WSR 16-15-065
INTERPRETIVE OR POLICY STATEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
[Filed July 18, 2016, 2:38 p.m.]
Notice of Interpretive or Policy Statement
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.
Aging and Long-Term Support Administration
Division of Home and Community Services (HCS)
Document Title: Public Notice.
Subject: Amendments to the Community Options Program Entry System (COPES) (WA.0049), New Freedom (WA.0443), and Residential Support Waiver (WA.1086).
Effective Date: January 1, 2017.
Document Description: Home and community services, a division of aging and long-term support administration, intends to submit waiver amendments with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for COPES waiver (#WA.0049), the New Freedom waiver (#WA.0443) and the Residential Support Waiver (#WA.1086).
The amendment to each waiver will modify language related to the quality assurance sampling methodology.
The amendment for the COPES waiver will also include:
1. Removal of the following services from the benefit package as these services are available under the community first choice option program:
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Nurse delegation.
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Personal care.
2. Removal of the home health aide service which is available under Apple Health as a medicaid benefit and has rarely been utilized as a waiver service;
3. Modification of the waiver performance measures related to the removal of the above services.
The amendment for the residential support waiver will include the addition of adult day health (ADH) services for eligible participants enrolled in the waiver and residing in an enhanced services facility.
We anticipate the amended waivers will have minimal to no negative impact on waiver participants.
The draft waiver amendments will be available from 8 a.m. August 3, 2016, through 5 p.m., September 2, 2016, at the following links:
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COPES - https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/stakeholders/hcbs-%E2%80%93-copes-draft-waiver-amendments-and-transition-plan.
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New freedom - https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/hcbs-new-freedom-draft-waiver-amendment-and-transition-plan.
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Residential support waiver - https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/stakeholders/hcbs-residential-support-waiver-amendments.
A paper copy of the draft amendments are available upon request by contacting Debbie Johnson at the address listed below or calling 1-800-422-3263 and selecting option #6.
To receive a copy of the interpretive or policy statements, contact Debbie Johnson, HCS Program Manager, HCS, 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.dshs.wa.gov/altsa.