The Louisiana Department of Health announced a new Tiered Waiver Program that will end the 25-year-old Request for Service Registry waiting list for citizens with the most urgent level of need. 

For over ten years, 16,000 people weren’t able to receive immediate care because of a list that was on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many citizens were forced to leave the state, rely or on family members and even become institutionalized. 

Over the last year-and-a-half, the Department of Health visited more than 10,000 homes for screenings. They realized 50% of people on the list with developmental disabilities didn’t accept their services because they relied on other resources, like Medicaid. Mark Thomas from the Department of Health said officials were able to determine how many people were actively waiting for help. 

According to the Developmental Disabilities Acadiana Area Human Services District, about 2,000 Acadiana residents are being served with the new waiver. 

“We’re getting reactions from families and individuals who are receiving the service and we see their need and their happiness to finally get the services that they’ve been waiting for so long to get,” said DDAAHS Regional Director, Troy Abshire. 

 “Since it’s changed from a first-come-first-serve waiting list to a needs-based waiting list, it’s helped tremendously,” Abshire added. 

For those who needs have changed over the years, they are able to reapply. the new waiver also allows planning stages for those who don’t need the immediate services now but will in the future. 

For more information or the application process, click here.