Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend WAC 388-106-0300 What services may I receive under community options program entry system (COPES) when I live in my own home?, and other related rules as may be required.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the addition of two additional services in COPES, a 1915 (c) waiver, in August 2018. The department is planning to add these services to the COPES WAC: (1) Community choice guiding (CCG), to assist an individual establish or stabilize a community living arrangement; and (2) Community supports: Goods and services which will provide necessary goods and services for individuals who choose to move from a residential living arrangement to an in-home setting. Also, the home health aide benefit was removed from the COPES waiver and needs to be removed from WAC.

Currently, state funded Washington roads provides CCG and stabilizing goods and services to individuals already residing in the community who are at risk of losing their current setting of care. By adding these services to the COPES waiver, the state can receive federal match while providing stabilizing services to individuals in the community to prevent unnecessary institutionalizations.

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Angel Sulivan, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-2495, fax 360-407-7582, TTY 360-493-2637, email angel.sulivan@dshs.wa.gov.