ODP Announcement 21-035 is to inform all interested parties of the submission of the proposed amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Personal/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) waivers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is anticipated that the amendments will be effective July 1, 2021.

The submitted waivers include modifications that were made as a result of public comment received by about 160 stakeholders which included individuals and self-advocates, families, agencies, and organizations. Each full waiver application, as well as a side-by-side of substantive changes made as a result of public comment, is available online here.

CMS has 90 days to review the amendments and changes may occur to the content based upon discussion with CMS during the approval process. It is anticipated that these waiver amendments will be approved and effective July 1, 2021. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will inform all stakeholders when CMS has officially approved the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS waivers and will make the approved waivers available at that time.

In addition, ODP is currently preparing the renewal of the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW). The renewal is expected to be effective July 1, 2021. The proposed changes in the amendment, including modifications that were made as a result of public comment, will be submitted to CMS with the submission of the waiver renewal application. Once the renewal application for the Adult Autism Waiver is submitted to CMS for review, ODP will notify all stakeholders of the submission and post the renewal application online.

The July 2021 proposed waiver amendments that were published for public comment contained amendments relating to remote service delivery, services while a participant is hospitalized, and the allowance for Supports Coordination Organizations to be Organized Health Care Delivery Systems. Since Appendix K is still in effect, ODP did not include these amendments in the July 2021 submission to CMS. Those proposed amendments and public comments will be reviewed and considered for a waiver amendment that will be effective in January 2022.

Questions about this communication should be directed to the appropriate ODP Regional Office.