Agency for Health Care Administration, Medicaid

 

AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

Medicaid

Model Transition Plan for Implementing the Home and Community-Based Settings Rule Requirements and the Model Waiver Renewal Request

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) is submitting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) a transition plan as specified in the 42 CFR 441.301(c)4 for the Model Waiver, which will be included in the five-year waiver renewal request. The Model Transition Plan, the waiver renewal request and the public process used to solicit public input are described in this notice.

 

Description of the Model Waiver Transition Plan:

The Agency is submitting to CMS a transition plan for the Model Waiver in compliance with the Home and Community-Based (HCB) Settings Rule CMS 2249-F. The draft transition plan is designed to ensure that individuals receiving home and community-based services in the Model Waiver are integrated in, and have access to, supports in the community, including opportunities to seek employment, work in competitive integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources and maintain the rights of privacy, dignity, respect and freedom. The draft transition plan describes how the State will assess, determine compliance, remediate and monitor the waiver’s continued compliance with the HCB settings requirements.

 

The HCB Settings Rule requires public notice and a 30-day public comment period to solicit meaningful public input for consideration in the development of the transition plan prior to submission to CMS. The Agency is providing public notice on the draft transition plan to solicit meaningful public input from recipients, providers and all stakeholders prior to submission of the transition plan to CMS. The Agency will post the draft transition plan on its website for public comment beginning February 25, 2015 and ending March 27, 2015. The draft transition plan can be viewed on the Agency’s website at the following link: http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/hcbs_waivers/index.shtml.

 

When submitting written comments by postal service or e-mail, please have ‘Model Transition Plan’ contained in the subject line. Mail comments and suggestions to:

 

Agency for Health Care Administration

Attention: HCBS Waivers

2727 Mahan Drive, MS 20

Tallahassee, Florida 32308

 

E-mail your comments and suggestions to: [e-mail].

 

For more information, you may contact: Nicholas Warner at [phone] or email [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

 

Description of Model Waiver and Renewal Request

The purpose of the Model Waiver program is to maintain and promote the health of eligible children under 21 years of age who have degenerative spinocerebellar disease and are living at home or are medically fragile and have resided in a skilled nursing facility for at least 60 consecutive days prior to entrance on the waiver. The goal of the waiver is to delay or prevent institutionalization and allow these recipients to maintain stable health while living at home in their community.

 

The Agency will submit to CMS a request to renew the Model Waiver that operates under the authority specified in Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act. The waiver renewal request is being submitted to: (1) renew the waiver period for an additional five years, (2) revise performance measures to align with CMS guidance regarding modification to quality measures, (3) update agency representative contact information, (4) revise the methodology for determining the G factor, (5) include the HCB Settings Transition Plan for this waiver, and (6) update the public input section. Prior to submission to CMS, the Agency is providing public notice of the waiver renewal request as described below and in accordance with 42 CFR 441.304(f).

 

The Agency is providing public notice as specified in 42 CFR 441.304(f) to solicit meaningful public input from recipients, providers and all stakeholders on the renewal request 30 days prior to submission to CMS. The Agency will post the waiver renewal request with a description of the changes on its website in conjunction with the draft transition plan. The waiver renewal request document can be viewed at the following link: http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/hcbs_waivers/index.shtml.

 

When submitting written comments by postal service or e-mail, please have ‘Model Waiver Renewal Request’ contained in the subject line. Mail comments and suggestions to:

 

Agency for Health Care Administration

Attention: HCBS Waivers

2727 Mahan Drive, MS 20

Tallahassee, Florida 32308

 

Email your comments and suggestions to: [e-mail].

 

For more information, you may contact: Nicholas Warner at [phone] or email [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).