The Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) seeks public comment on updates to its six 1915(c) Medicaid waivers:
- Adults’ Home and Community-Based Services Wavier
- Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Wavier
- Children’s Extraordinary Needs Waiver
- Behavioral Waiver
- Medically Fragile Waiver
- Medically Involved Waiver
Summary of substantial updates
- Expanded eligibility for Medicaid services: This change affects all six waivers. The change will make it easier for children with low income to access these waivers’ services. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is making this change to the Oregon Medicaid State Plan. ODDS is making this change to be consistent with OHA.
- Easier to move between waivers: This change affects all six waivers. This change lets people move between waivers that have the same level of care without getting a new assessment. One example would be a child who moves from the Behavioral Waiver to the Children’s Extraordinary Needs Waiver.
- Increase the Medically Fragile Waiver by 10 children: This change adds five spots for children to get services from this waiver. The change also adds five spots for children under 18 who leave the Children’s Extraordinary Needs Waiver. Without this change, children who aren’t eligible for intellectual and developmental services could lose their services when they leave the Children’s Extraordinary Needs Waiver.
- Decrease the Behavioral Waiver by 10 children: This change decreases the number of children served by this waiver by 10. This change allows the Medically Fragile Waiver to serve 10 additional children. Children who are now on the Behavioral Waiver will stay on the waiver. Children who could be eligible for the Behavior Waiver will still be able to get services. They will still be eligible for intellectual and developmental services via the Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Wavier.
Summary of technical updates
- One change clarifies the qualifications for state-trained assessors and case managers. This affects all six waivers.
- The other change clarifies a sentence in the service plan development process. This affects all six waivers.
- Projections for the Medically Fragile Waiver will increase by 10 children.
- Projections for the Behavioral Waiver will decrease by 10 children.
These technical changes will not affect individuals’ services or access to services.
All six wavier applications are available to read on the ODDS website. Print versions are posted in local community developmental disabilities programs and support services brokerages. To request print versions, contact the ODDS Medicaid waiver and State Plan analyst, at 503-507-2083 or odds.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
How to submit feedback
Please submit comments by:
1. Sending an email to odds.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov
2. Sending written comments to ODDS Medicaid waiver/State Plan analyst, 500 Summer Street NE E-09, Salem, OR 97301.
The deadline is Sept. 4, 2024. Mailed comments must be received by this date.
More information
Translations of the summarized changes are online at https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/agency/Pages/odds.aspx#dm. Look for the message titled “Public comment period open for Medicaid wavier updates.”
To request this or other documents in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer, contact ODDS at 503-945-5811. We accept calls from all forms of relay service for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, blind or have low vision. For more information about relay service providers visit https://www.oregonrelay.com or https://www.fcc.gov/general/internet-based-trs-providers.
Oregon Department of Human Services
503-437-4472
https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/
Oregon Department of Human Services
503-507-2083
https://oregon.gov/odhs
