HHS seeks public input on Medicaid waiver to expand access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking public comment on an amendment to the state's Medicaid Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (IID/DD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver. Public comments will be accepted from Jan. 26 through Feb. 25, at 5 p.m.

The waiver offers a range of in-home and community-based services that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the least restrictive setting.

The purpose of the amendment is to implement changes in services and programming to improve access to home and community-based services and update language changes related to internal processes.

One proposed change is adding a new service, Host Homes, which will assist families during times of crisis by providing a private home where their child can live in the interim, with reunification with the family as the primary goal.

The waiver amendment application with the proposed changes is available at hhs.nd.gov/waivers. Copies can be mailed upon request.

Comments can be submitted by mail to North Dakota Health and Human Services - Developmental Disabilities Section, Attn: Heidi Zander, 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 1A, Bismarck, N.D., 58501, by email to [email protected], or by phone at (701) 328-8945, 711 (TTY).

After the public comment period ends, the waiver will be submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Based on the CMS timeframes for review and approval, the waiver amendment is expected to be effective on June 1.

Waivers are agreements between CMS and a state's Medicaid agency and serve specific groups of people. Waivers specify the number of people to be served, eligibility criteria, available services-including any limits on services - and procedures for the evaluation and re-evaluation of level of care.

View the draft waiver amendment document at https://www.hhs.nd.gov/waivers. A copy will be provided upon request.