Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
Search Saved

Missouri program

Coverage without parents’ income for developmental disability (MOCDD)

A Missouri waiver for children under 18 with a qualifying developmental disability who live with family.

What it is

A Missouri waiver for children under 18 with a qualifying developmental disability who live with family.

MOCDD opens MO HealthNet and home services without counting parents' income, but only for a child with a developmental disability at a set level of care. Leukemia on its own does not meet that test.

Eligibility rules
  • Your child must be under 18, live in Missouri with parents or family, and meet the intellectual-disability level-of-care test.
  • From January 1, 2026, the child-income limit is $1,737 a month. Parents’ income and resources are left out; FSD checks the child’s own finances.
  • The child must not already qualify for MO HealthNet without a spend-down.
  • The published individual non-MAGI resource standard is $6,220.50 from July 1, 2026. FSD confirms the applicable category, resource ownership and exclusions.
What you get
  • MO HealthNet coverage with parents’ income left out.
  • Home and community services approved for your child’s assessed needs.
What the help includes
  • The Department of Mental Health decides which home and community services the assessment supports.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask the Department of Mental Health about the MOCDD Waiver Screening Request.
  2. If you choose screening, send the request to MOCDDS@dmh.mo.gov with the information DMH requests.

Department of Mental Health: MOCDDS@dmh.mo.gov · Official page ↗

After you apply
  • DMH checks care needs and whether a funded place is available. Its 416-person planned capacity is not a current vacancy count. DMH confirms the screening timetable and likely wait.
Good to know

This is not a general cancer waiver. The approved waiver plans for 416 participants, so a qualifying assessment does not guarantee an immediate opening.

Other details
  • FSD confirms any participant contribution and how the child’s resources count. Other developmental-disability waivers have separate rules. Partnership for Hope also depends on the county; DMH confirms local availability.

Federal background: Home and community-based waivers have distinct age, disability, care-level and financial rules. MOCDD is one Missouri option; ordinary MO HealthNet nursing does not require it.

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Would our child’s developmental and daily care needs meet this waiver’s test? What are the benefits, drawbacks and wait, and could you help request screening if it fits?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand whether this waiver applies before spending time on a route with a different care test.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Send the screening request only if a developmental disability is in the picture.

Your social worker

The oncology social worker can tell you in one conversation whether this is worth starting.

The care team

A developmental assessment would be needed, which is separate from oncology.

Who decides
The Department of Mental Health decides the level of care and authorises services
Ask your social worker
“Is the MOCDD waiver realistic for us, or is spend-down the route for a child with leukaemia?”

How to apply

First step: Ask the oncology social worker whether a developmental assessment is in the picture at all before you start this.

  1. Only pursue this if your child has a developmental disability as well as the cancer.
  2. If you are not sure, ask the Department of Mental Health to screen, and keep the spend-down application running at the same time.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Start with the MOCDD Waiver Screening Request, emailed to MOCDDS@dmh.mo.gov.

What to gather

The diagnosis letter, the child’s insurance card, and the last two pay stubs cover most applications. The official page lists the rest.

How long: The Department of Mental Health confirms its current screening process, timing and availability of a funded place.

What a yes looks like

A level-of-care decision from the Department of Mental Health and a services plan.

What a no looks like, and the next move

A letter saying the level of care is not met. That is the usual answer for leukaemia alone; go back to spend-down.

Watch out

  • Ignoring parents' income does not mean any seriously ill child gets in.
  • One of Missouri's waivers runs only in certain counties, and the list could not be read.

Dates that change this

2026-09-10: The Department of Mental Health says none of its waivers currently has a wait list, but gives no date for that count, and the approved capacity tables could not be read. Treat the wait as unknown. (not yet confirmed against the final rule)

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Full MO HealthNet with parents' income left out, for a child who meets an intellectual-disability level of care. The waiver is capped at 416 people.

  • $416 — Unduplicated participants the approved waiver plans for
  • $1,737/month — Home and community income maximum for the individual child

Covers: Home and community services authorised by the Department of Mental Health · MO HealthNet coverage for the child

Legal protection: Parental income is not deemed to a child on this waiver

What it costs the family: No premium or cost share was published.

The eligibility facts, as published

Age
under 18
Age max exclusive
18
Income
The child’s own income is at or below $1,737 monthly from January 1, 2026; parents’ income and resources are not deemed, and FSD applies the child’s financial rules.
Level of care
an intellectual-disability level of care, authorised by the Department of Mental Health. Leukaemia alone does not establish it.
Residency
Missouri and living with parents or family
Other
the child must not already be eligible for MO HealthNet without a spend-down

The trap: Families are told this waiver ignores parents' income, which is true, and then assume that makes it a route for any seriously ill child, which it is not. The spend-down route is the one that works on income for a child with cancer.

Where I read this

← Back to your options