Good morning,
QUICK NOTES
- Today, Friday, July 1, 2022, is the first day of the new fiscal year - Fiscal Year 2023. As stakeholders are aware, the new fiscal year means the start of a new budget as well as new projects/programs, grants, etc. The Division will communicate on any and all of those as necessary. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
- The Division is pleased to announce that the updated DDD Waiver Manual is now up on the IDHS website - DDD Waiver Manual.
- Be on the lookout for finalized DDD Information Bulletins, specifically for ADA/Olmstead Outreach and ISSA Monitoring Visits, both of which have a July 1 effective date. The Division will communicate Bulletin updates via our normal processes.
DELAY IN PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING TEMPLATES
Earlier this month, the Division offered 4 webinars to discuss revisions to the forms used in the Person- Centered Planning Process. The revision included modifications to the Discovery Tool, Personal Plan and the development of a template for Implementation Strategies. We have been working diligently with various teams within the State of Illinois to finalize a fillable form for the 3 new tools. Unfortunately, we have been notified that these forms are taking additional time to be finalized and as a result, we have decided to delay the July 1 start date. Providers should continue to train staff on the implementation of these changes using the previously released versions (Attached templates: Discovery Tool, Personal Plan, Implementation Strategies). Once the forms are finalized, they will be sent out via DDD Communications with a new expected start date.
WAIVER RENEWALS
The Division is thrilled to announce that we have received approvals, by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), of the Waiver Renewal for the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Waiver, the Children's Residential Waiver, and the Children's Support Waiver with effective dates of July 1, 2022. With this renewal of the Adult Waiver, it is now back on the same renewal cycle as the 2 Children's Waivers.
As a reminder, significant changes to each of the 3 Waivers are noted below.
- Adult Waiver
- Updating the performance measures reflecting CMS recommendations, consistency across the various waiver programs and two new performance measures specific to the Settings Rule.
- Updating words and terms for consistency throughout the application.
- Revise restraint and restrictive intervention language.
- Adding Assistive Technology as a standalone service. It was previously included in the Adaptive Equipment service definition.
- Requiring the development of a Back-Up Plan for Home Based Service (HBS) participants.
- Increasing the number of required ISC visits from 2 to 4 annually.
- Children's Support Waiver
- Updating language to be consistent with person-centered planning.
- Updating the Behavior Intervention and Treatment waiver service definition.
- Updating Performance Measures to reflect CMS recommendations and to create consistent expectations amongst the nine HCBS waiver programs in the state.
- Adding restraint and restrictive intervention language for youth who are receiving services from a Support Services Team (SST).
- Requiring the development of a Back Up Plan for HBS participants.
- Children's Residential Waiver
- Updating language to be consistent with person-centered planning.
- Updating the Behavior Intervention and Treatment waiver service definition.
- Removes the ability of providers to utilize seclusion in the delivery of waiver services.
- Revising restraint and restrictive intervention language.
- Children's Group Home rates are being increased by 3% in accordance with the FY22 Budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor (this has been done via Appendix K to date).
- Updating Performance Measures to reflect CMS recommendations and to create consistent expectations amongst the nine HCBS waiver programs in the state.
Specific to the Behavior Intervention and Treatment waiver service changes for the Children's Waivers, please be aware that this definition is being updated in our waivers based upon updates within the State's Medicaid State Plan to the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) service.
HBS BACK-UP PLAN
With the approval of the Waiver renewals, individuals who receive HBS, specifically Personal Support, are required to develop a Back-Up Plan to be included as part of the Personal Plan development process. An emergency back-up plan is required to handle situations when an employee, who is providing essential supports, is unavailable, the Employer of Record is not capable or available to manage employees, or the employee is handling other emergencies. A back-up plan may include friends, family or other natural supports, trained and qualified employees, or agency providers who can be called for assistance. If back-up services are to be purchased from an agency provider, the individual/Employer of Record must consider such costs in the budget. In addition, any employees who are paid to provide back-up services must not be scheduled for over 40 hours per week. All members of your support team need to be educated about your back-up plan and have the information accessible. The Back-Up Plan form has been developed but is not yet available for use. The Division will communicate with stakeholders when the form is available on the IDHS website. The form will be titled "Individualized Back-Up Plan" and is the form number "IL462-4125" for purposes of finding it on the website once it is available.
Happy 4th of July!
Sarah Myerscough-Mueller
Interim Director - Division of Developmental Disabilities
Illinois Department of Human Services
401 S. Clinton St., 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60607
O: (217) 524-2512
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.
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