Re: Fw: Arc and Comment on New Adult Waiver Draft

[Guest guest]

Hi Ellen,

I find the new adult waiver draft very confusing.

Is it saying that those who have the waiver need to renew it every five years or

is this a new draft for those who don't have it yet?

The changes that I would like to see:

1. the waiver should be an entitlement for all persons with disabilities

2. a uniform way to access these funds for all persons in need of services

rather than a random pull from puns list

3. a rollover for adult waiver like the childrens waiver

Thais

[Guest guest]

I apologize for the very lengthy document that is part of the information

provided by the Arc of Illinois in regard to the waiver renewal...

The Federal governmental department called CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid

Services) requires that each state renew their Medicaid waivers every 3 or every

5 years, depending on the determination made by CMS at the last

renewal...Illinois' Medicaid waiver for supports and services for people with

developmental disabilities is up for renewal and the state is seeking input on

how the Waiver can be more in line with our loved one's needs. This is a VERY

important process, especially as many of us feel that the waivers do not provide

the needed flexibility to provide supports and services in community. Day

supports and services have historically been in sheltered workshops and there is

little flexibility in being able to create community-based options that can get

paid for by our current waiver. That is one very large gap but there are many

others. I would welcome feedback and discussion on IPADDU. I will pass

comments and suggestions to the decision makers in Springfield.

Thais, I will pass your comments along...

Thanks.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

[Guest guest]

Ellen,

Is there a way to look at this document so we can respond more appropriately?

Kathy

Re: Fw: Arc and Comment on New Adult Waiver Draft

I apologize for the very lengthy document that is part of the information

provided by the Arc of Illinois in regard to the waiver renewal...

The Federal governmental department called CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid

Services) requires that each state renew their Medicaid waivers every 3 or every

5 years, depending on the determination made by CMS at the last

renewal...Illinois' Medicaid waiver for supports and services for people with

developmental disabilities is up for renewal and the state is seeking input on

how the Waiver can be more in line with our loved one's needs. This is a VERY

important process, especially as many of us feel that the waivers do not provide

the needed flexibility to provide supports and services in community. Day

supports and services have historically been in sheltered workshops and there is

little flexibility in being able to create community-based options that can get

paid for by our current waiver. That is one very large gap but there are many

others. I would welcome feedback and discussion on IPADDU. I will pass

comments and suggestions to the decision makers in Springfi eld.

Thais, I will pass your comments along...

Thanks.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

[Guest guest]

Kathy:

Good point about needing to see the current waiver to know what could/should be

changed...but it is not an easy read...

I would request this information from Reta Hoskins...it may even be on the

DHS/DDD website...

Ellen

Last Name: Hoskin

First Name: Reta

Title: Acting Director

Agency: Department of Human Services

Address: Division of Developmental Disabilities

Address 2: 319 E. Madison, Suite 3M

City: Springfield

State: Illinois

Zip: 62701

Phone: (217) 782-9421 Ext: [ ] [ ] TTY

Fax: (217) 558-2799

E-mail: Reta.Hoskin@...

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

[Guest guest]

It is on the DHS website and here is the link-

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31388

<http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31388>

>

> Kathy:

> Good point about needing to see the current waiver to know what

could/should be changed...but it is not an easy read...

> I would request this information from Reta Hoskins...it may even be on

the DHS/DDD website...

> Ellen

> Last Name: Hoskin

> First Name: Reta

> Title: Acting Director

> Agency: Department of Human Services

> Address: Division of Developmental Disabilities

> Address 2: 319 E. Madison, Suite 3M

> City: Springfield

> State: Illinois

> Zip: 62701

> Phone: (217) 782-9421 Ext: [ ] [ ] TTY

> Fax: (217) 558-2799

> E-mail: Reta.Hoskin@...

>

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

thanks!

Re: Fw: Arc and Comment on New Adult Waiver Draft

It is on the DHS website and here is the link-

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31388

<http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31388>

>

> Kathy:

> Good point about needing to see the current waiver to know what

could/should be changed...but it is not an easy read...

> I would request this information from Reta Hoskins...it may even be on

the DHS/DDD website...

> Ellen

> Last Name: Hoskin

> First Name: Reta

> Title: Acting Director

> Agency: Department of Human Services

> Address: Division of Developmental Disabilities

> Address 2: 319 E. Madison, Suite 3M

> City: Springfield

> State: Illinois

> Zip: 62701

> Phone: (217) 782-9421 Ext: [ ] [ ] TTY

> Fax: (217) 558-2799

> E-mail: Reta.Hoskin@...

>

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

This was taken off the DHS website....

Covered Services:

Residential Habilitation (Community-Integrated Living Arrangements and

Community Living Facilities)

Is this or will it be covered if you have the Home Based Waiver?

My understanding is that the only way a person is covered is if they are

homeless, abused or neglected.

I would like to see respite services covered through the waiver, also job

coaching & other ways of employment than just the work shops.

Liz

[Guest guest]

Liz:

I will send your comments about the Waiver, on...

Habilitation does not refer to people receiving Home Based funding, and right

now, only those who meet emergency criteria are able to access community

residential placement. Keep in mind that the Ligas Consent Decree does

establish a way for 3,000 non-emergency CILA placements for people on PUNS.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

[Guest guest]

We have Home Based services right now and my daughter lives with me.

We are supposedl on a list for her to have the option for Intermittent

(an apartment with assistance 20 hrs weekly) or group home within 5

years. That's my understanding through the agency. Gloria Yes

it would be wonderful to have some respite available. I just had to go

into the hospital for 5 days in an emergency. Luckily I have a very

good friend who is also a PSW for Stef and they came and got her and

kept her. I do not know what I would have done otherwise and my agency

says their is no such thing as emergency respite. I had always thought

that a temporary placement could be make into a group home under such

conditions, but apparently not. That should be included. I am sure I

am not the only single parent without family support that could fall

into this category. I have health issues which could be a problem and

friends are not always available or capable of helping Gloria

[Guest guest]

For parents in your situation, it seems you would have 2 options using

your Home-Based Support Services funding.

Out-of-home respite IS a covered service in both the Children and Adult

Waiver. Here is a link to the services available in the waivers-

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=52665

<http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=52665>

According to the Waiver Manual, funding covers 60 days per FY (July

1st-June 30th) per individual; unless a written extension request is

submitted to and approved by DHS/DDD. Funding for this service is not

taken from the monthly allotment. The Illinois Respite Coalition is an

excellent resource for finding respite providers throughout the state

and here is a link to their website-

http://www.illinoisrespite.org/providers.html

<http://www.illinoisrespite.org/providers.html>

Another option is called Temporary Assistance (formally referred to as

Crisis Services). Here is the description from the Waiver Manual-

1. Temporary Assistance

Note: This service is available in the Children's Support Waiver and

Adult Waiver Program.

This service is available to Adult Waiver participants who are

authorized for Home-Based Support Services (HBS). The cost of these

services is not counted toward the monthly maximum. These services may

not exceed $2000 in any single month and may not be authorized for more

than two consecutive months or 60 consecutive days.

Temporary Assistance (TA) includes the same activities, requirements and

responsibilities as Personal Support set forth in the above subsection.

They are provided on a temporary emergency basis because of the absence

or incapacity of the persons who normally provide unpaid care. This may

include persons who provide substantial amounts of unpaid care, but who

also receive payment for some hours of Personal Support.

Absence or incapacity of the primary caregivers must be due to a

temporary cause, such as hospitalization, illness, injury or other

emergency situation.

TA is not available for caregiver absences for vacations, educational or

employment-related reasons or other non-emergency reasons.

No TA may be delivered during the typical school day relative to the age

of the participant or during times when educational services are being

provided.

If you are in the Home-Based Program, the best person to help with

understanding the services available to you and accessing them is your

Service Facilitator. Sorry this is such a lengthy response to your

posting but hope it helps!

>

> We have Home Based services right now and my daughter lives with me.

> We are supposedl on a list for her to have the option for Intermittent

> (an apartment with assistance 20 hrs weekly) or group home within 5

> years. That's my understanding through the agency. Gloria Yes

> it would be wonderful to have some respite available. I just had to go

> into the hospital for 5 days in an emergency. Luckily I have a very

> good friend who is also a PSW for Stef and they came and got her and

> kept her. I do not know what I would have done otherwise and my agency

> says their is no such thing as emergency respite. I had always thought

> that a temporary placement could be make into a group home under such

> conditions, but apparently not. That should be included. I am sure I

> am not the only single parent without family support that could fall

> into this category. I have health issues which could be a problem and

> friends are not always available or capable of helping Gloria

>