DSD eList announcement
Date: Oct. 6, 2026
To: Lead agencies; disability waiver case managers; 245D licensed providers; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Direct Care and Treatment
From: DHS Disability Services Division
Purpose: To encourage lead agencies and providers to begin reviewing people who currently receive waiver crisis respite and announce the upcoming extension request process
Contact: DSD Contact Form
Crisis respite 180-day limit and upcoming requirement to request extensions
DHS is sending this eList announcement to:
1. Encourage lead agencies and providers to begin reviewing people who currently receive waiver crisis respite to determine whether:
2. Provide advance notice that, effective Jan. 1, 2027, DHS will require an extension request process for continued use of waiver crisis respite beyond the 180-day limit. Crisis respite cannot exceed 180 days, unless the person has an approved extension as of Jan. 1, 2027.
DHS actions
Before DHS implements the extension request process, we will:
Beginning in 2027, DHS will:
Lead agency and provider review of current crisis respite use
Effective immediately, lead agencies and providers must begin proactively reviewing people who currently receive waiver crisis respite to prepare for the upcoming extension request process. They must ensure each person meets all eligibility criteria on CBSM – Crisis respite.
Crisis respite must have a clear, documented purpose related to the person’s crisis needs and caregiver relief.
Definition of “caregiver”
Crisis respite provides support and relief to paid and unpaid caregivers. DHS defines primary caregivers as people principally responsible for the care and supervision of a person who receives services, per CBSM – Crisis respite. Primary caregivers can be related or unrelated to the person receiving crisis respite.
Unallowable uses
Lead agencies cannot approve the use of crisis respite:
A person’s transition to a licensed community residential setting (CRS) does not, by itself, establish eligibility for crisis respite. When a waiver case manager requests crisis respite related to a person’s transition to a CRS, the provider and case manager must demonstrate the following information in the person’s support plan:
Transition planning
If the lead agency determines a person does not meet eligibility criteria on CBSM – Crisis respite or crisis respite is no longer necessary to address the person’s assessed needs, the lead agency should begin working with the person and their team to identify and plan for other services and develop a transition plan without service interruption.
Provider responsibilities
Providers are responsible to deliver and bill for crisis respite according to applicable DHS requirements.
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