Agency Seeks Public Comment on Medicaid Waiver Changes Involving Developmental Disability Services

The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Developmental Disabilities Division is seeking public comments on the renewal of the Medicaid 1915(c) Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities (IID/DD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver. The current waiver is approved for five years and expires March 31, 2019. 

The draft changes include increases in the number of slots available each waiver year to serve qualifying individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities, and the addition of a new service called community transition service, which helps qualifying individuals move from an institution to community living. The department also proposes removing the eight-hour limit on the number of hours per day allowed for day habilitation services (daily scheduled activities, training and supports provided in a nonresidential setting). 

The 1915(c) draft waiver renewal application and PowerPoint slides describing the proposed changes are available at www.nd.gov/dhs/services/disabilities/dd.html. Individuals unable to access this document via the Web, can request a paper copy.

Comments and public input on the proposed changes will be accepted until 5 p.m. Central Time on Nov. 29, 2018.

Comments can be submitted to the Department of Human Services - Developmental Disabilities Division, Attn: Heidi Zander, at 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 1A, Bismarck, N.D., 58501,hzandernd [dot] gov

, 701-328-8945, or ND Relay TTY 800-366-6888.