Alabama Medicaid Seeks Public Comments on Home and Community-Based Settings Waivers

The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) is seeking public comments on the proposed amendments to the Alabama Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Waiver and the Living at Home (LAH) Waiver for persons with Intellectual Disabilities. These Waivers provide HCBS to individuals who, but for the provision of such services, would require Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) level of care as defined in 42 CFR §440.150.

Medicaid is the Administering Agency, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health Division of Developmental Disabilities (ADMH/DDD) is the Operating Agency.

An electronic version of the LAH Waiver proposal draft is located at https://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/6.0_LTC_Waivers/6.1_HCBS_Waivers/6.1.4_Live_at_Home_Waiver.aspx

An electronic version of the ID Waiver proposal draft is located https://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/6.0_LTC_Waivers/6.1_HCBS_Waivers/6.1.5_ID_Waiver.aspx

A hard copy of the proposed changes will be made available upon request for public review at each county office of the Department of Human Resources, Medicaid District Offices and the State Office of the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Written comments concerning these changes are welcomed and should be e-mailed to publiccomment@medicaid.alabama.gov.

The Home and Community-Based Settings (HCBS) Standards are designed to improve HCBS programs by ensuring the quality of Home and Community-Based Services; provide rights protections for participants, maximize opportunities for individuals to have full access to the benefits of community living, and ensure individuals can receive services in the most integrated setting. HCBS programs serve a variety of targeted populations, such as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or mental illnesses.

By 2022, the Alabama Department of Mental Health's Division of Developmental Disabilities along with Alabama Medicaid, is required to fully implement the Home and Community-Based Settings Rule. The final Home and Community-Based Services regulations set forth new requirements under which states may provide home and community-based long-term services and supports. The regulations enhance the quality of HCBS and provide additional protections to individuals that receive services under Medicaid authorities.