Cottage Home Care helps individuals with developmental disabilities access OPWDD-funded home care across New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester. We handle Medicaid enrollment, Front Door referrals, MMC removal, and caregiver matching so your family can focus on what matters.
Verified & compliant
OPWDD stands for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. It is a New York State agency that coordinates services for individuals with intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and other neurological impairments. Most OPWDD services are funded through the Medicaid HCBS 1915(c) Comprehensive Waiver, commonly called "The Waiver." When your loved one qualifies, home care under this program costs nothing out of pocket.
Who It Serves
New Yorkers of any age with a qualifying developmental disability, including autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and more.
Disability Before Age 22
To qualify, the developmental disability must have originated before age 22 and be expected to continue indefinitely. This is verified by OPWDD, not by Cottage.
Medicaid-Funded
Most services are covered through NY Medicaid with no out-of-pocket cost. Once Code 95 is added to Medicaid and any MMC plan is removed, care can begin.
CCO Required
Applications must be submitted by a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). Cottage Home Care helps connect you with the right CCO for your borough or county.
OPWDD services are funded through the Medicaid HCBS Waiver. Here are the main services available and where Cottage Home Care fits in.
Community Habilitation
A support worker visits the home or community to build daily living skills and independence. Cottage provides HHA staffing for authorized hours.
Respite Care
Temporary in-home support that gives family caregivers a scheduled break. Cottage handles caregiver matching and scheduling for approved respite hours.
Day Habilitation
Adult day programs building social, vocational, and daily living skills at a site or in the community. Cottage provides referral support and coordination.
Supported Employment
Job coaching and vocational support in real work settings. Employment services are provided by OPWDD-certified vendors; Cottage provides referral support.
Residential Habilitation
24-hour staffing in certified residential settings including group homes. Cottage provides HHA staffing in authorized residential settings in our service area.
OPWDD Self-Direction
Individuals and families work with their CCO to identify the caregiving support that best fits their needs and preferences, giving them more say in how their services are shaped.
Family Support Services
Includes respite, family training, sibling services, after-school programs, and recreation. Available through OPWDD’s Family Support Services (FSS) program.
Crisis Services (CSIDD)
Clinical team support during behavioral or complex-needs situations. Crisis services are provided by OPWDD-certified clinical teams; Cottage provides referral support.
Cottage Home Care provides HHA staffing under authorized OPWDD service plans. Skilled nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy are outside Cottage's direct scope and are coordinated through partner clinical providers when needed.
Active Direct Support Staff
Extensive Experience
Person-Centered Care Team
Per the February 2026 OPWDD eligibility fact sheet, a person must meet all of the following criteria. OPWDD makes the final determination through its regional offices, not Cottage Home Care.
Cottage Home Care provides trained, matched Home Health Aides for OPWDD-enrolled individuals. Our aides help with the tasks that matter most, delivered with dignity and respect:
Community Habilitation
Our aide visits the home or community to help build daily living skills, socialization, and independence under your authorized plan.
Respite Care
We provide temporary in-home support so family caregivers can take a scheduled break, knowing their loved one is in good hands.
Personal Care and ADLs
Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility. Our trained HHAs handle the hands-on daily tasks with dignity.
Residential Habilitation
We provide HHA staffing in authorized residential settings and group homes within our New York service area.
Cottage provides the non-medical HHA staffing under your authorized OPWDD plan. Skilled nursing, therapy, and clinical services are coordinated through your CHHA or OPWDD partner providers.
The OPWDD Front Door is the entry point for all OPWDD services. Every application must be submitted by a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). Here is what the process looks like from start to care.
Contact a CCO
Reach out to a Care Coordination Organization (CCO) in your area or your borough's Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO). For NYC residents, the main CCOs are Advanced Care Alliance, Care Design NY, and Tri-County Care. OPWDD Front Door Information Sessions are available online in 14 languages.
Gather Documentation
Collect the psychological evaluation (within 3 years, including IQ testing), social history or psychosocial evaluation (under 1 year old), and a general medical report (under 1 year old). Your CCO helps locate records and prepares the full eligibility packet. Always save copies of everything.
OPWDD Reviews and Decides
The CCO submits the complete packet to OPWDD through its CHOICES system. OPWDD's clinical eligibility staff at the local DDRO reviews all materials and issues the determination. If approved, Medicaid Code 95 is added to the individual's coverage record.
Remove MMC Plan
If the individual is enrolled in a Managed Medicaid (MMC) plan, that plan must be removed before OPWDD home care services can start. This step typically takes several weeks. Cottage handles the removal request and tracks the timeline so nothing stalls.
Medicaid Enrollment
Active New York State Medicaid is required for most OPWDD-funded services. If the individual is not yet enrolled, Cottage assists families with the Medicaid application process at no charge, including resolving restriction codes like H-78 or Code 54.
RN Visit and Care Starts
Once authorization is confirmed, Cottage schedules the RN start-of-care visit, matches the individual with a trained, background-checked Home Health Aide, and begins services. We follow up on all service authorizations to prevent delays between approval and Start of Care.
Cottage Home Care guides your family through each step above. Our intake team handles the paperwork, Medicaid questions, CCO coordination, and caregiver matching, so you do not have to navigate the system alone.
We have worked with OPWDD-enrolled individuals and their families across New York since 2019. Here is what our team handles for you, start to finish.
Medicaid Enrollment Support
We assist families who do not yet have Medicaid coverage or who need to resolve restriction codes (H-78, Code 54, Code 95) before home care can begin.
CCO Referral Guidance
We connect families with the right Care Coordination Organization for their borough or county and help prepare the documentation needed for the eligibility review.
MMC Plan Removal
If an existing Managed Medicaid plan is blocking OPWDD services, we work with the insurance company to start the removal process and track it to completion.
Caregiver Matching and Start
Once authorization is in place, we match your loved one with a trained, background-checked Home Health Aide and schedule the RN start-of-care visit. We follow up on authorizations to prevent delays.
Have more questions about OPWDD services in New York? Our intake team is ready to help.
(516) 367-2266OPWDD stands for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. It is a New York State agency that coordinates and funds services for individuals with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and other neurological impairments. The agency was established to help individuals with I/DD live richer, more independent lives in their communities.
Applications for OPWDD services must be submitted by a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). Individuals and families cannot apply directly on their own. The first step is to contact a CCO in your area or your borough's Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO). You can find a full list of CCOs statewide at opwdd.ny.gov/find-care-manager. Cottage Home Care can help connect you with the right CCO and assist with Medicaid enrollment as part of the process.
Per the February 2026 OPWDD eligibility fact sheet, the individual must have a diagnosed developmental disability as defined under NY Mental Hygiene Law Section 1.03(22), the disability must have originated before age 22, it must be expected to continue indefinitely, and it must constitute a substantial handicap to the person's ability to function in society. Active New York State Medicaid and NYS residency are also required to access most OPWDD-funded services. OPWDD makes the eligibility determination through its regional DDROs, not home care agencies like Cottage.
Most OPWDD services are funded through the Medicaid HCBS 1915(c) Waiver. For individuals with active Medicaid who are OPWDD-eligible, home care services through an approved provider like Cottage Home Care carry no out-of-pocket cost. Families with Medicaid do not pay for authorized HHA services. If a family's income is above the 2026 Medicaid income limit of $1,836 per month for a single person (per MAPDR-01, May 14, 2026), a Pooled Income Trust may be an option to maintain eligibility.
OPWDD care management is provided by Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs), not by home care agencies. For New York City residents, the main CCOs are Advanced Care Alliance (ACA), Care Design NY, and Tri-County Care. A full statewide list is available at opwdd.ny.gov/find-care-manager. Cottage Home Care is a direct care provider that delivers HHA staffing after the CCO has secured authorization from OPWDD.
Through the OPWDD Self-Direction program, individuals and families may choose their own support workers, including friends or family members who live outside the home. These workers must complete required training before they can be paid. Legally married spouses cannot serve as paid caregivers under Self-Direction. Families interested in Self-Direction should speak with their CCO or regional OPWDD office to attend an information session before enrolling.
The OPWDD Medicaid waiver is formally known as the OPWDD Comprehensive Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) Waiver. It is a federal Medicaid waiver approved by CMS that authorizes community-based habilitation services for OPWDD-eligible individuals. Services covered include community habilitation, day habilitation, respite, supported employment, and residential habilitation, and several others. Enrollment requires both OPWDD eligibility and active Medicaid.
If an OPWDD-eligible individual does not receive any OPWDD services for a continuous period of one year, this may be considered a "break in OPWDD services." After a break, eligibility may need to be re-established through the Front Door process, which can be time-consuming. Maintaining at least some form of active OPWDD service prevents this. Contact OPWDD at 1-866-946-9733 or your regional DDRO with questions about your specific situation.
These are real families in your neighborhood who made the same call you're thinking about making.
Cinthya Almendarez
Profession : Patient
Service: HHA
Riverside Select Services, LLC DBA Cottage Homecare Services is a spectacular agency with a great work environment. I can call any hour and there is always someone on the phone who will answer me and provide the help I need.
Rated 5 out of 5
5
Sherry Fiedtkou
Profession : Patient
Service: HHA
I'm having the best experience working with Riverside Select Services, LLC DBA Cottage Homecare Services The staff and management is exceptional because I've been working in the Home care for 17 years and this is one of the best agencies.
Rated 4.8 out of 5
4.8
Natividad Mateo
Profession : Patient
Service: NHTD
Excellent customer service and employee service, always with a smile. Staff is caring and loving and receptive to your needs. Great home care agency to sign up with for work, or to receive Homecare services at home.
Rated 5 out of 5
5
Service Area
Cottage Home Care serves OPWDD-enrolled individuals in all five New York City boroughs, plus Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. Our Jamaica, Queens office handles NYC cases directly.
