CMS Issues Advance Notice of HCBS Waiver Rulemaking

The June 22nd Federal Register included a CMS Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on the Medicaid 1915(c) waiver. The notice invites advanced public comments by August 21, 2009. The “advanced” notice is an announcement of CMS’ intention to publish a proposed rule and solicit public comments on the changes. Last year, ANCOR provided CMS with comments on the areas it is now asking for public comments on in this advanced notice. CMS is seeking to make changes in several areas: providing states with the option of designing 1915(c) waivers to serve more than one targeted population based on functional need rather than diagnosis or condition: recommendations to strengthen person-centered principles in HCBS waiver; requirements related to identifying home and community-based character of HCBS settings; and standards for defining home and community under waivers and CMS approval of a state’s definition. ANCOR will be submitting comments to CMS. Read more!