Proposed Palmetto Coordinated System of Care Waiver Program
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that a proposed application for the Palmetto Coordinated System of Care (PCSC) waiverwill be submitted to the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) and is available for public review and comment. The proposed waiver will be submitted to CMS Aug. 1, 2017. It will be effective upon CMS approval.
The following is a summary of the waiver application document:
South Carolina is developing the PCSC for children and youth with significant behavioral health needs or co-occurring conditions in or at imminent risk of out of home placement. PCSC is an evidence-based approach that is part of a national movement to develop family driven and youth guided care, and keep children at home, in school and out of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems when possible. The waiver will provide home and community based supports and services to children with significant behavioral health needs who would otherwise be served in an inpatient general or psychiatric hospital.
Research has shown that effective home and community based services can be less costly and provide better outcomes for children, youth and their families. Proposed waiver services include:
1. High-fidelity wraparound care coordination (an evidence-based practice)
2. Individual goods and services
3. Employment services, including career exploration and assessment, employment skills development and intensive supported employment (an evidence-based practice)
4. Respite
5. Community psychiatric support and treatment, including the five evidence-based practices of multi-systemic therapy (MST), functional family therapy (FFT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), homebuilders and adolescent community reinforcement approach (A-CRA)
6. Non-medical transportation
Other non-waiver services designed to support a system of care approach include parent/caregiver peer support and Community Crisis Response and Intervention. Both of these services will be available to waiver participants.
Services are provided using a system of care approach. There is a single point of entry for all waiver applicants and applicants are evaluated to determine eligibility for the waiver. Children, youth and their families who enter the waiver participate in a child and family team meeting to develop a person-centered plan. The team includes individuals involved with the family and any representatives the family chooses to attend. Once the team develops a plan, the family may choose from enrolled qualified public and private providers. If the family has a provider who they have been working with who is not a qualified provider, efforts are made to contact the provider to discuss their interest in enrolling. The child and family team meets at least every 90 days, or more often if requested, to discuss treatment progress and any changes. Annual reevaluations are conducted to determine continued eligibility for waiver participation. The SCDHHS, as the agency that operates Medicaid for the state, has both the operational and administrative authority over the waiver.
Communication
This proposed waiver was discussed at SCDHHS’ Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) meeting Feb. 9, 2016, at 10 a.m. at 1801 Main Street, Columbia, S.C. An update is also planned for May 9, 2017.
A copy of this notice and the PCSC draft waiver application are available at the following locations:
1. Electronic Access: www.scdhhs.gov (under the “Public Notice” and “Waiver” sections)
2. Hardcopies:
a. All Healthy Connections Medicaid local eligibility offices (see Attachment A)
b. SCDHHS lobby at 1801 Main Street, Columbia, S.C.
Additionally, information on the proposed waiver will be discussed during four public meetings. During those meetings there will be approximately 30 minutes for questions and answers. See details below:
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Florence-Darlington Technical College
Fred C. Fore Auditorium, Building 400
2715 West Lucas Street
Florence, S.C. 29501
Please do not park in spaces that are marked yellow.
Date: Thursday, June 8, 2017
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Charleston County Public Library – Main Branch
68 Calhoun Street
Charleston, S.C. 29401
Parking in the parking garage is free for the first half-hour and 0.50 per additional half-hour.
Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Greenville Health System, Medical Staff Auditorium
701 Grove Road
Greenville, S.C. 29605
North or South Parking Deck
Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Columbia BlueCross BlueShield Training Room
8901 Farrow Road, Building 200
Columbia, S.C. 29203
Finally, a live webinar will take place June 6, 2017, from 10-11:30 a.m. To register for the webinar, visit https://cc.readytalk.com/r/q557dd38vr7u&eom. Following the webinar, a recording will be available at https://msp.scdhhs.gov/pcsc/site-page/presentations-and-webinars.
Public Comments and Responses
SCDHHS wants to hear from the public about the proposed PCSC waiver program to serve children and youth with serious mental health or substance use needs. Your questions and comments about this program are very important. Your input may help make changes to how this program will work and how the program can reach children, youth and their families who might qualify.
If you have a question or comment, please send it to the following email or mailing address before July 2, 2017:
Email: comments@scdhhs.gov
Mail: Palmetto Coordinated System of Care
ATTN: Gwynne Goodlett
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Post Office Box 8206
Columbia, S.C. 29202-8206
Questions will be compiled, answered and posted on the SCDHHS website under the “Public Notice” and “Waiver” sections after July 11, 2017. If you would like to receive an electronic copy of a summary of the public comments and responses, please provide your email address in correspondence you send. If you would like to review a hard copy of the summary of public comments and responses, they may be reviewed at the local Healthy Connections Medicaid eligibility offices after July 11, 2017.
View the proposed application for the Palmetto Coordinated System of Care (PCSC) waiveron the SCDHHS website, https://www.scdhhs.gov/service/waiver-management-field-management.