Waiver Title
Home and Community Supports Waiver for Persons with Autism (0993.R01.00)
Description of Emergency
COVID-19 pandemic. This amendment will apply waiver-wide for each waiver included in this Appendix, to all individuals impacted by the virus or the response to the virus (e.g. closure of day programs, etc.). CT is currently under a Stay Home Stay Safe executive order.
Start Date
End Date
Description of Transition Plan
N/A
Area(s) Affected
Area Affected
N/A
Access and Eligibility
Increase Cost Limits
The state will temporarily permit an emergency increase in the individual cost limit for existing participants if needed to support such participants in the community safely during the emergency, and in order to avoid institutionalization. All modifications resulting in exceeding the individual cost cap are subject to prior authorization by Community Options clinical staff.
Modify Targeting Criteria
N/A
Services
Modify Scope or Coverage
N/A
Exceed Service Limitations
N/A
Add Services
N/A
Expand Settings
N/A
Provide Service Out of State
This authority is being requested under an 1135 waiver.
Allow Payment for Services by Families
N/A
Modify Provider Qualifications
Modification of Provider Qualifications
N/A
Modify Provider Types
Permit substitution of staff providing Community Mentor, Life Skills Coach and Job Coach in a service plan in order to maximize use of available staffing. Providers of these services would be interchangeable in the service plan if needed to continue staffing. A person providing Life skills Coach Service may substitute for a provider of Job Coach or Community Mentor. A person providing Community Mentor may substitute for a person providing Life Skills Coach or Job Coach services and a person providing services a job coach Job Coach may substitute for a provider of Community Mentor or Life Skills Coach.
Modify Licensure/Requirements for Waiver Settings
N/A
Modification LOC Eval and Re-Eval Processes
The state will allow assessments and reassessments to be conducted virtually, waiving the faceto-face assessment requirement. The requirements for frequency of reassessments will be temporarily waived, and will be extended to a maximum of 3 months beyond the initial re-evaluation deadline.
Increase Payment Rates
N/A
Modifications of ISP
N/A
Modify Incident Reporting/Med Management Safeguards
N/A
Allow Payment for Services During Acute Care Hospital/Short Term Institutional Stay
N/A
Inclusion of Retainer Payments
N/A
Institute/Expand Opportunities for Self-Direction
N/A
Increase Factor C
N/A
Other Changes Necessary
Permit substitution of Community Mentor, Life Skills Coach and Job Coach staff in a service plan, when necessary and in order to maximize use of available staffing resources.
Addendum
HCBS Regulations
Not comply with the HCBS settings requirement at 42 CFR 441.301(c)(4)(vi)(D) that individuals are able to have visitors of their choosing at any time, for settings added after March 17, 2014, to minimize the spread of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Services
Add Electronic Method of Service Delivery
Case management; other: Life Coach services may be provided electronically or telephonically, with
approval from the care manager:
or telephonically for up to two hours per day
Add Home Delivered Meals
N/A
Add Medical Supplies, Equipment and Appliances
N/A
Add Assistive Technology
N/A
Conflict of Interest
Other Changes Necessary
Permit substitution of Community Mentor, Life Skills Coach and Job Coach staff in a service plan, when necessary and in order to maximize use of available staffing resources.
Other Changes Necessary
Permit substitution of Community Mentor, Life Skills Coach and Job Coach staff in a service plan, when necessary and in order to maximize use of available staffing resources.
Provider Qualifications
Allow Spouses and Parents of Minor Children to Provide Personal Care Servcies
N/A
Allow a Family Member to be Paid to Render Services to an Individual
N/A
Allow Other Practitioners in Lieu of Approved Providers Within the Waiver
N/A
Modify Service Providers for Home-Delivered Meals to Allow for Additional Providers, Including Non-Traditional Providers
N/A
Processes
Allow an Extension for Reassessments and Reevaluations for up to One Year Past the Due Date
X
Allow the Option to Conduct Evaluations, Assessments, and Person-Centered Service Planning Meetings Virtually/Remotely in lieu of Face-to-Face Meetings
X
Adjust Prior Approval/Authorization Elements Approved in Waiver
X
Adjust Assessment Requirements
X
Add an Electronic Method of Signing Off on Required Documents Duch As The Person-Centered Service Plan
X