ARC 3476C

ARC 3476C

HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT[441]

Notice of Intended Action

Twenty-five interested persons, a governmental subdivision, an agency or association of 25 or more persons may demand an oral presentation hereon as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b."

Notice is also given to the public that the Administrative Rules Review Committee may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this proposed action under section 17A.8(6) at a regular or special meeting where the public or interested persons may be heard.

Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code section 249A.4 and 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 653, section 93, the Department hereby gives Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 78, "Amount, Duration and Scope of Medical and Remedial Services," Chapter 79, "Other Policies Relating to Providers of Medical and Remedial Care," and Chapter 83, "Medicaid Waiver Services," Iowa Administrative Code.

These amendments will change the rate-setting methodology used to develop supported community living (SCL), day habilitation, and adult day care service rates in the home- and community-based services (HCBS) intellectual disability waiver. The SCL methodology will change from the current retrospectively limited prospective rate-setting process to a fee schedule using a tiered-rate methodology. Day habilitation and adult day care service rates are currently established through a fee schedule but will be changed to a fee schedule using tiered rates. The tiered-rate methodology establishes a tiered system of reimbursement based on the identified acuity level from the results of the Supports Intensity Scale® (SIS) core standardized assessment.

The move to tiered rates will be cost-neutral to the Department. The tiered-rate funding methodology will assign a standardized service rate based on member need unlike the current methodology of services reimbursement based on provider costs. With this change, some providers will see increased revenues compared to current service reimbursement for the members currently served and other providers will see decreased revenues.

Any interested person may make written comments on the proposed amendments on or before December 26, 2017. Comments should be directed to Harry Rossander, Bureau of Policy Coordination, Department of Human Services, Hoover State Office Building, Fifth Floor, 1305 East Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0114. Comments may be sent by fax to (515)281-4980 or by email to policyanalysis@dhs.state.ia.us.

These amendments do not provide for waivers in specified situations because requests for the waiver of any rule may be submitted under the Department's general rule on exceptions at 441—1.8(17A,217).

These amendments were also Adopted and Filed Emergency and are published herein as ARC 3481C. The purpose of this Notice of Intended Action is to solicit public comment on that submission, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference.

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

These amendments are intended to implement Iowa Code section 249A.4 and 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 653, section 93.