Implementing Self Direction in Section 29 Home and Community Based Services Support Waiver
Please join the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) and GT Independence for an in-depth presentation on the implementation of self-direction for members receiving the waiver program under Section 29. During this presentation case managers, members, and families will receive information on the role of the Financial Management service, the role of the Support Broker and how to make a referral to GT Independence. We are hosting five (5) sessions over the month of July that will introduce Case Managers, Members and their Families to Financial Management Services, Support Brokerage and the services members will be able to self-direct. When: July 1, 2022 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM July 7, 2022 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM July 14, 2022 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM July 21, 2022 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM July 28, 2022 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Topic: Implementing Self Direction Join Zoom Meeting https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/84744585620?pwd=ThOl9MWwN-gwlVTFshwEv8btU71YQt.1 Meeting ID: 847 4458 5620 Passcode: 38380360 One tap mobile +13126266799,,84744585620#,,,,*38380360# US (Chicago) +16468769923,,84744585620#,,,,*38380360# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) All Community Case Managers, Members and Family Members are welcome to attend. If you require accommodations such as real time transcription and captioning (CART) or American Sign Language (ASL) or other language interpretation to attend a session, please contact Miranda Whalen at [email protected] by June 30, 2022. Attention providers of Sections 18, 20, 21 and 29
The Office of Aging and Disability Services has developed a Person-Centered Planning (PCP) Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”) document based upon provider feedback. Thank you all, as you work hard to implement the exciting enhancement to our PCP process with the new Service Implementation Plan in EIS. We appreciate you continuing to reach out and directing your questions to [email protected]. The FAQ is available on the OADS website under Person Centered Planning. Attention: Providers of Sections 18, 19, 20, 21, and 29: Appendix K to Maine’s Home and Community Based Waivers Continues to Provide Temporary Flexibilities on Service Caps, Staffing
Appendix K to Maine’s Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) waivers provides the state certain flexibilities in waiver program operations during an emergency. Maine’s Appendix K and amendments may be found here. Section K-2.b.ii. of Maine’s Appendix K, which allows staffing at a lower percentage of authorized levels, was originally set to expire on May 31, 2020. Due to continuing need related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, however, the Department has extended this provision eight times, most recently through June 30, 2022. At this time, given ongoing challenges related to COVID-19 throughout Maine, the Department will continue to provide flexibility under Section K-2.b.ii through September 30, 2022, including the provision that allows staffing at 70% of authorized levels. The Department is monitoring pandemic workforce shortages closely in light of permanent rate increases that have now been implemented retroactively to January 1, 2022, and one-time retention and recruitment bonus funds that were distributed to provider agencies in February and March of 2022. The Department expects to begin transitioning back to non-pandemic staffing requirements as appropriate later this year. The Department expects to restore staffing level requirements to 80% on October 1, 2022, and to 92.5% on January 1, 2023. Questions on use of Appendix K flexibilities may be sent to [email protected]. Forwarded Action Alert: Please contact Senators for ABLE Age Adjustment and SECURE 2.0 acts6/21/2022
Forwarded Action Alert from Maine Disability Alerts: Please contact Senators for ABLE Age Adjustment and SECURE 2.0 acts
Dear Friends of Persons with Disabilities, Please call US Senators to ask for support of ABLE Age Adjustment Act and SECURE 2.0 to increase SSI asset limit. Details below. The Senate Finance Committee has tentatively scheduled a markup on the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022, or SECURE 2.0 for Wednesday, June 22nd. SECURE 2.0 is a package of bills to help increase retirement savings and simplify retirement package plans. We are working to get the ABLE Age Adjustment Act and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act included in SECURE 2.0. Please call and educate your Senators about the importance of ABLE accounts for those with disabilities over age 26 and the critical need to include the ABLE Age Adjustment Act and the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act in SECURE 2.0. If you chose to contact your Senators, please do so immediately, but preferably by Monday June 20st. You can reach the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Please ask to speak the person who covers retirement and pensions and/or the Senate Finance Committee. The ABLE Age Adjustment Act has broad bipartisan support, including Senators Burr, Moran, Boozman, Murkowski, Marshall, and Toomey. ABLE accounts are tax-advantage savings account for people diagnosed with significant disabilities before the age of 26. These savings accounts are crucial for people with disabilities to help them accumulate savings without losing Federal benefits. Prior to the passage of The ABLE Act of 2014, individuals with disabilities could not accumulate more than $2,000 in assets without losing their ability to enroll in programs like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. The Able Age Adjustment Act would increase the age of eligibility for these savings accounts from 26 to 46, which would allow more than 14 million Americans to begin saving money through these saving accounts[1]. If this bill passes, more Americans will be able to save up to $15,000 a year and a total of $100,000 without losing access to important Federal benefits. For more information, you can read this letter from the Consortium of Constituents with Disabilities to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. Also, attached is a one-page Factsheet on the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. Additionally, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act is being considered as part of SECURE 2.0. Currently, individuals with assets amounting to more than $2,000 and couples with assets amount to more than $3,000 are not eligible for certain Federal benefits programs. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would raise the asset caps to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples. This bill also adjusts the caps for inflation every year. Thank you. From DHHS-OCFS:
Save the date! Please join us for our Children’s Behavioral Health Services Provider meeting on TUESDAY, July 19, 2022 from 1 PM to 3 PM via Zoom. Please note that there is only a Zoom option. This meeting will feature updates from OCFS, MaineCare, Kepro, and others. Additionally, we'll have a discussion about future meetings. More information regarding speakers and meeting details will be available when the agenda and any meeting materials are sent out. As well as our featured topics, we will offer opportunities to network, share, and collaborate. Cheryl Hathaway, M.Ed.,LSW Resource Coordinator Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services 19 Maine Ave. Bangor, Maine 04401-3095 207-561-4204 Email Address: [email protected] Kellie Pelletier, MS, LMSW Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Coordinator Office of Child & Family Services, DHHS 200 Main St Lewiston, ME 04240 Phone: (207) 795-4644 Email address: [email protected] BDN: UMaine study offers model for providing social skills supports to college students with autism6/10/2022
Training Opportunity: OADS DS Intake & Eligibility & MaineCare Waiver Application Process for MH/CH Case Managers/Care Coordinators.
Time Jun 14, 2022 9-11:30 AM Description This training was developed for Children’s and Mental Health Case Managers /Care Coordinators. The first part of the training will cover the Office of Aging and Disability (OADS) Adult Developmental Services Intake and Eligibility Process to include how and when to apply for services and the documents needed. The second part of the training provides a brief overview of Section 21 and 29 Maine care waiver services and goes over the Application Process Children's and Mental Health Case Managers/Care Coordinators will use to apply for these services. It includes a review of the documents needed for applications and other helpful information. Please pre-register. Trainings are offered on 6/14/22, 9/20/22 and 12/6/22. Time for all trainings : 9am Hi there, You are invited to a Zoom meeting. When: Jun 14, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkfumtqj4pHNV6Ys0gLAMjvRt85KSSMCDq After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Available Now: ARP Section 9817 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Improvement Plan: Status Update RecordingOn May 17, 2022, the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) held a meeting regarding the American Rescue Plan Act Section 9817 HCBS Improvement Plan. This stakeholder meeting provided an update on initiatives underway, such as the Recruitment and Retention Bonuses, and shared the next round of projects. The meeting was recorded and is available on the OADS website and the OADS YouTube channel.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. DHHS Notice of Final Statewide Transition Plan (STP) for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published regulations that define the settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for Medicaid HCBS services. The Statewide Transition Plan is required as part of ensuring Maine comes into full compliance with the federal regulations. This Final STP describes the strategies, processes, and resources the state has deployed to complete all efforts necessary to come into full compliance with the federal regulations by the end of the transition period afforded to the state. The Final STP serves as the state’s roadmap for implementing the federal HCBS rule and outlines a detailed work plan and timeline for ensuring that all settings in which HCBS services are provided comply with the federal standards by March 17, 2023. WAIVERS: The following waivers are subject to the new federal and state requirements within CMS 2249-F/CMS 2296-F:
For the aspects of the rule that apply to HCBS settings, states have until March 2023 to align the state’s policies, programs, and provider settings with the federal settings criteria. States must submit a Statewide Transition Plan (STP) that describes the state’s overall strategies, processes, and resources it will deploy to complete all implementation efforts by the end of the transition period. The STP describes Maine’s efforts to implement the federal HCBS rule with fidelity and outlines a detailed work plan and timeline for ensuring that all settings in which HCBS services are provided comply with the federal standards by March 2023. The State of Maine is using the federal rule as a catalyst for implementing other improvements to policy, payment, and practice associated with Medicaid-funded HCBS to improve access to and quality of HCBS services and options throughout the state. The state will continue to work with stakeholders on several additional systems change efforts that complement the vision of the federal HCBS rule. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 42 CFR 441.301(c)(6) DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING: May 10, 2022, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Due to the ongoing threat posed by COVID-19, DHHS has determined that its public hearing will be conducted solely remotely, via Zoom. This is in accordance with the DHHS Remote Rulemaking Hearings Policy issued September 10, 2021. The Department requests that any interested party requiring special arrangements to attend the hearing contact the agency person listed below before May 3, 2022. The Department welcomes public comments on Maine’s Final HCBS Statewide Transition Plan. Comments may be submitted:
Meeting ID: 816 6846 7764 One tap mobile +13017158592,,81668467764# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,81668467764# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 816 6846 7764 Find your local number: https://mainestate.zoom.us/u/kcflxx8EVz In addition to the public hearing, individuals may submit written comments to DHHS by the date listed in this notice. COMMENT DEADLINE: May 20, 2022 by 11:59 p.m. (EST) AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Heather Bingelis, Comprehensive Health Planner II AGENCY NAME: MaineCare Services ADDRESS: 109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 TELEPHONE: 207-624-6951 FAX: (207) 287-6106 TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing) Please join MomsRising, Start Early, UPLAN, the Partnership for America's Children, the Educational Equity Institute and state partners for a panel of parent experts as they share their stories as parents and advocates of children with disabilities or developmental delays.
They will highlight the importance of parent partnership and why it is crucial that parent voices are always involved in policy making decisions. Advocates and parents that are planning work together should find this panel invaluable as they design their projects. This panel will be at 7 pm eastern time on Monday, May 23. You can register for the panel at https://www.mobilize.us/momsrising/event/458649/ |
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