Re-issued Public Notice February 24, 2015 extending public comment timeframe until April 1, 2015 and adding an additional public information webinar on March 10, 2015

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Transition Plan

Pursuant to 42 CFR 441.301(c)(6)(iii), OPWDD hereby gives notice in order to obtain public comments on OPWDD’s revised HCBS Settings Transition Plan. The revised HCBS Settings Transition Plan includes updated information on non-residential settings based on guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in December 2014.

OPWDD’s initial HCBS Settings Transition Plan was formally made available for public comment from May 2, 2014 through June 3, 2014.  Information on the initial Transition Plan and public comments as well as OPWDD’s HCBS settings actions and activities can be found on OPWDD’s website using the following link: http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_services_supports/HCBS/home

A summary of the initial public comments received and OPWDD’s response is incorporated into the revised OPWDD HCBS Settings Transition Plan.

The full text of OPWDD’s revised Transition Plan is available on OPWDD’s website at: http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_services_supports/HCBS/announcement-for-public-content

Public input is requested in writing no later than April 1, 2015 (extended from March 18, 2015) to the following email and/or mailing address:

Quality@opwdd.ny.gov (specify HCBS Settings Transition Plan comments in subject line)

Or

OPWDD Attention: DQI HCBS Settings
44 Holland Avenue, 4th Floor
Albany, New York 12229

OPWDD will also accommodate input through private or group telephone contact no later than April 1, 2015.  Contact Alicia Matulewicz, OPWDD Division of Quality Improvement, at (518) 473-9050 to make arrangements to provide verbal comments.

OPWDD held two informational webinars on the Revised Transition Plan on February 23rd and 24th. The initial announcement for these webinars and the Revised Transition Plan was published on OPWDD’s website on February 13, 2015 and sent to several OPWDD distribution lists on February 17, 2015.  A notice was also published in the New York State Register on February 18, 2015.

OPWDD is extending the public comment period from March 18, 2015 to April 1, 2015 to ensure that all our stakeholders have received notification.   OPWDD will also be hosting an additional public information webinar on the Revised Transition Plan during the following date and time:

Webinar Session 3:           Tuesday, March 10, 2015             1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

To register go to:  https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?d=640465742&t=a

To join the audio conference only, please call one of the following numbers:

Local: 1-518-549-0500
Toll Free: 1-844-633-8697
Alternate Toll Free – (For callers not able to call the 844 Toll Free Number): 1-866-776-3553

Follow instructions you hear on the phone.  The Cisco Meeting Place meeting ID: 640 465 742

Information regarding New York State’s Statewide HCBS Settings Transition Plan can be accessed on the Department of Health’s website using the following link: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/home_community_based_settings.htm