Good afternoon,

Even though Legislative approval is not required by West Virginia law, the Department would get Gubernatorial and Legislative approval prior to submitting any waiver amendments to CMS, especially those with a significant budget increase. So, the waiver amendment in the form of a budget increase would have been requested by the Executive Branch to the Legislature.

This is partly due to the increased scrutiny the Department has been under in the past 2-3 years. During the 2023 WV legislative session, a bill was passed to break up WV DHHR into three separate and distinct Departments with three new Cabinet Secretaries. The Department is in the middle of transitioning from one to three entities (as of May 23).

On Wed, May 31, 2023 at 2:01 PM Christine Pisani <xxxxxx@icdd.idaho.gov> wrote:

In Idaho the Idaho Legislature must approve all rate increases. It helps if our Governor endorses these rate increase, but that does not always happen.

Christine

Christine Pisani – Executive Director

Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities

(208) 334-2178 Toll Free: (800) 544-2433

From: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com <xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 11:54 AM
To: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com
Cc: Knofczynski, Isabel <xxxxxx@gcdd.ga.gov>
Subject: DD Councils what does CMS require to support new waiver rates?

CAUTION: This email originated outside the State of Idaho network. Verify links and attachments BEFORE you click or open, even if you recognize and/or trust the sender. Contact your agency service desk with any concerns.

Hi everyone,

So here in Georgia, we have a situation. Our state DD agency did a much-needed rate study for all waiver services. The new, updated rates and methodologies will be submitted to CMS in the form of a waiver amendment. If the waiver amendment is approved, it will mean a significant increase funding for these services.

BUT – our state agency is communicating that in order to move forward with submitting to our state Medicaid agency and then to CMS, they need formal approval from our elected officials.

Those of you in states that have successfully submitted waiver amendments that will require significant additional $$$ - what kind of gubernatorial/legislative approval has CMS accepted from your states? Such as, has anyone done this with a letter of support from their governor’s office? Or have you found that it requires “intent to fund” language in your state budget or in signed legislation? Or….???

Thank you all so much in advance for any guidance or examples you can provide!

D’Arcy

D’Arcy Robb

Executive Director

Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

(470) 810-4048

xxxxxx@gcdd.ga.gov

www.gcdd.org

Sincerely,

Tina Wiseman

Executive Director

West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council

110 Stockton Street

Charleston, WV 25387

Phone: 304-558-0418

Fax 304-558-0941

Direct Email: xxxxxx@wv.gov

General Email: xxxxxx@wv.gov

Website: https://ddc.wv.gov/

The Council’s mission is to assure that West Virginia citizens with developmental disabilities receive the services, supports, and other forms of assistance they need to exercise self-determination and achieve independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in the community.