In accordance with the public notice requirement of Title 42, Section 441.304 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the State of Hawaii, Department of Human Services and Department of Health (the State), hereby notifies the public that it intends to request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an amendment to the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD Waiver) authorized in Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this is to provide public notice and elicit public input regarding the proposed amendments to its current 1915(c) HCBS I/DD Waiver that serves individuals with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities who meet institutional level of care, and choose to live in their own home or in the community with appropriate and quality supports designed to promote health, safety and independence.

OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS: This amendment will implement a rate increase for specific waiver services based on the provider rate study conducted in 2020.

The rate study proposed rate increases for the following services:

Personal Assistance/Habilitation, Residential Habilitation, Additional Residential Supports, Adult Day Health, Community Learning Service, Discovery and Career Planning, Individual Employment Supports, Respite, Chore, Non-Medical Transportation, Private Duty Nursing, Training and Consultation, and Waiver Emergency Services.

The rates for these services will be increased by amounts equal to one-half of the difference between current rates and the rates recommended by the 2020 rate study, producing increases between approximately 1% and 40%. The rate increase is included in the State’s spending plan to use funds made available through section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).

PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSION PROCESS: As required by 42 C.F.R. 441.304, the State must establish and use a public input process for any changes in services or operation of the waiver. The opportunity for public comment shall be held open for a minimum of 30 days prior to implementation of the proposed change or submission of the proposed change to CMS, whichever comes first.

Comments will be accepted for consideration from the date when this notice is published through April 15, 2022.

Individuals may submit written comments using the following methods:

By email: doh.dddcrb@doh.hawaii.gov (Please identify in the subject line: Waiver Amendment)

By mail: Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Division Attention: Community Resources Branch 3627 Kilauea Avenue, Room 411 Honolulu, Hawaii 96816

A copy of the 1915(c) I/DD Waiver is available online at: https://medquest.hawaii.gov/en.html under Featured News and https://health.hawaii.gov/ddd/ for public viewing.