On March 15, the Governor released his budget proposal. It is quite extensive, and in this entry, we have listed some highlights of items that have an impact on many people on the autism spectrum and their families and which address our public policy priorities. Health and Human Services $126 million for 2,000 more Innovations waiver…
Public Policy Update: Tailored Plans, NC Budget, and Medicaid Expansion
Tailored Plans Delayed until October 1, 2023 NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) announced that the new Tailored Plans under Medicaid will be delayed again, this time until October 1, 2023. Citing concerns that people would have difficulties using primary care physicians and specialty health care services (“network adequacy”) and that other…
Medicaid Transformation and Tailored Plan Updates
For additional information about the Medicaid Transformation process in North Carolina, please visit our page of information and resources. New timeline released for Tailored Plan rollout The start of the new Tailored Plans, integrated health Medicaid Benefit Plans for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as those with significant mental health and…
1915(i) Services Update: State Plan Amendment Released
Medicaid will be offering new services called 1915(i) services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autism, as well as those with mental health issues and substance use disorders. 1915(i) services will eventually replace B3 services when Tailored Plans launch in April, 2023. Unlike B3, 1915(i) services are an entitlement. This means that…
Public Policy Update – North Carolina General Assembly UpdateÂ
State Budget Adjustments Act Introduced: The NCGA is in the process this week of passing a brief budget adjustments act, HB 103. A reminder that the state passed a two-year budget for fiscal years July 2021-June 2023 last November which included additional waiver slots, increases to wages for direct support professionals, and an increase in…
Public Policy Updates – May 2022
Services in NC Medicaid Plan NC plans to offer additional services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as others, under (i) services plan through the Medicaid program. When Tailored Plans begin operation December 1, 2022 as part of the state’s Medicaid Transformation some of the services that LME-MCOs offered under b(3) such…
Public Policy Update: Rate Increase to Support Wages for Direct Support Workers A First Step in Right Direction
The state budget that passed in December 2021 included funding towards increasing Medicaid home and community-based provider rates so that wages paid to direct support professionals/direct support workers can be increased. While the budget special provision language states that 15.00 per hour is the goal, there is not enough money appropriated in the budget to…
Public Policy Update: “i” Services in 1115 Waiver May Help Those Waiting
North Carolina is in the process of seeking approval by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to add “i” home and community-based services (HCBS) under our state’s new 1115 Medicaid plan. These “i” HCBS services would offer additional supports to people with disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid. NC DHHS has requested that most…