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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/ Meeting on May 17 to Update Stakeholders on Section 9817 HCBS Improvement Plan
All interested stakeholders are invited to a meeting with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. As the department proceeds with the Section 9817 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Improvement Plan, this meeting is an opportunity to hear about updates to the plan and the Department’s short-term priorities. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Please register in advance by clicking on the link below https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqd--srjMtH9LMK6lK6FePUwKsRiX3QEZM After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Real time transcription and captioning (CART) will be provided for this meeting. If you require accommodations to attend this meeting (for example sign language or other language interpreters), please contact us at OADS@maine.gov by May 10, 2022. For the 4th year, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is pleased to be partnering with the University of Maine to offer STEP UP – a college prep summer program for upper-level high school students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. We are very excited to be back on campus after two summers of offering the program virtually. STEP UP will run from July 11-August 12. This year we are focusing on a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) themed program. We have a great in-person 3- credit introduction to STEM course that the students will be taking (INT 188 see attached course flyer), an associated Project-Based Learning Paid Work Experience, and of course 5 weeks of living in the dorm and eating in the café. Janet May from the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies and Dr. Josh Taylor, UMaine Asst. Professor of Special Education will be offering College Prep Seminars. There will also be a day of PEERS® Bootcamp for social skill development with UMaine Autism expert Dr. Sarah Howorth and VR staff. Janet May and I will be starting very soon to schedule informational interviews with interested youth and families. We expect to enroll approximately 10 youth. If you have someone who could benefit from this opportunity – please share the flyer and/or pass along their contact information to me. We expect that slots will fill quickly! As a reminder – there is no cost to youth or families to participate. Attention Providers of Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 Services: Part AAAA Long-Term Services and Supports and HCBS Rate Increases
May 02, 2022 Attention Providers of Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 Services: Part AAAA Long-Term Services and Supports and HCBS Rate Increases This week, the Department will update the rates for MaineCare Benefits Manual Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 associated with Part AAAA of P.L. 2021, ch. 398 retroactively to January 1, 2022. Please see our previous announcement for more detail on these rate increases, including a summary rate table with specific codes and rates affected by this change. The Department will have prior authorizations (PAs) updated for sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 services and claims will be available for provider adjustment on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, with one exception: PAs for Section 21 Home Support- Agency Per Diem (T2016 or T2016 SC), will be updated and claims will be available for adjustment on Friday, May 20, 2022. The later date for these Agency Home Support codes is due to additional system changes needed to enable retroactive billing of those rates. We will notify you when the PA updates and full list of rates are in the MIHMS Health PAS Online Portal, and you may adjust your claims for the higher rate at that time. The purpose of these rate adjustments is to ensure that the labor components of rates are equal to at least 125% of minimum wage, consistent with the intent of Part AAAA of the biennial budget, for numerous long-term care and home and community-based services. The rates are further calibrated to reflect actual changes in the cost of living over the past year, providing additional support for the wages of all staff providing these services and for other programmatic costs. Please see the e-message from January 31, 2022 for more information regarding these rate updates. The Department has received approvals from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for these rate increases. Please contact Provider Relations Specialist, Tammy Usher with questions.  Cultural Competence and Inclusion Webinar: Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
When: May 11, 2022 7:30-8:30 am Please register in advance for this Zoom webinar. Disability as a construct has been defined from multiple perspectives. How people with disabilities have been viewed and served throughout Maine and the United States has shifted and changed from living in institutions to living in the community. Many people with I/DD and their families have experienced trauma by the systems that care for them. One way to mitigate the potential for such trauma is to ensure that professionals understand the concepts of civil rights, self-advocacy, and self-determination in relation to disability inequality. Webinar participants will also gain skills to ensure published materials are in plain language and will be introduced to other commonly used communication strategies. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be educated regarding aspects of the stigma, bias, civil rights movement, self-advocacy, and self-determination related to disability and social inequality. 2. Participants will learn the basics of developing plain language materials. 3. Participants will be introduced to commonly used communication strategies such as social stories and Picture Exchange Communication Systems. Presenter: Nancy Cronin, Executive Director, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council Bio: Nancy Cronin is the Executive Director of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) which she has led for the last 14 years. Nancy has focused on improving healthcare, education, early intervention, and other efforts by facilitating systems change to achieve a cost-effective and efficient comprehensive system of care for persons with DD. Nancy joined the staff of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in January 2008, having previously served for over four years as the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine. Please join us for our final meeting of the year which will feature a very informative presentation by the Office of Aging and Disability Services. The presenters will provide updated information about the referral process and services provided by OADS. This meeting will be by Zoom at 1:00. A flyer with more info is below. The link is below. Presenters will be: Pete Auger, Regional Supervisor York/Cumberland County Office of Aging and Disability Services Mariah Hadyniak, Intake Coordinator for York County Vanessa Clements, Intake Coordinator for Cumberland County https://zoom.us/j/93200923441?pwd=TUc0SWNxa0N1R0pVd2QvNU1yT09jUT09 The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) supports Maine's older and disabled adults by providing Adult Protective, Brain Injury, Other Related Conditions, Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Long Term Care, and Aging and Community services to the people of Maine. OADS coordinates services to assure they operate consistent with the state and federal policies and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services' goals. The vision of OADS is to promote individual dignity through respect, choice and support for all adults. It promotes the highest level of independence, health, and safety for older adults and adults with disabilities throughout Maine. DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services
Meeting on May 17 to Update Stakeholders on Section 9817 HCBS Improvement Plan All interested stakeholders are invited to a meeting with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. As the department proceeds with the Section 9817 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Improvement Plan, this meeting is an opportunity to hear about updates to the plan and the Department’s short-term priorities. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Please register in advance by clicking on the link below https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqd--srjMtH9LMK6lK6FePUwKsRiX3QEZM After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Real time transcription and captioning (CART) will be provided for this meeting. If you require accommodations to attend this meeting (for example sign language or other language interpreters), please contact us at OADS@maine.gov by May 10, 2022. DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services
Introduction to Self-Direction In Section 29 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Support Waiver Please join the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) and Applied Self Direction for an introduction to Self-Direction. We have heard self-advocates and families’ desire for self-determination and change and are introducing the upcoming implementation of Self Direction in Section 29. This service will allow members to manage their own services, decide who to hire and control their schedule for the following services:
We are hosting 2 sessions 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. Sessions will be recorded and posted after the event for those unable to attend. Session 1: Friday, May 6, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/j/82878385150 Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 One tap mobile +16465588656,,82878385150# US (New York) +13017158592,,82878385150# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 Find your local number: https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/u/kABP1Mp9P Session 2: Friday, May 13, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/j/82878385150 Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 One tap mobile +16465588656,,82878385150# US (New York) +13017158592,,82878385150# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 Find your local number: https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/u/kABP1Mp9P 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 miranda.whalen@maine.gov by May 2, 2022. In-Person Family Support Navigator Training
May 14, 2022 in the Augusta Area 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Are you the parent or caregiver to a child with a disability or special health care need? Would you like to share your knowledge to help other Maine families? If so, this opportunity may interest you! Maine Parent Federation (MPF) is seeking parents, grandparents, and caregivers to children with disabilities and special health care needs who would like to become a Family Support Navigator (FSN) to provide peer support to other families in your area. The FSN program matches experienced parents with other parents who need support while learning to navigate systems such as Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, MaineCare, Adult Services, etc., and assists in locating local and statewide resources while helping parents learn to advocate for themselves. During the COVID-19 Pandemic all support is provided through phone, text, email, and social media platforms such as zoom. In-person support can be provided if both parent and navigator agree. As a parent who has been involved with MPF in the past, we are contacting you to see if you would like to use your skills and knowledge to support other Maine families. A Family Support Navigator is a part-time independent consultant position. MPF contracts with you to provide up to 10 hours of support to each family you help. We pay $15.00 per hour of direct support to a family, a $40 monthly stipend for phone/internet, and .44 cents per mile travel reimbursement. This is a flexible opportunity as you set your own hours/schedule. MPF provides on-going supervision and technical assistance. The first part of the training will be in-person on Saturday, May 14, 2022 in the Augusta area (location to be determined) from 10AM to 4PM. Lunch will be provided. Childcare is not available. We offer a $150 stipend after completion of the training and mileage reimbursement. Please feel free to pass this along to other families you know who may be interested in providing peer-to-peer support to others. Please contact Deborah Newcombe at (800) 870-7746 or E-mail: dnewcombe@mpf.org to receive an application and job description and to answer any questions. |
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