Monthly HCBS Provider Meeting Heidi Bechard OADS HCBS

Monthly HCBS Provider Meeting Heidi Bechard & OADS HCBS Team April 29, 2020

Agenda • COVID-19 60 Day Pause • Update on Validation Visits, Setting Findings Report & Transition-to-Compliance Plan • Lease Agreement • New Settings Compliance Strategy • Stay Home & Stay Healthy • Statewide Transition Plan (STP) Submission Update • Questions Maine Department of Health and Human Services 2

COVID-19 PAUSE • On April 13, 2020 the Offices of Maine. Care Services and Aging and Disability Services announced a 60 day pause on HCBS validation strategies (April 13 - June 12, 2020) • These strategies include IEAs, on-site validations and desk level reviews conducted by OADS • Validations that were in process as of 4/12/20 have not paused, but instead should be completed • DRM is able to conduct virtual/remote validations for providers who can participate during this 60 day pause. By doing so, the provider will receive the setting(s) findings report sooner, and as a result will have more time for setting remediation • The 60 day pause memo can be found at: http: //www. maine. gov/dhhs/oads/hcbs/training-and-resources. shtml Maine Department of Health and Human Services 3

Validation Visits, Setting Findings Report, & Transition-to-Compliance Plans • 68 setting validations have been completed as of April 27, 2020 • Settings Findings Reports have been provided to 8 agencies • Findings identified in need of remediation: § Transportation § Secure options for individuals to safely store and access their personal finances § Community interaction and involvement § Connecting individuals to resources/support to engage in integrated employment § Privacy - need to install locks on doors § Lease agreements Maine Department of Health and Human Services 4

Lease Agreement A lease is a required legally enforceable agreement for the unit or dwelling where the individual resides At a minimum, lease agreements must include: • Individual rights, protections from eviction, and appeal rights in easy to read/plain language and in the same manner as all persons in the state who are not receiving Medicaid HCBS • Monthly rental fee (what is included and what is not) as well as whether a security deposit is required (and the purpose of the security deposit) • Landlord responsibilities and tenant responsibilities A copy of the agreement must be provided to the individual and/or guardian Maine Department of Health and Human Services 5

Lease Agreement (cont. ) Department of Housing and Urban Development Home/State/Information/Maine/Rental Help/Tenant Rights, Laws and Protections in Maine https: //www. hud. gov/states/maine/renting/tenantrights Maine Attorney General’s “model” landlord-tenant lease https: //www. maine. gov/tools/whatsnew/index. php? topic =AGOffice_Consumer_Law_Guide&v=article&id=279 35 Maine Department of Health and Human Services 6

New HCBS Settings • As a reminder, any new HCBS settings must be compliant with the HCBS Settings rule • Any setting that has initiated services since November 30, 2019 and not previously completed a Provider Self-Assessment must do so • These settings will also be subject to an OADS validation process which includes: Ø review of the completed self-assessment Ø desk level review of the setting/agency’s policies Ø Individual Experience Assessment of members served Ø possibly an on-site visit Maine Department of Health and Human Services 7

Stay at Home & Stay Healthy • First and foremost the priority is: health, safety, and a sense of security of individuals served and their caregivers • OADS understands providing care during this time of social distancing can be especially challenging, however this time also allows for promoting: Ø individual choice – creating meal plans and meal prep, routine/schedules/daily planners Ø daily exercise - getting outside on nice weather days, consider scavenger hunts Ø skill building - daily living skills, personal finance management, career exploration-what are individuals interested in? Ø create opportunities for visitation and socialization (Skype, Zoom, telephone calls, etc. ) Ø social stories - as a tool to help people understand changes in routine and communicate their feelings *Please remember to follow CDC guidelines and best practices during this time Maine Department of Health and Human Services 8

Maine’s HCBS STP • Maine’s HCBS STP was submitted on 4/23/20 • We are prepared to answer any questions CMS may have • With the high number of Appendix K’s and 1135’s being submitted to CMS, we are uncertain when we will receive notification/approval of the STP • Appendix K – overview tomorrow at 11 am Maine Department of Health and Human Services 9

Questions? Heidi Bechard Initiatives and Implementation Manager Heidi. Bechard@maine. gov HCBS. DHHS@maine. gov Maine Department of Health and Human Services 10