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Mechanical Ventilator Dependent Waiver Renewal

South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file a waiver renewal with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Mechanical Ventilator Dependent (SC.40181) Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) waiver operated through the Bureau of Policy. The proposed effective date of this waiver is Dec. 1, 2022.

Following is a summary of changes included in the proposed waiver renewal:

  1. Section Main 1-G: 1932(a) state plan benefit operating authority de-selected and replaced with §1915(a)(1)(a) option to align with operation of the Medicaid management plan.
  2. Section B-6-h: added certified geriatric case managers and certified case managers to the list of qualified individuals capable of performing level of care re-evaluations.
  3. Section C-1 (a): modified service definitions to align with internal scopes of service and waivers across the agency. Updated frequency of validating provider qualifications. Added taxonomy codes.
  4. Section C-1 (a): itemized waiver services (remove grouping) so that services are easily identified, and federal reporting requirements are met.
  5. Section C-1 (a): transfer shower bench (regular and bariatric), shower chair (regular and bariatric), and raised toilet seat (regular and bariatric) have been transitioned from the specialized medical equipment and supplies service to the mandatory home health state plan benefit and removed from the waiver, as they otherwise constitute a duplication of services.
  6. Section C-2 (b): added Certified Nurse Aide Registry information to the “Abuse Registry Screening” section. 
  7. Section G-1 (b): added “infectious disease outbreak” and “elopements” to the list of critical incidents.
  8. Section I-3-g-iii: added text aligning this response with selection of the 1915(a)(1)(a) option indicated in Main 1-G.

Current waiver participants will not be adversely impacted.

Communication

On July 27, 2022, these changes to the waivers were shared during the monthly Indian Health Services conference call. On Aug. 9, 2022, these changes to the waivers will be presented to SCDHHS’ Medical Care Advisory Committee at 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

In addition, information regarding the proposed changes in the renewals will be shared with the public during the following webinars:

Webinars:

Mechanical Ventilator Dependent Waiver Renewal

Monday, Aug. 15, 3 p.m.

Registration Link: https://scdhhs.webex.com/scdhhs/j.php?RGID=r79559a20b7852d16bbbc69c6908f3f46

Mechanical Ventilator Dependent Waiver Renewal

Monday, Aug. 22, 10:00 a.m.

Registration Link: https://scdhhs.webex.com/scdhhs/j.php?RGID=r89af60385f7c48c7b8c155e35cb2a2fa

Copies of this notice and the Mechanical Ventilator Dependent waiver application are available for review at the following locations:

  1. Electronic Access: www.scdhhs.gov (under “Public Notice” and “Waiver” sections)
  2. Hard Copies:
  3. SCDHHS Central Office Lobby: 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29201
  4. SCDHHS CLTC Regional Offices:

Greenville CLTC

620 North Main St, Suite 300

Greenville, SC 29601

 Florence CLTC

2701 Alex Lee Blvd, Suite 200

Florence, SC 29506

 Spartanburg CLTC

101 North Pine St, Suite 405

Spartanburg, SC 29302

 Conway CLTC

1201 Creel St

Conway, SC 29527

 Greenwood CLTC

617 South Main St

Greenwood, SC 29646

 Charleston CLTC

4130 Faber Place Dr, Suite 303

North Charleston, SC 29405

 Rock Hill CLTC

454 South Anderson Rd, Suite 11

Rock Hill, SC 29730

 Anderson CLTC

3215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite H

Anderson, SC 29625

 Columbia CLTC

300 Arbor Lake Dr, Suite 900

Columbia, SC 29223

 Aiken CLTC

2361 S. Centennial Ave

Building 2, Suite B

Aiken, SC 29803

 Orangeburg CLTC

191 Regional Pkwy, Building A

Orangeburg, SC 29118 

Ridgeland CLTC

10175 South Jacob Smart Blvd

Ridgeland, SC 29936

Sumter CLTC

30 Wesmark Ct

Sumter, SC 29150

Public Comments and Responses

If you have a question or comment, please send it to the following mail or email address prior to Sept. 12, 2022:

Email:   comments@scdhhs.gov

Mail:     Attention: Mark Collins

       Office of Waiver and Facility Services

       South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

       Post Office Box 8206

       Columbia, SC 29202-8206

Any written comments submitted may be reviewed by the public at SCDHHS, Division of Health Programs, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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