Children's Behavioral Health Services

  Home & Community-Based Waiver Program

 

October 28, 2011

Community Update on Waiver Services for Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

The Office of Child & Family Services, Children’s Behavioral Health Division, is very pleased to announce that CMS, the federal Medicaid authority, has officially approved our request to develop a Home & Community-Based Waiver Program for children with Intellectual Disabilities and/or Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Today, February 1, 2011, is the effective date of the implementation period. Our first task is to complete a proposed MaineCare regulation and to proceed through the formal rule making process. Approval of the proposed Section 32 rule will provide Medicaid support to waiver services by allowing it to be placed in the MaineCare Benefits Manual.

Soon you will be offered a PowerPoint script highlighting the components of the children’s waiver, and we will be convening provider meetings and phone conferencing opportunities for those who wish to learn more about the waiver. All things waiver related will also be posted on the CBHS website.

CBHS looks forward to partnering with you as we move forward with the work and meet the challenges that lay ahead in the development of this vital adjunct to our system of care. Maine will finally have the opportunity to develop and offer the services and supports that are vital in addressing children with the most complex and challenging needs and their families.

Community Update on Waiver Services for Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) is continuing work with an advisory group of parents, advocates and providers in developing a process for implementing the Children’s Waiver.   The intent of the waiver is to provide children with significant needs the opportunity to remain in their own homes or in small agency owned homes to avoid institutional care or to return to the community from such facilties.   Section 32 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual was in effect as an emergency rule as of July 1, 2011. 

  • There are some changes that are needed in the rule and therefore it is expected that the rule will again be posted for review and public comment within the next month or so.  The current rule and any future proposed rules can be found at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml.
  • Application forms for families are being developed with the advisory group and we hope to have these available within a month.  We plan to allow families a month or more to get applications in to CBHS for review prior to there being any decisions about eligibility and priority for waiver openings. A child will have to be between the ages of 5 and 17 for eligibility.  PLEASE NOTE that as long as the child was under the age of 17 as of June 30, 2011, the child will be considered within the age range for eligibility.