Consumer Directed Attendant Suppport Services (CDASS) Implementation in Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver

This post is a reproduction of the Policy Memo put out by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

POLICY MEMO

POLICY MEMO NUMBER: HCPF PM 18-002
TITLE: CONSUMER DIRECTED ATTENDANT SUPPORT SERVICES (CDASS)
IMPLEMENTATION IN SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES (SLS) WAIVER
SUPERSEDES NUMBER: N/A
ISSUE DATE: August 3, 2018
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 15, 2018
DIVISION AND OFFICE: BENEFITS AND SERVICES MANAGEMENT  DIVISION, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIVING
PROGRAM AREA: CONSUMER DIRECTION
APPROVED BY: GRETCHEN HAMMER
KEYWORDS: CONSUMER DIRECTION, SUPPORT LIVING SERVICES,
IMPLEMENTATION, CDASS

Purpose and Audience:

The purpose of this Policy Memo is to inform stakeholders of the implementation for Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) to be an available delivery option in the Home and Community Based-Supported Living Services (HCBS-SLS) waiver.

Background:

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) received approval for the expansion of self-direction, CDASS, into the HCBS-SLS waiver effective July 1st, 2017. A delay for implementation resulted due to Colorado’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) requiring extensive changes to build the complex functions needed to support the addition of CDASS as a delivery option. Once implemented, CDASS will allow Personal Care, Homemaker, and Homemaker Enhanced services to be self-directed as well as a new service, Health Maintenance. Health Maintenance can be utilized, based on the need for skilled care, by participants enrolled in the CDASS delivery option and will be outside of the Service Plan Authorization Limit (SPAL).

Information/Policy:

The Department has determined required system changes are complete and support the addition of CDASS. Case management agency trainings will be provided prior to the full implementation of CDASS, allowing case managers to gain the knowledge needed to complete the required prior authorizations of services for participants to complete enrollment and begin receiving CDASS.
Full implementation of CDASS as an available service delivery option in the HCBS-SLS waiver is effective August 15th, 2018. CCB case managers have received training on CDASS policy and procedures to perform case management for CDASS including completion of participant enrollment paperwork. Individuals receiving services through the Supported Living Service waiver interested in selecting CDASS should contact their CCB case manager to discuss support needs, CDASS requirements, and are able to begin the enrollment paperwork process as of August 1st, 2018.

Department Contact:

Katie McGuire

Participant Directed Program Specialist
Katherine.mcguire@state.co.us
303-866-6313