In April 2022, Nebraska Legislature passed LB376. The Governor's DD Advisory Council has been tasked with strategic oversight of LB376. The Council is working with the Division of Developmental Disabilities on the tasks outlined.
Family Support Program - A New HCBS Waiver
B376 directs DHHS to develop a Family Support Waiver. This will be a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver with developmental disabilities eligibility requirements.
The intent of the waiver is to help eliminate unmet needs for children in Nebraska. The new waiver will serve up to 850 children with developmental disabilities. Each participant will have a maximum annual budget of $10,000.
Family Support Waiver Update - NEW Public Comment Period
DHHS – Division of Developmental Disabilities plans to implement a new 1915(c) Home and Community Based (HCBS) Family Support Waiver. Substantive changes to the waiver application have been made, which require an additional public comment period. These changes include the removal of the Fiscal Management Service (FMS) from the waiver application, the removal of the waiver service titled Participant Directed Goods and Services, and changes to provider qualification training requirements.
The new 30-day public comment period is from September 8 through October 8, 2023. For more information, including presentations, visit the Public Comment webpage.
- April 2022 - LB376 signed in to law
- June 2022 - Internal planning and development begins
- August 2022
- Stakeholder engagement begins
- Regulation development begins
- October 2022 - Family Support Waiver development begins
- May 2023 - Policy and procedure development begins
- July 2023
- Tribal and public comment period for draft Family Support Waiver
- Training begins
- September 2023
- Second tribal and public comment period for updated draft Family Support Waiver
- October 2023
- Submit application to CMS for Family Support Waiver
- Begin regulation promulgation
- March 2024 - Implementation of Family Support Waiver
Informational presentations regarding the Family Support Waiver.
- Second Public Comment Period
- First Public Comment Period
- Listening Tour - April 25, May 4, May 9, and May 15, 2023
- Presentation to DD Advisory Council - December 1, 2022
- Initial Listening Sessions - November 1 and 2, 2022
An important part of the Family Support Waiver process is receiving and responding to stakeholder feedback.
- October 13 - 27, 2022 - Family Support Waiver Engagement Survey
- November 1 and 2, 2022 - Listening Sessions (see presentation section for slides and recording)
- April - May 2023 - Listening Sessions (see presentation section for slides and handouts)
- July 28 - August 27, 2023 - 30-day public comment period
- September 8 - October 8, 2023 - second 30-day public comment period
System Evaluation
LB376 directs DHHS to review the current system. DHHS signed with CBIZ Optumas with Myers and Stauffer to complete the evaluation of all Nebraska HCBS waivers. DHHS will receive best practice recommendations and comparisons to other states.
- April 2022 - LB376 signed in to law
- June 2022 - Internal planning begins
- September 16, 2022 - Signed with CBIZ Optumas with Myers and Stauffer
- November 1, 2023 - DHHS will receive the final report
The process will include stakeholder engagement, particularly from families and participants served on existing HCBS waivers and those waiting for a DD Waiver slot.
To submit questions or comments about the System Evaluation, call (877) 667-6266 or email NE_DDSystemEval@mslc.com.