Blue Ribbon Commission on Transitions to Community Living Page 22
FINDING 8:
During the October 10, 2012 meeting, the Subcommittee heard from Pam Shipman, Cardinal Innovations LME/MCO about their use of 1915(b)(3) waiver funding options. She explained that additional habilitative services, such as supported employment, can be provided to persons with mental illness and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities by using monies saved through managed care implementation. Ms. Shipman provided detailed handouts describing services that may be funded through 1915(b)(3) waiver authority.
On November 14, 2012, the Committee heard from Tara Larson that the 1915(b)(c) waiver is in process on the regular renewal schedule. All MCOs will have the 1915 (b)(3) waiver services of respite, peer support specialist, and community guide. Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare/Cardinal Innovations will have the following additional 1915(b)(3) waiver services: in-home skill building for people with IDD, comprehensive services for women with substance abuse, and transitional living for children.
Ms. Larson indicated that supported employment will begin as a State-funded service limited to three sites that will meet the fidelity model identified in the US DOJ Settlement Agreement. Once start-up is completed and fidelity is met, then supported employment will be added as a 1915(b)(3) waiver service for implementation in July 2014. The Subcommittee also learned from Ms. Larson that DMA is reviewing the possibility of adding one-time transitional cost as a 1915(b)(3) waiver service. She stated that these transitional costs would be limited to a specific dollar amount and could be used to assist with deposits and needed furniture purchases to enable the person to move into a supported housing arrangement. The Subcommittee provides Recommendation 8 to direct the Department to explore service delivery options for individuals with mental illness to include expansion and addition of 1915(b)(3) waiver services, and review of State Plan services and making clinical and rate recommendations to amend the 1915(b) waiver upon approval of the NC General Assembly.
RECOMMENDATION 8: EXPLORE SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
The Subcommittee on Adult Care Homes, Blue Ribbon Commission on Transitions to Community Living, recommends the Blue Ribbon Commission direct the Department of Health and Human Services to expand upon and develop new service definitions and delivery options to meet the needs of individuals with a primary diagnosis of mental illness by: (1) considering an addition and expansion of 1915(b)(3) services, and (2) review of State Plan services and making clinical and rate recommendations to amend the 1915(b) waiver upon approval of the NC General Assembly. The Department shall present findings, anticipated costs, and recommendations to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, on or before March 1, 2013.
FINDING 9:
During the November 14th meeting, the Subcommittee heard from Tara Larson that the Innovations waiver expansion has been submitted to CMS for approval. An additional