What's confirmed, as of this writing:
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Medical/State Plan services for Healthy Connections Medicaid members in the Community Choices, HIV/AIDS and Mechanical Ventilator Dependent waivers | Moved into managed care organizations (MCOs) effective January 1, 2026 |
| Waiver services (personal care, respite, habilitation and similar) | Explicitly remain fee-for-service; SCDHHS's own guidance states this directly and gives no published end date |
| Nursing facility services | Stay fee-for-service; nursing facility residents are enrolled for medical services only |
| BHDD OIDD-administered waivers (ID/RD, Community Supports, HASCI) | Not addressed in SCDHHS's carve-in guidance |
What is not announced: We found no published SCDHHS timeline for moving HCBS waiver services themselves into managed care, so do not plan around a specific date. Other states have phased such transitions over several years, and the 180-day continuity-of-care period used in the 2026 carve-in shows the kind of mechanics SCDHHS has used.
Why readiness still matters: The 180-day continuity-of-care period SCDHHS required during the 2026 medical-services carve-in is a preview of the kind of transition mechanics likely to apply to any future waiver-services carve-in as well.
What to monitor directly, rather than relying on secondhand timelines: SCDHHS's Managed Care Carve-In page and FAQ (scdhhs.gov/carvein), waiver renewal public notices (each HCBS waiver has its own multi-year renewal/expiration cycle — CMS approved the Community Choices and HIV/AIDS renewals retroactive to July 1, 2026, and renewal cycles are a natural point where scope changes get introduced), and SCDHHS Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) meeting materials, which have historically previewed policy direction before formal announcements.
Practical takeaway: Because no date is announced, focus on readiness you need anyway: clean documentation, accurate claim routing between MCO and fee-for-service, and current contacts at each plan. The companion Strategic Planning Tool in the Resource Library can help you assess readiness.
General information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm against the official source before you act, or ask us how this applies to your organization.