WSR 15-03-047

INTERPRETIVE OR POLICY STATEMENT

[Filed January 14, 2015, 9:45 a.m.]

In accordance with RCW 34.05.230(12), following is a list of policy and interpretive statements issued by the department of social and health services.

Document Title: Public Notice.

Subject: Amendment to COPES waiver (WA.0049).

Effective Date: July 1, 2015.

Document Description: ALTSA, in coordination with the health care authority intends to submit an amendment to the COPES waiver (#WA.0049) for the purpose of removing personal care, personal emergency response systems and community transition as COPES services. These services will instead be available under the community first choice (CFC) program that will be implemented with the same effective date of July 1, 2015.

ALTSA will also be adding a new service to the COPES waiver that will provide waiver participants with monthly informational and educational materials designed to assist them in managing health related issues, achieving goals identified in their person centered service plans and addressing health and safety issues. The new COPES service which will assist participants to achieve greater health, safety and success in community living.

Participants may access these services through the CFC and continue to access the COPES waiver for additional waiver services they are eligible to receive. ALTSA anticipates a seamless transition of these services from COPES to CFC. Participants may continue to receive the same amount of services they are currently receiving from the same providers who currently provide the service.

As well as the changes related to CFC, the amendment will add an integrated managed care component called HealthPath Washington (HPW) to allow COPES participants living in King and Snohomish counties who are dual eligible (medicare/medicaid) to receive long-term services and supports through the same managed care program from which they receive medical, mental health, and chemical dependency services. The public was first notified of this amendment on September 10, 2013 (WSR 13-19-034).

In addition, ALTSA has developed a COPES waiver specific draft transition plan regarding the actions the state will take to come into, and maintain, statewide compliance with the new Code of Federal Regulations regarding home and community-based settings requirements.

The draft COPES amendment and waiver specific transition plan will be available for review and comment on the ALTSA web site from February 4, 2015, through 5:00 p.m. March 6, 2015, at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/stakeholders/home-and-community-based-services. Comments may also be submitted through the web site or mailed directly to the postal address listed below. ALTSA welcomes all comments.

For additional information, to receive copies of the amendment or transition plan and to submit comments please contact Debbie Johnson, HCS Program Manager, P.O. Box 45600, phone (360) 725-2531, TDD/TTY (360) 438-2637, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail JohnsDA2@dshs.wa.gov, web site http://www.altsa.dshs.wa.gov/.