Level One (L1) Waiver
A young girl with down syndrome stands alone in a garden. She’s examining an acorn closely.
What is the Level One (L1) Waiver in Ohio?
The L1 waiver helps choose your own services using participant-direction. Participant-direction allows you to remain in your own home and community—and get the support you need.
With L1, you get to choose different services to include in your plan. Many of these services rely on natural supports (people such as friends, family, or co-workers who can help out without getting paid). But you can also get paid support providers as well. This waiver can be a good choice if you only need a small amount of support. (If you need more support, look into the Individual Options waiver.)
The L1 waiver help you choose the services that fit best with your needs and life. It also helps you find people you trust to provide your support—even friends and family.
Services in the Level One (L1) Waiver
Homemaker and Personal Care Services
Homemaker and Personal Care Services is a waiver serevice that helps Ohioans like you control your own care and support with participant direction. This gives you the freedom to choose the support that best fits you and your life.
This service has two different models you can enroll in: Homemaker/Personal Care and Participant-Directed Homemaker/Personal Care.
Participant Directed Goods and Services
Participant-direction helps people live the life they choose. That includes choosing vendors that best fit their preferences. With this service, you can get the services, equipment, or supplies you need.
Self-Directed Transportation
In Ohio, you have several choices for transportation services, including ground transportation and mileage reimbursement. This gives you access to transportation services so you can go out into the community whenever you like.
A man rolls his wheelchair up a wheelchair into a gray van. He’s enrolled in self-directed transportation in Ohio.
Eligibility and Services for the L1 Waiver
Who the L1 Waiver Serves
People of any age with developmental disabilities who:
- Are eligible for Medicaid
- Need a level of care equivalent to an intermediate care facility
- Need at least one L1 waiver service
With the L1 Waiver, You Can…
- Hire people you know and trust to provide support, including friends and family
- Decide when and where you should get support
- Train your own support providers
- Decide on pay for your support providers
- Create schedules and sign off on time sheets
- Choose a representative to handle things for you
How GT Independence Supports You
At GT Independence, we believe you should be able to live life on your own terms. As a family-owned and disability-led financial management service (FMS), we’ve sat on your side of the table. And our goal is to make it easy and convenient for you to control who delivers your support and how that support is delivered.
As your advocates for participant-direction, we’re here to help you live the life you choose. We do this by:
- An online portal with easy-to-read monthly budget reports
- A simple e-enrollment process for employees
- An app to track time and submit timesheets
- An online caregiver directory
- Dedicated support specialists who understand you and your services
- Tax specialists on hand to file your taxes for you
- More than 15 years supporting families
- CARF accredited fiscal employer agent (FEA)
Helpful Forms for Ohio
View select forms on the Ohio forms page. To view all forms, sign into your portal account and visit the resources tab.
Don’t have access to a portal account? Get in Touch
Helpful Resources and Flyers for Ohio
See a comprehensive list of resources and flyers relevent to Ohio.
Want to get started?
Have questions about managing your own services with L1? Contact our Ohio support specialists to learn how to get started.
Call: 1.877.659.4500
Email: customerservice@gtsd.org