Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS)

Strategies for Successful Integration HCBS Conference

September 14, 2017 | Salt Lake City, UT

Big changes are coming to waiver services! All services provided through the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) are waiver services and will be affected by the new federal Home and Community Based Settings rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The rule requires changes to the way services are currently being delivered and states will no longer be allowed to use federal money for services that isolate people from their communities.

The Disability Law Center is hosting a day-long conference that will focus on the implementation of the Home Community Based Settings rule and practical strategies for community integration. The conference will be an opportunity for consumers, families, and staff to learn about the changes that will impact all DSPD services and talk directly to experts about the services available to support people with disabilities to live, work, and play in their communities.

Session recordings can be found at this link.

New Rules Affecting Utah’s Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS)

Example of a Home & Community-Based Services situation

New rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) require the state to develop a plan to make sure individuals in Utah Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers get the supports they need to stay healthy, live where and with whom they want, participate in work they enjoy, and make decisions about their lives. Ultimately, the goal is to expand opportunities for meaningful community integration to more Utahns with significant disabilities.

The rules say the state must use its federal HCBS money to support Utahns with disabilities in their efforts to live, work, and spend time with people with and without disabilities in places that are part of the broader community. It must also make sure that individuals with disabilities are able to choose the supports and resources they want and need to help them reach their goals.

However, its up to you. The state can’t write a good plan without your help. It needs to hear about what does and doesn’t work in the current system, from those who actually use it. Tell them about where you or your family live, work, and play, and how it could be made better.

How can I submit my feedback to the state directly?

The state has already submitted a final transition plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and closed the public comment period. However, this does not mean there won’t be more chances to comment. Even after the plan is approved, the state must hold additional comment periods each time there is a substantial change to it.

You can join the Department of Health’s mailing list to receive updates, including notification of upcoming comment periods. You may also download our HCBS comment form as a guide to help you figure out what you want to say and how to say it. Finally, you can submit your comments online through the state’s comment form, via fax to (801) 323-1588, or by mail to:

Utah Department of Health
Division of Medicaid and Health Financing
Attn: HCBS Transition Planning Comments
PO Box 143112
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-3112

What if the state is not accepting public comments right now?

If you’d like, you can send your comments to the Disability Law Center at any time. We will collect the comments and send them to the state for you when the next comment period opens. Feel free to download our HCBS comment form as a guide to help you figure out what you want to say and how to say it.

Submit your comments by:

  • Email: hcbs@disabilitylawcenter.org
  • Online: disabilitylawcenter.org/hcbs (use the online comment form provided below to submit)
  • Fax: (801) 363-1437
  • Mail: Disability Law Center, Attn: HCBS Comments, 205 North 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

What should I say in my comments to the state?

As you write your comments, consider your own experience with the HCBS service system. What needs to change in order to help people with disabilities, and those who are aging to have full access to the community?

Questions YOU may want to answer:

  • Can you choose what you do each day and where you want to go?
  • Can you spend your money the way you would like?
  • Did you choose where you live?
  • Did you have a choice where you work and the type of work you want to do?
  • Do you work mostly with people who also have disabilities?
  • When you helped develop your support plan, did people ask you about things you are good at, and what you need to live your life the way you want? Did they listen?
  • Do you have choices in the supports you receive and the people who help you?

Questions FAMILY MEMBERS may want to answer:

  • Does your family member have the supports they need to be part of the community?
  • Does your family member have friends without disabilities who are not relatives or service providers?
  • Does your family member have access to transportation and other supports needed to go to work, go shopping, go to church, or volunteer?
  • Does your family member have the choices and support they need to pursue a job which reflects his or her interests and abilities?

You may also download our HCBS comment form as a guide to help you figure out what you want to say and how to say it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

HCBS Comments/Suggestions

As you write your comments, consider your own experience with the HCBS service system. What needs to change in order to help people with disabilities, and those who are aging to have full access to the community?

  • Please let us know how you heard about us so we can improve how effectively we deliver information to you.

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