ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY:  We appreciate the clarification of AT in this waiver and think it more effectively describes AT that will benefit individuals in the DD Waiver.

SCREENING, ELIGIBILITY AND EMERGENCY WAIVER SLOTS:

We had a family in our community who had great difficulty getting their family member screened because of the interpretation of the following:  see "9.  Home and community-based waiver services shall not be provided to any individual who resides in a nursing facility ...." (p. 22 of 125) - This statement was interpreted by our screening entity (and confirmed by DMAS) to mean THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SCREEN AN INDIVIDUAL FOR DD WAIVER ELIGIBILITY IF THEY ARE IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING.  Adding clarification on services such as "while they are still residing in an institutional setting" or a distinction between screening and providing services would be helpful.

     No screening means no eligibility and no ability to apply for an emergency waiver slot.  An emergency waiver slot could be the "viable discharge plan"   It would be very helpful for DMAS to identify DD Waiver eligible individuals in nursing homes and other institutional settings and do outreach to see which individuals would like to live in the community with waiver services.

PERSONAL CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS:  We would like to see MORE THAN one additional individual living in the same residence be able to receive personal care services from the same provider.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the IFDDS Waiver Changes and other concerns.

Eleanor Voldish, Executive Director

The Arc of Loudoun