The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently notified the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) of the approval of the OBRA Waiver amendment. The amendment is effective on January 1, 2020.

The changes in the approved amendment include:

• Revise the Residential Habilitation service definition by modifying the number of hours that are defined as a day unit from a minimum of 12 hours to 8 hours.
• Revise the service definitions of Job Finding, Job Coaching, Employment Skills Development, Career Assessment, and Benefits Counseling to address when employment services can be provided through the OBRA waiver, should the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) have a waiting list (closed order of selection) or when OVR has not made an eligibility determination within 120 days.
• Update the Abuse Registry Screening information to reflect that the Department of Human Services (DHS) utilizes IDEMIA as the data system to process fingerprint-based FBI criminal record checks, as well as other minor changes.
• Revise cost neutrality estimates to reflect rate changes to the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) and Residential Habilitation waiver services.

If you have any questions, please contact the OLTL Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management at 717-857-3280.