STATE GETS INITIAL APPROVAL OF UPATED TRANSITION PLAN FOR COMPLIANCE WITH HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES RULE

NEW CASTLE (July 18, 2016) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has given initial approval to Delaware's updated Statewide Transition Plan for complying with the federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) final rule. The rule defines home and community-based settings for participants in Medicaid HCBS programs.

Delaware's plan is the fourth state plan to receive initial approval. The updated plan submitted by DHSS's Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance includes summaries of comments received at public hearings earlier this year along with DHSS's responses.

CMS required all states to develop a Statewide Transition Plan to outline how they would come into compliance with the final rule by March 17, 2019. Delaware's latest version of the plan reflects feedback received by stakeholders across Delaware. The Statewide Transition Plan describes the activities Delaware will undertake to achieve full compliance with all federal requirements by the required deadline.

"We are grateful to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for this initial approval," DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf said. "And we thank stakeholders for their feedback on the Statewide Transition Plan. Moving forward, we will continue to work with individuals, families, providers and other community partners as we build a strong system of home and community-based services for all Delawareans with disabilities."

Specifically, the Transition Plan outlines the actions Delaware will take to:

• Engage stakeholders in all phases of the process.
• Assess relevant policies and regulations at all levels, as well as provider settings.
• Develop and implement strategies to remediate non-compliant situations.
• Demonstrate full compliance with the final rule by March 17, 2019.

The updated transition plan documents, public comments and DHSS's responses are available at http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dmma/hcbs_trans_plan.html

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.