ARIZONA
—We haven't graded Arizona yet. Grading a state means sourcing its wait times, its funding, and what it actually approves — and publishing a guess would be worse than publishing nothing, because families make real decisions on these pages. What we can tell you today: what things are called here and who to contact first. That's all below.
Do this first
Call the DDD intake line at 1-844-770-9500 and ask for a DDD eligibility screening, or apply at des.az.gov. From age 6 up, eligibility requires a qualifying diagnosis plus substantial limitation in at least three of seven major life activities, so write those three out concretely before you file. Once DDD eligibility and the ALTCS level of care are both established there is no separate waiver waitlist — which makes Arizona faster than most states, and makes the assessment the thing worth preparing for.
Last verified 2026-07-03
HOW WE GRADE ARIZONA
We are not publishing a grade for Arizona. We could only measure 35% of what the model needs, which is below the half we require. A letter built on that little would look more solid than it is.
This is usually not a sign that a state is doing badly. It most often means the state delivers services through a Medicaid entitlement rather than the waiver programs our factors are built around — which is frequently better for families, but is not something our current measures can score.
- Not scored: Arizona serves people with IDD through the ALTCS Medicaid entitlement rather than a capped waiver, and we found no evidence of a waiting list. But no state source affirmatively confirms one does not exist, and Arizona's separate state-funded DD-Only track publishes no capacity data.
- Only 2 of 6 self-direction sub-dimensions could be sourced; the factor is not scored.
- Delivers HCBS through an 1115 demonstration or managed LTSS entitlement rather than 1915(c) waivers. The waiver-inventory factor does not describe this state and is left unscored rather than scored misleadingly low.
- Only 35% of the model's weight could be sourced for this state — below the 50% minimum, so no grade is published.
What we could measure
HCBS Spending Per Capita
25% of grade23/100$308 spent per resident
$200 per resident scores 0. $675 scores 100.
Source:CMS / Mathematica — Medicaid LTSS Annual Expenditures and … (CY2023)
WHAT THINGS ARE CALLED IN ARIZONA
Use these exact words when you search, call, or fill out forms — they're what Arizona's own offices use.
- Medicaid here is
- AHCCCS
- The DD agency is
- Division of Developmental Disabilities (DES)
- You contact
- DDD Eligibility Unit
- The plan is
- Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP)
- Self-direction is
- Self-Directed Attendant Care (SDAC)controlling your own budget and hiring your own people
- A denial arrives as a
- Notice of Actionthe letter that gives you the right to appeal
WHO TO CONTACT, IN ORDER
Five different offices, and they don't talk to each other. Disability services, health coverage, and income each run through a separate agency — applying to one does not start the others. Ask each office for the name of the person you spoke to and write down the date; if something is later denied, that record is what an appeal is built on.
- 1
Developmental disability services
This is the office that decides whether your child is eligible for disability services. Ask for "intake" or "eligibility determination" by name. In Arizona, you contact DDD Eligibility Unit.
- 2
Health coverage — AHCCCS
Almost every waiver and personal-care route requires this first, and it is decided by a different office from the one above. Apply in parallel rather than waiting.
- 3
Help at home, and who can be paid for it
Unless you say otherwise, services come the traditional way: the agency picks and pays the providers. Self-direction — where you get a budget and hire your own people — is opt-in almost everywhere and is not offered automatically. Here it is called Self-Directed Attendant Care (SDAC). Ask for it by that name.
- 4
Income — SSI
Federal, so it's the same everywhere: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). There is no minimum age — you can apply for a newborn. Until 18, the parents' income is deemed to the child, so an early denial is usually about that rather than the child's disability. In many states an SSI award also opens Medicaid automatically — ask when you call.
- 5
If you get told no
Every state has a Protection & Advocacy agency by federal law — free legal help on disability services and appeals. Most families never hear of it, and it is the number to have before a deadline, not after. Yours is Arizona Center for Disability Law.
Arizona Center for Disability Law · 1-800-927-2260
RUNNING IT YOURSELF
In many states you can control the budget and hire your own people — including, sometimes, family. Most families are never told this is an option. Here's what we've verified for Arizona; where we haven't verified an answer we say so — it does not mean the answer is no, and it is worth asking.
Can you control the budget?
Partly — Self-Directed Attendant Care covers attendant care only
Can a family member be paid to provide care?
Not verified yet — ask, don't assume the answer is no.
Who is legally the employer of the people you hire?
Not verified yet — ask, don't assume the answer is no.
How freely can money move between services?
Not verified yet — ask, don't assume the answer is no.
Can the budget buy things, not just staff time?
Not verified yet — ask, don't assume the answer is no.
Is your case manager independent of your providers?
Not verified yet — ask, don't assume the answer is no.
Your income does not disqualify your child.
Arizona DDD determines waiver eligibility on the child's medical need; parental income is not counted.
Deadlines reflect this state’s rules as researched; they can change — always confirm the current deadline with your state agency or Protection & Advocacy office before relying on it.
HOW TO GET SERVICES & APPEAL IN ARIZONA
- File appeal (orally or in writing) with the Contractor / DDD Office of Administrative Review within 60 days of the Notice of Action
- Contractor issues Notice of Appeal Resolution (within 30 days)
- Request AHCCCS State Fair Hearing (MCO internal appeal must be exhausted)
- State Fair Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at OAH; AHCCCS Director issues final decision
KEY AGENCIES & RESOURCES
NOTABLE WAIVERS
ALTCS / DDD (Arizona Long Term Care System)
SourceChildren and adults with developmental disabilities.
Waitlist: NO waitlist — ALTCS is an entitlement for those meeting medical/functional criteria.
ALTCS / EPD (Elderly and Physical Disability)
SourceSeniors and adults with physical disabilities.
Waitlist: No waitlist for eligible applicants.
DDD state-funded services (non-ALTCS)
SourcePeople with DD who don't meet ALTCS medical criteria.
Waitlist: Budget-limited; ask DDD support coordinators.
Full milestone guide
View the Arizona Roadmap →
Six age-based stages — state-correct programs, benefits, and milestones from birth through adulthood.
