Application for 1915 (c) HCBS Waiver 

 

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is seeking stakeholder input on the renewal of the Department's HCBS Waiver for Community Mental Health Support (the "MI waiver"). The current waiver expires on June 30, 2012. The renewal application must be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval by March 30, 2012.

 

The primary changes in the 2012 waiver application involve new quality and performance measures. These measures are designed to meet six required assurance to CMS. The assurances apply to: Level of Care, Service Plans, Qualified Providers, Health and Welfare, Administrative Authority, and Financial Accountability.

 

Some of you provided feedback last November on potential new waiver services. The 2012 waiver application does not include new services for the following reasons:

 

• The Department's first priority was to develop a CMS-mandated Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for the MI waiver and obtain CMS approval. Without an approved CAP, CMS was unwilling to approve a waiver renewal for July 2012. The CAP was submitted and approved by CMS in early November 2011.

• Per CMS' direction, the CAP focused on the need for increased attention to and focus on the administration, operation, and outcomes of the MI waiver (as well as other HCBS waivers). CMS considers effective implementation of the CAP critical to continuation of the MI waiver.

• The deadline for submittal of the MI waiver renewal application is March 31, 2012. Development of new services and associated utilization/financial projections, provider qualifications, program rules, and rates is a detailed and lengthy process. The Department's goal is that new service development be done thoughtfully and carefully. We felt that developing new services now could jeopardize submitting the renewal application on time.

• Opportunities for new service development are still available through a future waiver amendment and/or the Department's waiver modernization project. Our technical assistance team reports that the services most requested by Colorado stakeholders are also those most frequently being added to the waivers in other states. They agree that rushing the service development process is not advisable, but told us that future waiver amendments will be much easier, given the work we have already done on the quality and performance measures.

• The Department is still committed to improving HCBS services for people with mental illness and is already beginning to look at service development and other waiver enhancements.

 

Please note that Appendix J, Cost Neutrality Demonstration, will not be complete until later in February. The draft waiver application will be updated and reposted online when this information becomes available.

 

Starting on February 7, 2010, feedback may be submitted as directed below. Feedback is due by Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The Department encourages advocates and other organizations to assist consumers/families, as needed, to understand the waiver and submit comments.

 

• Email your feedback to: info.mentalhealthwaiver@hcpf.state.co.us or

• Fax your feedback to (303) 866-2786, Attn: Sarah Hoerle or

• Mail your feedback to:

HCPF

Attn: Sarah Hoerle, Adult Waiver Coordinator

Long Term Benefits Division

1570 Grant Street

Denver, CO 80203

• No phone calls please!

 

Thank you for your assistance.  The Department looks forward to receiving your input.

 

Department of Health Care Policy and Financing · 1570 Grant Street · Denver, CO 80203-1818 · (303) 866-2993 Phone · (303) 866-4411 Fax