Home-Based Support Services (HBS) Information

Recent Changes in the HBS Program

Effective July 1, 2017 the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Medicaid Waiver programs, including Home-Based Support Services (HBS), began undergoing some changes based on direction from the federal government, specifically the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  The 3 main changes are summarized below.

  1. Phased out Service Facilitation and Introduced Self-Direction Assistance.  From July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the Division phased out the title and role of Service Facilitation. HBS participants are no longer required to have a Service Facilitator. The Division introduced a new service under HBS called Self-Direction Assistance (SDA). An SDA assists the participant (or the participant's family/representative, as appropriate) in arranging for, directing and managing services.  The extent of the assistance furnished to the participant or family is to be specified in the Personal Plan.  More information on SDA is available through the Self-Direction Assistance Guidelines and the HBS Frequently Asked Questions links below.
  2. Conflict of Interest Free Case Management: The ISC agency became the case manager. Case management includes: determining eligibility for services, finding providers, developing the Personal Plan and monitoring Plan. "Conflict Free" means that Case Management must be done by someone that is not a relative of the person served, a provider agency or someone who works at a provider agency; it cannot be done by someone who has a financial interest in a provider or someone who would benefit from providing services.
  3. Person Centered Planning is a process that outlines what is important to a person and what is important for a person. It is a way to record a person's strengths, needs, desires as well as risk. Person Centered Planning has three main parts: the Discovery Tool, the Personal Plan and the Implementation Strategy. For more information on the Person Centered Planning click on this link Person Centered Planning

HBS Information