GIS 15 MA/018: Care At Home I/II Waiver Renewal

To: All Local District Commissioners, Medicaid Directors, Care At Home Coordinators

From: Mark Kissinger, Director Division of Long Term Care

Subject:Care At Home I/II Waiver Renewal

Effective Date: Immediately

Contact Person: Division of Long Term Care
Linda Milano, (518) 473-6020 cah@health.ny.gov

The purpose of this GIS is to advise LDSS staff that the State has obtained a 90-day temporary extension from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue operating the current Care At Home (CAH) I/II program, a 1915(c) home and community based Medicaid waiver. The extension allows the Care at Home Waiver (NY.4125.R05) to continue operating through November 20, 2015 at cost and utilization levels approved for the fifth year of the waiver program with federal financial participation. CMS is granting the temporary extension in order to provide additional time for the state to fully respond to CMS' formal request for additional information (RAI) to the State's waiver renewal application.

LDSS CAH staff should continue to accept and process applications for enrollment in CAH I/II using the currently approved eligibility criteria.

All current requirements in the CAH I/II waiver remain in effect until CMS approval is obtained for the waiver renewal.

In the pending CAH I/II waiver application, the Universal Assessment Tool (UAS-NY) will replace the currently used Pediatric Patient Review Instrument (PPRI) to evaluate level of care (skilled facility or hospital level of care) for CAH I/II eligibility and service need purposes. While awaiting CMS approval of the waiver renewal, the PPRI continues to be the required level of care assessment tool.

If you require any assistance regarding CAH I & II operations, please contact Linda Milano, CAH Coordinator, at 518-473-6020, or via email at cah@health.ny.gov.