Innovations Waiver Waitlist

NC Innovations is a Medicaid Waiver program for individuals with intellectual disabilities/ developmental disabilities who prefer to receive long-term services and supports in their home or community, rather than an institutional setting. It helps individuals and families have more control over their lives by offering a large array of service options, providing opportunity for meaningful activities through community involvement or work, and helping achieve life goals.

Trillium currently serves 4,505 individuals on the NC Innovations Waiver. We do not get to choose how many people get the NC Innovations Waiver. It is set by the North Carolina General Assembly through their annual budget. Since the number of people who can get on the NC Innovations Waiver is limited, there is a waitlist. This waitlist is called the Registry of Unmet Needs (or RUN). Members and guardians can complete the request here if they think they may qualify. 

Trillium reviews applications and places individuals who are potentially eligible for the Innovations Waiver on the RUN list while waiting for NC Innovations Waiver space to become available. While on the RUN, individuals can receive certain community-based services depending on medical necessity. Final Innovations Waiver eligibility is determined when a space becomes available.  

Tailored Care Managers at Trillium and external providers can still coordinate services to help while you are on the waitlist. While services will vary based on need and diagnosis, some examples include:

1. 1915i services (i.e. Community Living & Supports, Respite, Supported Employment, etc.)
2. State-funded services (i.e. Community Living & Supports, Respite, etc.)
3. In-lieu of services (i.e. Community Living Facilities & Supports, etc.)

Being on the waitlist does not mean you will not get help. Currently, Trillium works to provide support to members on the RUN with accessing other services in their communities. It is important to remember that while you are on the RUN, Trillium and providers will still work with you to live a healthy life.

We understand waiting to get NC Innovations Waiver services for yourself or a loved one can be frustrating. Please keep in mind the following while on the RUN:

1. It can take more than ten years to get on the NC Innovations Waiver.
2. As of June 2025, there are 18,950 people in North Carolina on the RUN. 
3. The North Carolina Department of Heath and Human Services uses a set of rules to place people on the Innovations Waiver. Unfortunately, time spent on the waitlist is only one of the details that is considered. A member’s date of waiting and county of eligibility or residence are used to determine when a member receives a slot. However, a member must also have an Intellectual Disability or a medical condition that is closely related to Intellectual Disability.