The Mississippi Department of Mental Health shared this announcement on its website:
“The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) Office of Mental Health in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities requests your feedback in the renewal of the 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Waiver and 1915(i) Community Support Program (CSP). DOM and DMH are seeking input regarding recommended changes from participants, caregivers, providers, and other community stakeholders prior to the submission of the renewal application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Comments or recommendations specific to this waiver must be received by February 24, 2023.
Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities And Community Support Program Basics
The Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities Waiver and Community Support Program are statewide programs administered by the DOM and operated by the DMH. They are designed to offer assistance and services in a home or community‐based setting for those who meet the criteria and qualify for Medicaid. The program allows persons to receive services and supports in their home as an alternative to intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID). The current documents are available for review by clicking below:
- Application for 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver
- 1915(i) State plan Home and Community-Based Services Administration and Operation
Contact:
Mississippi Division of Medicaid
Office of Mental Health
Toll-free: 800-421-2408
Phone: 601-359-9545
Fax: 601-359-6294
Mail: MS Division of Medicaid
Office of Mental Health
Walter Sillers Building, Suite 1000
Jackson, MS 39201
While Public Input Is Always Welcome, Recommendations Specific To The Upcoming Renewals Must Be Received By February 24, 2023.
Click here for a flyer with the above information that can be shared.“
Families as Allies appreciates the DMH and DOM asking for input, and we encourage families to share your ideas, concerns and suggestions in writing with Medicaid by February 24. Our comments will likely include the following:
- All services on the waiver list should be accessible and available. These are the listed services:
- Behavior Support/ Behavioral Supervised Living
- Community Respite
- Crisis Intervention
- Crisis Support
- Day Services-Adult
- Home and Community Supports
- Host Homes
- In-Home Nursing Respite
- In-Home Respite
- Job Discovery
- Medical Supervised Living
- Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies
- Prevocational Services
- Shared Supported Living
- Specialized Medical Supplies
- Supervised Living
- Support Coordination
- Supported Employment
- Supported Living
- Transition Assistance
- The State needs to address the multi-year waiting list.
- The waiver should provide for participant direction.
- Care coordination should be conflict-free and provide a range of choices. State agencies that attempt to provide care coordination may have inherent conflicts.
- DOM should work in partnership with families to identify and implement successful models of paying parents and guardians to provide some services.
The waiver application itself, once completed, will be put out for public comment. The current request gathers preliminary information to draft the renewal application.
Natalie Gunnels, a parent with extensive experience with this waiver, is holding a virtual meeting for families to understand this waiver and the public comment process on Friday, February 17, at 3 p.m. Central. We thank Natalie for doing this and encourage any interested families, including families whose children might qualify for the waiver but are not on it, to attend. Anyone on or off Facebook can participate in the meeting.
Anna Wolfe, investigative/poverty reporter with Mississippi Today, is interested in talking to families about their experiences with this waiver. You can contact her at awolfe@mississippitoday.org or 601-720-5370 if you want to talk to her.
