This spring, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the highly anticipated “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” rule (or the “Access Rule”) that, among other things, updates program standards and processes for Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS), including HCBS for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Individuals with I/DD rely on Medicaid HCBS to support their independence and ability to live at home in their communities. The changes required by the Access Rule—and how states implement those changes—will have far reaching impact on state I/DD systems and the people they serve.

Join us for a discussion with state and provider experts who are thinking through their own approaches to Access Rule implementation. During the webinar, we will dive into the Access Rule’s impact on state I/DD programs, HCBS providers, and community partners, and individuals with I/DD and their families and caregivers.

Specifically, we’ll discuss:

• New and updated requirements related to HCBS incident management and grievance systems, payment adequacy and transparency, access and quality reporting and disclosure.
• The implications for state I/DD systems—including challenges—as they plot a path to full implementation of the Access Rule within required timelines.
• Strategies for building effective and collaborative engagement with community partners, people receiving services, providers, case management entities, and direct care workers.
• Immediate steps that state I/DD systems should take now to assess their HCBS programs, processes, and IT infrastructure needs.

Date/Time:

Thursday, December 5, 2024
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ET
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT

Facilitators:

• Alixandra Gould, Director, Manatt Health Strategies
• Anna Lansky, Senior Advisor, Manatt Health Strategies

Panelists:

• Pete Cervinka, Acting Director and Chief Deputy Director, California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
• Conor O’Dea, HCBS Policy Advisor, The Vermont Agency of Human Services
• Lydia Dawson, Vice President of Government Relations, ANCOR

If you would like to receive an audio transcript of this webinar due to accessibility issues, please email us at webinars@manatt.com.

This program does not constitute legal advice, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. Views expressed by presenters are strictly their own and should not be construed to be the views of Manatt or attributed to Manatt.