ODP Announcement 23-002 reports that the renewals for the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers have been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with an effective date of January 1, 2023. CMS approves waivers for a five-year period. The current Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers expired June 30, 2022, but were extended twice as discussions continued between the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and CMS.
Major changes in the renewals include:
- Remote Supports has been added as a separate, discrete service in all three waivers.
- Clarification about the activities that can be performed under the Communication Specialist service has been added, the amount of Communication Specialist services that participants can receive each year has increased from 40 hours to 60 hours, and effective January 1, 2024, the communication specialist will be required to successfully complete training provided by ODP.
- The amount of Benefits Counseling services that participants can receive each year has increased from 10 hours to 15 hours.
- The amount of tuition that can be covered through Education Support services has increased from $35,000 to $40,000.
- Companion services have expanded to support additional participants at their place of employment.
- Supported Employment services can now support participants during work-related trips.
- Participant Directed Goods and Services have been added to the Consolidated Waiver.
- The purpose of the Supports Broker service has been clarified, and recertification requirements for Supports Brokers have been added.
- The Specialized Supplies service will continue to cover personal protective equipment once Appendix K flexibilities end.
- Music, Art, and Equine-Assisted Therapy are available to individuals who receive residential services.
- Staff working for, or contracting with, Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, or Supported Living providers must complete Department-approved training on the common health conditions that may be associated with preventable deaths.
- Clarification about requirements for using technology in the provision of waiver services has been added with a focus on protecting individual privacy when using technology.
- Clarification about experience and education requirements for Supports Coordinators and Supports Coordinator Supervisors has been added, and Supports Coordinators will continue to be allowed to use teleservices to perform some of the required face-to-face monitoring per year.
A list of all major changes made in the renewals is available in the record of change document and each full waiver application approved by CMS, which are available at:
ODP will be holding a webinar to discuss major changes made in these approved waiver renewals on February 9, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here.
Questions about this communication should be directed to the appropriate Office of Developmental Programs Regional Office.
