Dear Families and Friends of The Arc,
Do you have an adult child who lives in a group home or for whom you are the Home Companion caregiver? And/or does your child attend a Learning Center?
There are significant changes coming. Please read on to learn how these changes will affect you.
As you may have heard, in 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a rule which affects how all states will implement and receive funding from Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). States were afforded 5 years to develop a plan to implement the "Rule", as compliance is scheduled for March 2019.
The CMS "Rule" is lengthy - but it is imperative that parents understand the "Rule", and further, that they provide their input as the Texas HHSC develops a plan to implement strategies that will accommodate all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities - taking into consideration the broad expanse of their abilities/disabilities.
Texas is now designing the plan. The Arc of Texas is working with chapters to get information from parents about how the "Rule" will affect them. They have made some good suggestions to HHSC, but nothing has been formally approved by Charles Smith, the Executive Commissioner of HHSC.
As a single example, the current learning center service delivery model pays for up to 6 hours a day at a center which serves only people with IDD. Going forward, this service delivery model will be considered non-compliant with the "Rule". Therefore, Texas must develop alternatives to the segregated setting model and the amount of time that will be covered.
I will send information about the HHSC plan as it is formulated. The first step now, is for you to read the "Rule":
Thank you,
Laura LaVigne
Executive Director
