Just released this morning is a new CMS guidance to states about the transition period for states and organizations to fully comply with the new home and community based services settings criteria. CMS will be extending the timeline for the settings to come into compliance with the HCBS rule. This new guidance does NOT change the time frame that states must have their transition plans approved, that remains March 2019. The extension to March 2022 is only for settings that existed in March 2014 to come into compliance with the rule. This means that providers already existing before March 2014 have until 2022 to be fully in compliance with home and community based service rules that include limits to the numbers of people with disabilities who can live and work together and still be counted as HCBS. We are pleased that CMS is continuing to implement the HCBS rule, however, we are concerned that extending this deadline will mean slower implementation and fewer immediate community options for individuals who want to live in homes inclusive to the broader community.
https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib050917.pdf
Thanks, Meg
Meg Cooch
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
Meg@thearcofil.org