NASDDDS Weekly news & updates | September 16, 2026 | Issue 29 | | |
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| Welcome to the weekly NASDDDS newsletter where we spotlight state and federal updates in the IDD field! Send submissions to cmcgraw@nasddds.org. | | |
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a slide deck providing additional clarity to states about the implementation of the medical frailty exclusion to the Medicaid community engagement requirements established by HR 1. While the slide deck contains no changes or additions to policy, it provides concrete examples of ways in which states can use adjudicated claims or encounter data to make assessments. The deck describes, as a suggested strategy, a three-tiered approach to using available data to determine medical frailty. READ MORE
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) has released an environmental scan of policies and programs available to people with disabilities, including information about who the programs serve and how their rules may help or hinder participants' progress towards economic self-sufficiency. READ MORE
- On August 31, all parties still remaining in the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit, in which several states are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over integration language in the 2024 revision of the HHS regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, filed a joint motion for entry of final judgement. The motion jointly filed by Texas, Florida, Alaska, and HHS asks the court to vacate all references to community integration throughout the 2024 HHS Section 504 regulations, including the integration provision found in those regulations. READ MORE
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Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Department of Human Services Secretary Janet Mann announced a framework to expand supportive living services to families on the Community and Employment Support (CES) Waiver waitlist. The CES Waiver currently serves up to 8,233 people and has a waitlist of 2,464 individuals, with supportive living identified as the most frequently requested service not currently available to those waiting. The state estimates the expansion will cost approximately $17 million and expects Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entities (PASSEs) to begin offering the service to eligible families on the waitlist by January 2027 at the latest. Arkansas also plans to incorporate the change into its CES waiver resubmission in February to support longer-term access beginning with the renewed waiver in August.
- The California Department of Developmental Services issued guidance on Direct Support Professional University, a voluntary, competency-based training and certification program for DSPs serving people supported by regional centers. The initiative is expected to ultimately include three certification tiers focused on areas such as person-centered services, cultural and linguistic responsiveness, health and safety, and improving quality of life; portions of Tier 1 are currently available. DSP University training is delivered through the state's EDGE learning platform and is separate from California's required DSP 1 and DSP 2 training. READ MORE
- The New Jersey Department of Human Services has released proposed guidance implementing P.L. 2025, c. 280, which expanded the department's enforcement tools for providers serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The law adds administrative and monetary penalties to existing licensing, investigation, and corrective-action authorities and applies to a range of licensed and DDD-authorized providers. The department is seeking public feedback on the guidance as it moves toward formal regulations. READ MORE
| ___________________________ | Partner & Sponsor Updates | |
Accurate, accessible data empowers states to make informed decisions, drive systems change, and improve employment outcomes for people with IDD.
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- The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) will hold its September 2026 meeting on Thursday, September 24, from 10:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. ET and Friday, September 25, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET. The meeting will be webcast live and is open to remote participants. The full agenda, meeting information, and registration are available on MACPAC’s meetings page. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the webcast by email. READ MORE
- A new toolkit from the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), developed with support from The SCAN Foundation, translates feedback from dually eligible individuals into concrete actions for Medicaid agencies. Drawing on published research and input from advisory panels of dually eligible individuals and Medicaid staff, the toolkit identifies potential state actions for incorporating enrollee perspectives into policy and program design. Across four modules, the toolkit describes what dually eligible individuals say about their experiences, outlines potential state actions, highlights state examples, and connects readers to implementation resources. READ MORE
- Children with complex behavioral health conditions, especially those who exhibit serious and dangerous behaviors, require more than isolated interventions—they need coordinated, trauma-informed, person-centered systems of care. A six-part webinar series hosted by NADD guides participants from understanding the neuroscience of emotional dysregulation through creating safe environments and implementing effective treatments, to embedding supports into everyday life, building organizational capacity, and coordinating services across systems. Participants will gain practical strategies to improve outcomes, strengthen resilience, and provide compassionate, evidence-informed care for children with the most complex behavioral health challenges. READ MORE
- The National Task Group (NTG) will host a free webinar on October 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET focused on helping individuals with Down syndrome and their families better understand clinical research. The session will cover common research terms, how to find and evaluate research opportunities, and factors to consider when deciding whether to participate. Self-advocates, family members, caregivers, direct support professionals, and healthcare providers are encouraged to attend. READ MORE
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The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) does not exclusively endorse any sponsor, product, or service referenced in this newsletter. Likewise, the views, information, and content presented in this newsletter do not constitute endorsement by any sponsor. All editorial content is developed independently by NASDDDS to inform and support its members.
For accessible or alternate versions of this information, please email cmcgraw@nasddds.org.
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