Alpaca Health FAQs: IHSS, Medicaid, and Autism Services

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Alpaca Health FAQs: IHSS, Medicaid, and Autism Services

Does Texas have an IHSS autism program?

No, Texas does not have an IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) autism program. IHSS is a California-specific program that pays family caregivers to provide in-home support for people with disabilities, including autistic children and adults.

Although Texas does not offer IHSS, families can still access paid family caregiving and autism-related supports through a combination of Medicaid programs, waivers, and therapy services.

Texas’s IHSS Alternatives: Paid Family Caregiving Programs

Instead of IHSS, Texas families often rely on the following Medicaid-funded options:

Consumer Directed Services (CDS), which allows families to hire and manage their own caregivers, including parents in some cases
- Texas Health and Human Services – Consumer Directed Services
Community First Choice (CFC), a Medicaid benefit that covers in-home personal care and support services
- Texas Health and Human Services – Community First Choice
Medicaid Waivers, including CLASS, HCS, MDCP, and STAR+PLUS, which may provide long-term services and supports
- Navigate Life Texas – Medicaid Waiver Programs
- The Arc of Texas – Medicaid Waivers

Families can also explore Texas autism grants and financial resources or review how Texas Medicaid covers ABA therapy.

Children’s Autism Program (CAP): ABA Therapy Support in Texas

Texas also offers the Children’s Autism Program (CAP). It is important to understand what this program does and does not cover.

CAP is not a personal care or paid caregiving program. It specifically provides:

ABA therapy
Parent training
Related autism-specific supports

CAP is limited to 180 hours per year and 720 hours over a lifetime, which means many families need additional services beyond what CAP alone can offer.

Families can learn more about available services through Texas autism resources or the Texas Children’s Autism Program (CAP).

Next Steps for Texas Families Seeking Autism Support

Families exploring paid caregiving or autism services in Texas often start with these steps:

Call 2-1-1 Texas – Information and Referral Services to explore Medicaid waiver eligibility
Contact their local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) for functional assessments
Explore ABA therapy options while navigating state programs

Accessing ABA Therapy in Texas Without the Wait

Many Texas state programs have long waitlists, and CAP’s limited hours may not meet every family’s needs.

Alpaca Health helps families connect with ABA providers in days rather than months, while supporting individualized, neurodiversity-affirming care.

Accepted Texas plans include BCBS Texas, Aetna, Curative, ChampVA, TriCare West, Cigna, and Texas Medicaid. View accepted insurance plans here.

Care options include:

Does Colorado have an IHSS autism program?

Yes, Colorado offers In-Home Support Services (IHSS) for children and adults with autism who meet Medicaid eligibility criteria. IHSS in Colorado is available through the Community First Choice (CFC) program.

This Medicaid-funded option allows eligible family members, including parents in many cases, to be paid for providing in-home care while supporting daily living needs.

How IHSS Works in Colorado for Families with Autism

Through Colorado’s CFC option, IHSS may include:

Eligibility based on Medicaid enrollment and functional need
Paid family caregiving, including parents in many cases
Personal care and daily living supports
Services coordinated through a Case Management Agency (CMA)

Families can learn more through the Colorado Medicaid Buy-In guide and the Colorado Community First Choice (CFC) overview.

Additional state resources include:

Children’s Extensive Support (CES) Waiver for Autism in Colorado

Many families access IHSS through the Children’s Extensive Support (CES) waiver.

The CES waiver supports children with developmental disabilities, including autism, who require higher levels of ongoing care.

Families can learn more through:

The Challenge: ABA Therapy Coverage in Colorado

While IHSS supports daily care, access to specialized autism services like ABA therapy can still be limited.

Many families pursue both IHSS for caregiving and ABA therapy for skill-building and behavioral support.

For local support, explore autism resources in Colorado.

Next Steps for Colorado Families Seeking IHSS and Autism Support

Contact your local Case Management Agency here

Start an ABA intake with Alpaca Health

Accessing ABA Therapy in Colorado Without the Wait

Alpaca Health connects families with ABA providers in days rather than months.

Accepted plans include TriCare West, ChampVA, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem BCBS, and Health First Colorado Medicaid. View accepted insurance plans

Care options include:

Can an LPC diagnose autism in Texas?

No, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) cannot provide an official autism diagnosis in Texas. A formal autism diagnosis must come from a qualified specialist.