Sunday, November 30, 2014

MI HCBS Transition Plan - comments due 12/24/14

The Michigan Department of Community Health has released its transition plan for implementation of the federal Home and Community Based settings rule that was issued in January 2014. The announcement begins with a summary of the purposes of the rule. This characterization does not include any of its negative features such as limiting choice for individuals with DD who choose to live or receive services in congregate settings (more than 3 or 4 people with disabilities living  or receiving services together), including planned or intentional communities. Neither does it include exceptions to the rule for health and safety reasons.

To decipher the acronyms used in the transition plan document, refer to page 1, row 1, and the last two columns to the right under "Sources" and "Key Stakeholders". 

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently made a new set of rules for the delivery of Home and Community Based Services through Medicaid waiver programs. Through these rules, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aim to improve the experience of individuals in these programs by enhancing access to the community, promoting the delivery of services in more integrated settings, and expanding the use of person-centered planning. The home and community-based setting provisions in this final rule establish a more outcome-oriented definition of home and community-based settings, rather than one based solely on a setting's location, geography, or physical characteristics.

Overview of the Settings Provision


The final rule requires that all home and community-based settings meet certain qualifications. These include:


* The setting is integrated in and supports full access to the greater community;
* Is selected by the individual from among setting options;
* Ensures individual rights of privacy, dignity and respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint;
* Optimizes autonomy and independence in making life choices; and
* Facilitates choice regarding services and who provides them.

The final rule also includes additional requirements for provider-owned or controlled home and community-based residential settings. These requirements include:


* The individual has a lease or other legally enforceable agreement providing similar protections; 

* The individual has privacy in their unit including lockable doors, choice of roommates and freedom to furnish or decorate the unit;
* The individual controls his/her own schedule including access to food at any time;
* The individual can have visitors at any time; and
* The setting is physically accessible.

Below please find links to Michigan's HCBS Transition Plan as well as links to source documents about the HCBS rule change from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.



The MI Home and Community Based Settings rule Transition Plan

The Department released the draft plan for public comment on November 24, 2014 and will be accepting comments until December 24, 2014. You may submit comments regarding the transition plan by e-mail to:


HCBSTransition@michigan.gov

or by mail to:

Attention: HCBS Program Transition
Medicaid Policy
Michigan Department of Community Health
P.O. Box 30479
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7979

All comments on this topic should include a "HCBS Transition Plan Comment" reference somewhere in the written submission or in the subject line if an e-mail is used. Comments and related responses will be available on this website following the end of the comment period. Please list or summarize your comments in a document or email. Please do not submit an electronic version of the draft statewide transition plan using the "track changes" function.

The purpose of this review and comment on the draft statewide transition plan is to develop and implement the best plan and process possible for review and assessment of settings. Discussion regarding evidence that a particular setting is "home and community-based" and/or similar comments will not be considered. Please limit your comments to the content of the draft plan.

-MDCH Website

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have provided fact sheets, webinar slides, informational bulletins, and toolkits HERE .

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