HCBS Public Comment Opportunities

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Amendments

Public Comment Opportunity 

Review the HCBS Waiver Draft Amendments
30-day public comment period from July 6, 2023 through August 4, 2023 

Documents for Review:

• HCBS Waiver Amendments Fact Sheet - Summer 2023
• Brain Injury Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children with Life-Limiting Illness Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children’s Extensive Supports Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Community Mental Health Supports Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Complementary and Integrative Health Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Supported Living Services Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application

Provide Comments to:
Email: HCPF_LTSS.PublicComment@state.co.us
Mail: Dept. of Health Care Policy and Financing 303 E. 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203                             
Attention: HCBS Waiver Amendments 
Fax: 303-866-2786 Attention: HCBS Waiver Amendments
Phone: 303-866-3684    

Background Information: 

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) invites the public to comment on proposed amendments for ten (10) HCBS waivers: Persons with Brain Injury (BI), Children’s Extensive Supports (CES), Children’s Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP), Children’s Home and Community Based Services (CHCBS), Children with Life-Limiting Illness (CLLI), Community Mental Health Supports (CMHS), Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH), Developmental Disabilities (DD), Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD), and Supported Living Services (SLS).

The Department intends to submit the amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 11, 2023. The Department will request an effective date of November 11, 2023 for the amendments.  The proposed waiver amendments give the Department the ability to include the following changes:

• Mental Health Transitional Living Home (CMHS)
• Updates to Attachment #2: Home and Community-Based Settings Waiver Transition Plan and Appendix C-5: Home and Community-Based Settings, including and Addition of a New Setting (CMHS).
• Mental Health Transitional Living Home (CMHS)
• Addition of Provider Type for Dental Services (SLS, DD)
• Rate Change (All waivers)

The draft waiver amendments are available online for public comment starting July 6, 2023 through August 4, 2023, allowing all HCBS consumers and service providers an opportunity to provide input. All comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration by the Department.  The Department will create a Listening Log to record the comments and the Department’s responses. This Listening Log will be posted to the HCPF website after the public comment period ends.

If you would like to request information be mailed to you, including the full draft waiver, please email HCPF_LTSS.PublicComment@state.co.us, fax 303-866-2786 Attention: HCBS Waiver Amendments, or call 303-866-3684.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Amendments and Renewal Review

Public Comment Opportunity 

Review the HCBS Waiver Draft Amendments/Renewals
30-day public comment period from February 2, 2023 through March 3, 2023 

Waiver Actions Listening Log - March 2023

Documents for Review:

• HCBS Waiver Actions Fact Sheet - Spring 2023
• Brain Injury Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children with Life-Limiting Illness Waiver Renewal - Full text of Draft Waiver Renewal Application
• Children’s Extensive Supports Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Renewal - Full text of Draft Waiver Renewal Application
• Community Mental Health Supports Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Complementary and Integrative Health Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application
• Supported Living Services Waiver Amendment - Full text of Draft Waiver Amendment Application

Background Information: 

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing invites the public to comment on proposed amendments for nine (9) HCBS waivers: Persons with Brain Injury (BI), Children with Life-Limiting Illness (CLLI), Children’s Extensive Supports (CES), Children’s Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP), Community Mental Health Supports (CMHS), Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH), Developmental Disabilities (DD), Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD), and Supported Living Services (SLS).  

The Department also welcomes public comment on the waiver renewal application for the following HCBS waivers: Children’s Home and Community Based Services (CHCBS).

The Department intends to submit the amendments/renewal application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 10, 2023. The Department will request an effective date of July 1, 2023 for the amendments.  The proposed waiver amendments give the Department the ability to include the following changes:

• Appendix D and B Language Alignment (All waivers) 
• Benefits Planning Service (DD, SLS)
• Case Management Monitoring Visits (All waivers)
• Case Management Redesign Updates (All waivers)
• Complementary and Integrative Health Services—Massage Therapy Rate Increase (CIH) 
• Complementary and Integrative Health Services—Unit Limitation Update (CIH)
• Day Habilitation Service Update (DD, SLS)
• Home Delivered Meals Provider Qualifications Update (EBD, CMHS, CIH, SLS, BI, DD)
• Mental Health Transitional Living Home (CMHS)
• Miscellaneous Corrections (CHCBS)
• Non-Substantive Performance Measures Language Corrections (All waivers)
• Peer Mentorship Provider Qualification Clarification (BI. CMHS, DD, EBD, CIH, SLS)
• Personal Care (EBD, CMHS, CIH, BI). 
• Regional Center Reimbursement Language Corrections (DD)
• Remote Support Provider Entity Responsible for Verification Update (BI, CMHS, CIH, EBD, SLS)
• Supported Employment Service Update (SLS)
• Telehealth Options for Consultation Services (SLS, CES, BI, CMHS, EBD, CIH)
• Updates to Cost Neutrality Demonstration (All waivers)

The draft waiver amendments are available online for public comment starting February 2, 2023 through March 3, 2023, allowing all HCBS consumers and service providers an opportunity to provide input. All comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration by the Department.  The Department will create a Listening Log to record the comments and the Department’s responses. This Listening Log will be posted to the HCPF website after the public comment period ends.

If you would like to request information be mailed to you, including the full draft waiver, please email HCPF_LTSS.PublicComment@state.co.us, fax 303-866-2786 Attention: HCBS Waiver Amendment/Renewals, or call 303-866-3684.

Public Comment Opportunity  

Review the HCBS Waiver DRAFT Amendments 
30-day public comment period from August 11 - September 9, 2022  

Documents for Review: 

• HCBS Waiver Actions Fact Sheet – Fall 2022
• Brain Injury Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Children with Life-Limiting Illness Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Children’s Extensive Supports Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application
• Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Community Mental Health Supports Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Complementary and Integrative Health Waiver  Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 
• Supported Living Services Waiver Amendment – Full text of DRAFT Waiver Amendment Application 

Background Information: 

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Department) invites the public to comment on proposed amendments for the following HCBS waivers: Persons with Brain Injury (BI), Children’s Extensive Supports (CES), Children’s Home and Community-Based Services (CHCBS), Children’s Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP), Children with Life-Limiting Illness (CLLI), Community Mental Health Supports (CMHS), Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) formerly Persons with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Developmental Disabilities (DD), Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD), and Supported Living Services (SLS). 

The Department intends to submit the amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 16, 2022. The Department will request an effective date of January 1, 2023 for the amendments.  The proposed waiver amendments give the Department the ability to include the following changes:

• Add Working Adults with Disabilities for 65+ (DD) 
• Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) Attendant Updates (BI, CIH, CMHS, EBD, and SLS). 
• Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Language Relocation (all waivers) 
• Home Delivered Meals (HDM) Program Expansion (BI, CIH, CMHS, DD, EBD, and SLS) 
• Home Modification and Home Accessibility Adaptation Updates (BI, CES, CIH, CMHS, EBD, SLS) 
• Out of State Providers for the Supported Living Program (SLP) Service (BI) 
• Overall Service Plan Limit Increase (CES, SLS) 
• Performance Measures (PMs) Updates  (all waivers) 
• Removal of Non-integrated Settings Language (DD, SLS) 
• Respite Unit Changes (CHRP) 
• Targeted Rate Increases (TRI) and Across the Board (ATB) Rate Increases (all waivers) 
• Telehealth for Behavioral Management and Education (BI) 
• Update to Desk Reviews of Case Files in Single Entry Points (BI, CES, CIH, CLLI, CMHS, DD, EBD, SLS) 
• Virtual Case Management (all 10 waivers) 

The draft waiver amendments are available online for public comment starting August 11 - September 9, 2022, allowing all HCBS consumers and service providers an opportunity to provide input.  All comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration by the Department.  The Department will create a Listening Log to record the comments and the Department’s responses. This Listening Log will be posted to the HCPF website after the public comment period ends. 

If you would like to request information be mailed to you, including the full draft waiver, please email HCPF_LTSS.PublicComment@state.co.us,
fax 303-866-2786 Attention: HCBS Waiver Amendments, or call 303-866-3684. 

Colorado Statewide Transition Plan 

The Department has developed a Statewide Transition Plan (STP) for bringing Colorado's home-and-community-based services into compliance with the HCBS Settings Final Rule. The STP outlines the Department's process and timelines for working with interested parties to implement requirements of the rule for all home-and-community-based services.

Public comment opportunity

The final STP is currently open for public comment. The 45-day comment period runs from March 25, 2022 through May 9, 2022. The Department intends to submit the final STP to CMS after it has reviewed and addressed the comments received during the public comment period. 

Documents for review

• Fact sheet
• Informational Memo
• Final STP
• STP redline
• Stakeholder communication strategy

To request a paper or electronic copy of the materials mentioned above, and/or to provide public comment, please reach out to us via:

• Phone: 303-866-6314 
• Email: HCPF_STP.PublicComment@state.co.us
• U.S. Mail: Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 303 E. 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203, ATTN: Statewide Transition Plan Team
• Fax: 303-866-4411 (Attention: Statewide Transition Plan Team)

The Department commits to incorporating comments, concerns, and suggestions when and wherever possible. The Department will summarize comments and its responses as part of its final submission to CMS. The Department will post here an updated version of the STP, STP redline, and stakeholder communication strategy, along with the summary of public comments and responses, after the public comment period ends.