ANNOUNCEMENT
- Announcement is available in Portable Document Format (PDF)
Changes to the Disability Documentation Process for the 1915(c) Children's Waiver
July 27, 2023
TO: Health Home Serving Children (HHSC), Health Home Care Managers (HHCM), and Children and Youth Evaluation Services (C-YES)
Effective immediately, the State Disability Review Unit (SDRU) will accept disability referrals directly from Health Home Care Managers (HHCMs) and Children and Youth Evaluation Services (C-YES) for children/youth enrolled in the Children's Waiver under the Medically Fragile (MF) Target Population who are in foster care only.The disability referral process remains the same for children/youth not in foster care: the HHCM/C- YES must contact the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) to request that a referral for a disability determination be sent to the State Disability Review Unit (SDRU).
Additionally, the SDRU will no longer be sending the disability certificate to LDSS agencies, HHCMs, and/or C-YES. The notification of disability determination will only be sent to the child/youth and/or family/caregiver because the disability certificate has Protected Health Information (PHI). The SDRU will provide a disability letter to the LDSS, HHCMs, and C-YES that will outline the disability determination and effective dates, which is all the information necessary to demonstrate proof of Children's Waiver HCBS eligibility. If the child's/youth's parent/caregiver consents, the HHCM/C-YES is permitted to become the child/youth's Medicaid Authorized Representative to more easily communicate directly with the SDRU about the child/youth's disability status.
Please send any questions relating to this guidance to BH.Transition@health.ny.gov or SDRU@health.ny.gov.
