Role of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) · 2 min
Agencies · Oversight
Maine DHHS denied licenses for two I/DD residential providers and will end their MaineCare billing as of Oct. 13, 2026. Quality Care Access and We Care Residential were cited for neglect and safety failures affecting about 35 residents.
September 25, 2026 · State denies 2 home care providers' licenses, ends MaineCare funding over allegations of neglect · 2 min
Agencies · Oversight
New Jersey will require Medicaid personal care and home health providers to verify at least 80% of EVV visits electronically starting Jan. 1, 2027. A readiness period runs Oct. 1–Dec. 31, 2026; noncompliance can cost referrals or contracts.
September 24, 2026 · New Jersey Strengthens Oversight of Medicaid Home Care Services to Protect Program Integrity · 1 min
Agencies · Federal
HHS awarded $51 million to 28 health centers on Sept. 23, 2026, to improve dental care for children with autism, Down syndrome and other conditions. Each center can receive up to $2 million from HRSA's one-time QIF-DNDD fund to test and expand approaches that work.
September 23, 2026 · HHS Invests $51 Million to Expand Dental Care for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders · 1 min
Agencies · Disability finances
Three foundations announced Artichoke Credit Union for people with disabilities on Sept. 15, 2026, with sign-ups expected in spring 2027. It will run as part of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, with a $5 membership share and federally insured deposits up to $250,000.
September 15, 2026 · Ford, MacArthur, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundations Announce First-of-Its-Kind Credit Union for People with Disabilities · 1 min
Agencies · Minnesota
A rushed Minnesota revalidation removed about two-thirds of 5,500 high-risk Medicaid providers on May 31, 2026, leaving disability services in limbo.
July 29, 2026 · Care Left In Limbo Amid Medicaid Fraud Crackdown · 1 min
Agencies · Federal
CMS chief Mehmet Oz asked every state on April 23, 2026, for a two-year provider revalidation plan within 30 days, high-risk providers first.
April 23, 2026 · CMS asks states to submit Medicaid provider revalidation strategies, increase oversight · 2 min
Agencies · Research
KFF warned Feb. 24, 2026, that CMS's new provider spending dataset could mislead people about home care fraud, which EVV already helps check.
February 24, 2026 · Understanding Medicaid Home Care Amid CMS Focus on Potential Fraud and Abuse · 2 min
Agencies · Washington
Some disability groups cut back in late October 2025, nearly four weeks into the federal shutdown, as SSI and Medicaid home care money kept flowing.
October 28, 2025 · Government Shutdown Has Disability Providers 'Running On Fumes' · 1 min
Agencies · Agencies
Texana Center, a major Houston-area I/DD provider, said in June 2025 it would close all 14 of its group homes, displacing about 50 people.
June 16, 2025 · Houston-area group homes for people with disabilities shutter as industry faces ‘crisis’ · 1 min
Agencies · Agencies
Administration for Community Living programs would move into other HHS agencies under a 10,000-job restructuring announced March 27, 2025.
March 27, 2025 · HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again · 1 min
Agencies · Agencies
The White House budget office rescinded its order pausing federal grants and loans on Jan. 29, 2025, after Medicaid confusion and portal outages.
January 29, 2025 · Trump Effort To Freeze Federal Funding Sows Confusion For Medicaid, Disability Programs · 1 min
Agencies · Agencies
ANCOR warned in November 2023 that the proposed overtime rule could cost disability providers $1.05 billion in its first year, citing Avalere. The rule would raise the salary threshold to about $55,000.
November 13, 2023 · Cost Impact Assessment of DOL Proposed Salary · 1 min