HCBS Transition Plan Archive

In compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) submitted a transition plan to CMS that explains how the state will bring its home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers into compliance with the new regulations. The department determined that it was necessary to update our statewide transition plan (STP) and hereby gives public notice of its intent to submit the updated transition plan and addendum to CMS. The update to the statewide transition plan is contingent on CMS approval.

LDH invites you to review and comment on our updated HCBS statewide transition plan and addendum that are posted below. Each local governing entity (LGE) will have a hard copy available for review. LGE contact information is located at: http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/134.

LA State Transition Plan (January 2020)

LA STP Addendum (January 2020)

HCBS Settings Transition Plan

Interested persons may submit written comments to:

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities

c/o Rosemary Morales

Post Office Box 3117, Bin #21

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

The deadline for receipt of all written comments is March 30, 2020 by 4:30 p.m. 

Quarterly Updates

Louisiana Statewide Transition Plan (STP)

'The LA Statewide Transition Plan Addendum (August, 2019) is in response to the CMS inquiry dated April 4, 2018. The addendum contains the responses from each LDH program office, Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Aging and Adult Services and Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. The update to the statewide transition plan is contingent on CMS approval. The document is 508 compliant.''

'LA Statewide Transition Plan Addendum (August, 2019)')


Each LGE will have a hard copy available for review. LGE contact Information is located at

http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/134

You can submit comments electronically to ocdd-hcbs@la.gov or by mail to:

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
c/o Rosemary Morales
Post Office Box 3117, Bin # 21
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821

The comment period ends at close of business March 25, 2018

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OCDD Home and Community-Based Services Setting Transition Plan

CMS has issued regulations that define the settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for Medicaid HCBS. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that individuals receive Medicaid HCBS in settings that are integrated in and support full access to the greater community. The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) has developed a transition plan to evaluate HCBS settings within the Children's Choice Waiver, Residential Options Waiver, Supports Waiver, and the New Opportunities Waiver to ensure that the requirements of the rule are being met and to allow the public an opportunity to provide input on the transition plan. Comments or questions may be sent to ocdd-hcbs@la.gov

Annoucement: The Louisiana Statewide Transition Plan Receives CMS Initial Approval March 3, 2017

In March of 2014, CMS established the HCBS Settings Rule about home and community-based services provided through several Medicaid authorities. The Rule enhances the quality of HCBS, provides additional protections to HCBS program participants, and ensures that individuals receiving services through HCBS programs have full access to the benefits of community living.

CMS expects all states to review current HCBS programs and to develop a transition plan detailing site assessment processes, assessment of policies/regulations/rules, correction strategies, and timelines for compliance with the HCBS Settings Rule. LDH program offices, i.e. Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS), Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), and Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) created a comprehensive Statewide Transition Plan (STP) and this initial STP was submitted to CMS for review and approval in March, 2015. In October, 2015, CMS responded to Louisiana’s STP with a request for more detailed information on the site assessments, systemic assessment of rules/regulations/policies, monitoring of settings, relocation of participants, and Heightened Scrutiny process. Through guidance from CMS, Louisiana submitted a revised version of the STP addressing these issues on December 18, 2015.

In June, 2016, CMS requested supplemental information (site-specific assessment process/results; site-specific remediation activities; relocation of participants; Heightened Scrutiny; ongoing monitoring and compliance) be included in the STP in order to earn Initial Approval.  In addition, on August 12, 2016 CMS provided feedback to Louisiana on the systemic assessment crosswalk of rules/regulations/policies and requested further information/clarifications. Louisiana incorporated the requested information /corrections into the STP and submitted this revised version to CMS October 26, 2016.

Louisiana received notification of STP Initial Approval via email from CMS with the attached Approval letter on March 3, 2017. In order to receive Final Approval of the STP, Louisiana must complete remaining steps and submit an updated STP. These steps include: completion of comprehensive site-specific assessments with implementation of strategies for validating results; identifying remediation strategies and timelines for resolution of site-specific settings issues; establishing a detailed process for sites requiring CMS Heightened Scrutiny; developing a process for communicating with participants who need to be relocated; and establishing ongoing monitoring of settings to ensure continuing compliance. CMS will also be providing Louisiana with technical issues that must be resolved prior to Final Approval of the STP.

Once these revisions are complete and prior to submission to CMS, Louisiana will issue the updated STP for a minimum 30-day public comment period.

Quarterly Updates

  

 

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After the CMS review in the late summer, Louisiana amended the Statewide Transition Plan (STP) to include robust information about the systemic assessment review of state statutes, waivers, policy and procedures and other documentation. Minor adjustments were made in the areas of work plans and other activities. Due to a weather disaster, CMS granted the state an additional 30 days for public comments.  The revised STP was made available to the public on September 14, 2016 in both an electronic version posted on the LDH program offices websites and by hardcopy which was provided upon request.  Comments were due October 14, 2016. No comments were received. 

The following version of the STP includes these revisions and was submitted to CMS for Initial Approval review on October 26, 2016.

OCDD is committed to engaging stakeholders throughout the process of coming into compliance with CMS final rule related to HCBS settings. This posting is the latest version of the Louisiana Statewide Transition Plan for stateholder review. It will be submitted to CMS by October 30, 2016. Each LGE will have a hard copy available for review. LGE contact information is located at http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/134

 

You can submit comments electronically to ocdd-hcbs@la.gov or by mail to:

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities

c/o Christy Johnson

Post Office Box 3117,Bin #21

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821

 

The comment period ends at close of business October 14, 2016

 

 

 

The following information will be posted for comment from 04.20.2016 - 05.20.2016:

 

Row Amendment pending CMS approval (LA.0472.R01.02)

Draft-Transition Plan for OASS Community Choice(CCW) and Adult Day Healthcare (ADHC) waiver recipients into OCDD's Residential Options Waiver (ROW)-(November2015)

 

Draft: Residential Options Waiver Amendment Application LA.005.01.03 (ROW). This is a draft copy of Louisiana's Application to amend its 1915 (c) Home and Community-Based Services Residential Options Waiver. (November 2015)

DRAFT-OCDD Home and Community-Based Setting Transition Summary/Description (February 2015)
DRAFT-OCDD Home and Community-Based Services Setting Residential Options Waiver Transition Plan (February 2015)
DRAFT-OCDD Supports Waiver Transition Plan (February 2015)
Draft-Supports Waiver Application for a 1915 (c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (February 2015)

DRAFT-Amendment to the Residential Options Waiver Application for a 1915 (c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (February 2015)

OCDD held two public forums involving the impact of the Home and Community-Based Settings Final Rule and Transition Plan. To view details regarding these events, please click here

 

                                                                                                                                Back to HCBS Settings Rule

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Interim Secretary Drew Maranto

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