What changed
The state adopted a temporary emergency rule, called an "Appendix K" amendment to the waiver. It is for people affected by the Orange County chemical-spill emergency. CMS approved it on July 14, 2026. It runs from May 21, 2026 to May 21, 2027.
For those people, the amendment does three things. It extends the re-enrollment period from 30 to 60 days. It allows ALW services in alternative settings. For affected applicants, it suspends the 60-day enrollment period, the window to complete an application after an opening.
Who it affects
ALW applicants and participants affected by the emergency in Orange County. It does not change the rules for anyone else.
What to do
This is a dated emergency exception. Confirm it is still active and that it applies to your situation before relying on it. Beta's ALW team can check the current status with you. Read about ALW in Orange County or how the waitlist works.
Sources
- CMS approval letter, Appendix K to waiver CA 0431.R04.04 (Orange County Chemical Incident), July 14, 2026
- California DHCS, Assisted Living Waiver
This post is a summary. The state's own notice controls. Nothing on this page changes anyone's place on the waitlist or their eligibility.
Changes to this post
- October 6, 2026 End date added from the CMS approval letter, the three flexibilities named, and the letter linked as the first source.
- August 27, 2026 First published. End date of the flexibilities not yet stated by DHCS.