Arizona ALTCS & DDD Resource Center
Helping Arizona Families Navigate ALTCS, DDD, and Long-Term Care Services
Whether you're caring for an aging parent, supporting a child with developmental disabilities, or helping an adult family member navigate Arizona's long-term care system, you're probably searching for answers. Understanding ALTCS and the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) can be overwhelming, especially when every situation is unique.
At LEAP LTC Consulting, we believe families deserve clear, honest information so they can make informed decisions. This resource center answers many of the most common questions we receive about ALTCS, DDD, eligibility, applications, and assessments.
The information below is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or a guarantee of eligibility.
What is ALTCS?
The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) is Arizona's Medicaid long-term care program for individuals who require ongoing care due to age, disability, or certain medical conditions.
Depending on eligibility, ALTCS may help cover services such as:
In-home attendant care
Assisted living
Skilled nursing care
Respite care
Therapies
Medical equipment
Other long-term support services
Both medical and financial eligibility requirements must generally be met.
What is Arizona DDD?
The Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) provides services and supports for eligible individuals with developmental disabilities.
Depending on age and eligibility, DDD services may include:
Habilitation
Respite care
Attendant care
Therapies
Employment supports
Day programs
Residential services
Behavioral health supports
Family support services
Children and adults may qualify if they meet Arizona's eligibility requirements.
What's the Difference Between ALTCS and DDD?
This is one of the most common questions we receive.
Although Arizona's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) often work together, they are two separate programs with different purposes.
DDD determines eligibility for developmental disability services and provides case management. Once someone is found eligible for DDD, they are assigned a Support Coordinator who helps connect them with available resources, develops their Person-Centered Service Plan, and coordinates services.
ALTCS is the funding source for many of the long-term care services that individuals with DDD receive. To access many in-home supports, such as habilitation, attendant care, respite, therapies, and other long-term services through DDD, a person generally must also qualify for ALTCS.
Because of this, it is possible to be approved for DDD but not qualify for ALTCS. When this happens, the individual may still receive DDD case management and limited state-funded services that are available through DDD, but they may not have access to the full range of ALTCS-funded long-term care services.
Understanding the difference between these programs is important because DDD eligibility does not automatically mean someone qualifies for ALTCS, and ALTCS approval does not automatically occur simply because someone has DDD. Each program has its own eligibility requirements.
At LEAP LTC Consulting, we help families understand how these programs work together, prepare strong applications, and navigate the process from start to finish.
Who Can Qualify for Arizona DDD?
The Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) serves both children and adults with qualifying developmental disabilities.
To be eligible, the individual's qualifying developmental disability must have occurred before the age of 18 and meet Arizona's eligibility criteria. DDD evaluates both the diagnosis and how the disability results in substantial functional limitations in one or more areas of daily life.
Some qualifying developmental disabilities may include:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Cerebral Palsy
Intellectual Disability
Epilepsy (when it results in qualifying functional limitations)
Other qualifying developmental disabilities as defined by Arizona law
DDD services are not limited to children. Adults may also qualify if their qualifying developmental disability began before age 18 and they meet Arizona's eligibility requirements.
If you're unsure whether you or your child may qualify, LEAP LTC Consulting can help you understand the eligibility requirements and guide you through the application process.
Can Children Qualify for ALTCS?
Yes. Children with significant medical or developmental needs may qualify for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) if they meet both the medical and financial eligibility requirements.
Many children who receive services through the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) can also apply for ALTCS. However, DDD eligibility does not automatically mean a child qualifies for ALTCS. The child must also meet ALTCS medical and financial eligibility requirements.
Children who qualify for ALTCS may have access to additional Medicaid-funded long-term care services based on their individual needs.
ALTCS Assessments for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
Individuals who are applying for ALTCS through the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) are evaluated using DDD-specific PAS assessment tools that are designed for their age group.
Arizona currently uses separate assessment tools for:
Children ages 0–5
Children ages 6–11
Individuals ages 12 and older
These assessments evaluate how the individual's developmental disability affects daily functioning in areas such as:
Mobility
Dressing
Bathing
Eating
Toileting
Communication
Learning and remembering
Behaviors
Supervision needs
Safety awareness
Functional independence
The assessment also considers caregiver interviews, medical records, school records (when applicable), therapy reports, and other supporting documentation to determine whether the individual meets the medical criteria for ALTCS.
Why Are Medical Records So Important?
Medical records help document diagnoses, treatment history, cognitive impairments, developmental history, and functional limitations.
For both ALTCS and DDD/EPD, clear documentation can help demonstrate how a person's condition affects their daily life.
ALTCS Assessments for Elderly and/or Physically Disabled (EPD)
Individuals applying through the Elderly and/or Physically Disabled (EPD) program are evaluated using a different PAS assessment tool.
This assessment focuses on how medical conditions affect a person's ability to safely perform activities of daily living and whether they require an institutional level of care.
Areas commonly evaluated include:
Mobility and transferring
Bathing
Dressing
Grooming
Eating
Toileting
Continence
Cognition and memory
Behaviors
Medication management
Supervision needs
Risk of falls and overall safety
Medical records, physician documentation, caregiver interviews, and the assessor's observations are all considered during the assessment.
Because the DDD and EPD assessment tools evaluate different populations, the questions and scoring methods are not the same. Understanding which assessment applies, and how to prepare the appropriate documentation, can make a significant difference in ensuring the assessor has a complete picture of the individual's daily needs.
Does Having a Diagnosis Automatically Qualify Someone?
No.
A diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify an individual for ALTCS.
The assessment focuses on how the diagnosis affects daily functioning, independence, safety, and the level of assistance or supervision needed.
What Happens if I'm Denied?
One of the most common misunderstandings is what information can be used during an appeal.
In general, an appeal is based on the information that existed at the time of the PAS assessment and the resulting eligibility decision. New information that is created after the date of the PAS assessment or denial generally cannot be used to change that decision.
Examples of information that typically cannot be used to support an appeal if it did not exist before the assessment include:
New physician letters
New caregiver statements
A new hospitalization or emergency room visit
New therapy evaluations
New psychological or neuropsychological evaluations
New diagnoses or medical documentation created after the assessment
However, documentation that existed before the PAS assessment but was not submitted or considered may still be relevant during the appeal, depending on the circumstances.
If a person's condition has changed or there is significant new medical information created after the assessment, a new ALTCS application may be the more appropriate option, as it allows the new documentation to be considered during a new eligibility determination.
Because every denial is different, reviewing the reason for the denial and the available documentation is often the best way to determine whether an appeal or a new application is the most appropriate next step.
At LEAP LTC Consulting, we review each denial individually to help families determine whether an appeal or a new application is likely to be the most appropriate path based on the specific circumstances of the case.
How Can LEAP LTC Consulting Help?
We work with families throughout Arizona by helping them:
Prepare ALTCS applications
Prepare DDD applications
Review medical records
Organize supporting documentation
Prepare for PAS assessments
Understand eligibility requirements
Navigate appeals and reapplications
Answer questions throughout the process
Every family is different, and our goal is to provide personalized guidance based on your unique situation.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're unsure where to begin or have questions about ALTCS or DDD, we'd love to help.
Schedule a free consultation, and let's discuss your situation together.