Community Integration & Habilitation Waiver Renewal and Transition Plan; Opportunity for public comment

For the original publication, please click here. The following is a text version of the original publication. 
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To: Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services Providers and Stakeholders 
From: Nicole Norvell, Director, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services 
Re: Community Integration & Habilitation Waiver Renewal and Transition Plan; Opportunity for public comment 
Date: July 7, 2014 

The Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) and the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) have developed a high level transition plan on how Indiana plans to meet the new Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) rules. 

The transition plan will include how DDRS will review state standards, rules and policies; how DDRS will assess community based settings and a timeline for doing so; a timeframe for the completion of a comprehensive transition plan; a process for bringing all HCBS settings into compliance and a plan for ensuring the health and safety of individuals. 

To support the transition plan process, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has reviewed a draft of Indiana’s plan and provided valuable feedback. Now, stakeholders are being asked to provide public input and comment in order to allow Indiana to develop a comprehensive assessment plan. 

The high level transition plan and the Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) Waiver application will be submitted to the CMS no later than August 15, 2014. DDRS has posted the transition plan, for review and comment, on the Draft Policies for Public Comment webpage. 

Comments and suggestions will be received for a period of 30 days, ending on August 7, 2014, and may be emailed to DDRSpolicies@fssa.in.gov or submitted in writing to: 

The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services 402 W. Washington St., Rm. W451, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2243

DDRS will provide an opportunity for public comment during the DDRS quarterly provider meeting July 16, 2014, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Indiana Government Center South Auditorium. For more information on the provider meeting or to register, please refer to the June 25, 2014, Provider Meeting Announcement. 

DDRS and OMPP have established a timeline for this process, which is outlined below: 

July 7: DDRS posts Transition Plan for Public Comment 
July 7– August 8: Public Comment Period 
July 16: Opportunity for Comment at Quarterly Provider Meeting 
July 18: DDRS Submits Draft of CIH Application to CMS – without Transition Plan 
August 8–14: DDRS Reviews public comment and updates Transition Plan as appropriate 
August 15: DDRS submits CIH Waiver and Transition Plan to CMS 

Please continue to monitor the DDRS Website for updates and additional information.