AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Individual Budget Waiver Amendment Request
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) is submitting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) a request to amend the Individual Budgeting (iBudget) waiver that operates under the authority of Section 1915 (c) of the Social Security Act. The Agency is providing public notice of the 30-day public comment period as specified in 42 CFR 441.304(f) to solicit meaningful input from recipients, providers, and all stakeholders on the amendment request prior to submission to CMS.
Description of the Individual Budget Waiver and Amendment Request
The purpose of the iBudget Waiver Program is to maintain and promote the health of iBudget recipients through the provision of needed supports and services in order to delay and prevent institutionalization. The goal of the program is to provide a choice of services that will allow eligible recipients to live safely at home or in the community.
The Agency is requesting an amendment to the waiver that will:
1.Define and add individuals diagnosed with Phelan McDermid syndrome as an eligible population for participation on the waiver
2.Increase the unduplicated numbers for:
Year 3 to 35,218
Year 4 to 38,018
Year 5 to 40,818
3.Remove Transitional Living Facilities from the list of qualified providers of residential habilitation
4.Add Comprehensive Transitional Education Program as a qualified provider of residential habilitation services
5.Remove in-home support from the residential habilitation service taxonomy
6.Update safeguards for restraints and restrictive interventions
7.Update the medication management and administration section in the following areas: responsibilities, state oversight and follow-up, state policy, and medication error reporting
- Update J-Table estimates for waiver years three through five, and increase the rates for the following services: respite, personal supports, life skills development-level 3, and residential habilitation
- Update milestones related to the implementation of the state’s Home and Community-Based Services Settings’ Rule Transition Plan
The 30 day comment period will begin on May 24, 2016 and end on June 23, 2016. The Agency will post the waiver amendment request with a description of the changes on its website in conjunction with the waiver amendment. When submitting written comments by postal service or internet e-mail, please have ‘iBudget Waiver Amendment’ 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: FLMedicaidWaivers@ahca.myflorida.com.
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). For more information, you may contact: Sophia Whaley at 1(850)412-4179 or email FLMedicaidWaivers@ahca.myflorida.com.
The waiver amendment request document can be viewed at the following link: http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/hcbs_waivers/index.shtml.
