Notice is hereby given, in accordance with 42 CFR §441.304, that the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) is proposing to amend its 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) ID Waiver.
Summary
This amendment will allow DHS to increase the number of reserved capacity slots available in the ID waiver from 125 to 350 annually due to closure of ICF/IDs in response to staffing shortages. This will not constitute a change or increase to the total number of point-in-time or unduplicated waiver slots approved in the current ID Waiver.
Through this amendment, the State will reserve 350 slots each year for use by participants living in an ICF/ID, nursing facility or out of state placement who choose to access services in the ID Waiver program. A reserved capacity slot is also available to members accessing the Money Follows the Person (MFP) grant as they transition from MFP funding to the ID waiver after one year of MFP funding. DHS currently has temporary federal authority for 350 reserved capacity slots due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, this amendment will allow for continued operation of this policy.
Public Review and Comments
A copy of the 1915(c) waiver amendment and this public notice are posted on the DHS website at https://dhs.iowa.gov/public-notices/ID_Waiver. To reach all stakeholders, non-electronic copies will be made available for review at each local DHS office.
Written comments may be sent to: Brian Wines, LTSS Policy Specialist, Iowa Medicaid, 1305 E. Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0114. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to BWINES@dhs.state.ia.us. Please indicate “ID Waiver Reserved Capacity” in the subject line of the email.
All comments must be received by April 21, 2022 at 4:30 PM.
Attachments
Submitted by:
Elizabeth Matney, Medicaid Director
Iowa Department of Human Services