Disability Policy Seminar Wrap Up-CMS Rules Moratorium

A hot topic during the seminar was the current status of the CMS Rules Moratorium. It is clear that many of these rule changes go further than intended by the Deficit Reduction Act.

Here are the highlights of these rule changes
-6 Regulations - $15 billion in total cuts over the next 5 years
-3 of these regulations severely impact people with developmental disabilities
-Rehabilitative Services
-School-based administration and transportation
-Case Management

These changes again will move more of the financial responsibility to states. North Carolina legislators worked tirelessly last session to try and assist low economic counties with their responsibilities for Medicaid/Medicare.

The Rehabilitative Services Option would see $2.3 billion in cuts over 5 years. This rule change will eliminate day habilitation programs and other Habilitation through this option. These options serve people with developmental and cognitive disabilities. Some of the programs that this option provides are developmental skills training, behavior development, communication development and sensorimotor development.
The Rehabilitation Services rule and the School-based Administration and Transportation rule are both under moratorium until June 30, 2008. The case management rule is not under moratorium and technically went into effect on March 3, 2008.

We will continue to monitor these rule changes. We will be advocating for a six month extension on the moratorium covering the Rehab Option, School Based Administration and Transportation Option. We will also be advocating for the one year moratorium on the Case Management Regulation.