Public Notices

public_notices Wisconsin Administrative Register No. 678, 6/30/2012

Public Notices

Health Services

WAIVER RENEWAL

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to s. 49.688, Stats., the Department of Health Services will hold a public hearing on renewal of the SenorCare program, which requires the submission of a waiver renewal application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Hearing Date(s) and Location(s)

Date and Time	Location
Friday, July 13, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon	St. Croix County Government Center County Board Room 1101 Carmichael Road Hudson, WI 54016

Hearings in Stevens Point and Waukesha were announced in a previous notice.

Accessibility

English

DHS is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. If you need accommodations because of a disability or need an interpreter or translator, or if you need this material in another language or in an alternate format, you may request assistance to participate by contacting Al Matano at [phone]. You must make your request at least 7 days before the activity.

Spanish

DHS es una agencia que ofrece igualdad en las oportunidades de empleo y servicios. Si necesita algún tipo de acomodaciones debido a incapacidad o si necesita un interprete, traductor o esta información en su propio idioma o en un formato alterno, usted puede pedir asistencia para participar en los programas comunicándose con Kim Reniero al número [phone]. Debe someter su petición por lo menos 7 días de antes de la actividad.

Hmong

DHS yog ib tus tswv hauj lwm thiab yog ib qhov chaw pab cuam uas muab vaj huam sib luag rau sawv daws. Yog koj xav tau kev pab vim muaj mob xiam oob qhab los yog xav tau ib tus neeg pab txhais lus los yog txhais ntaub ntawv, los yog koj xav tau cov ntaub ntawv no ua lwm hom lus los yog lwm hom ntawv, koj yuav tau thov kev pab uas yog hu rau Al Matano ntawm [phone]. Koj yuav tsum thov qhov kev pab yam tsawg kawg 7 hnub ua ntej qhov hauj lwm ntawd.

Copies of Waiver Documents

A copy of waiver documents, including the waiver application once complete, may be obtained from the department at no charge by downloading the documents from http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/seniorcare/ or by contacting:

Regular Mail

Al Matano

Division of Health Care Access and Accountability

P.O. Box 309

Madison, WI 53707-0309

Phone

Al Matano

[phone]

FAX

[phone]

E-Mail

[e-mail]

Analysis Prepared by the Department of Health Services

Statute interpreted:

Section 49.688, Wis. Stats.

Statutory authority:

Section 49.688, Wis. Stats.

Explanation of agency authority:

Section 49.688 (11) directs the department to request from the federal Secretary of Health and Human services a waiver, under 42 USC 1315 (a), of federal Medicaid laws necessary to permit the Department of Health Services to conduct a project to expand eligibility for medical assistance, for purposes of receipt of prescription drugs as a benefit.

Related statute or rule:

N/A.

Plain language analysis:

The State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is requesting a three-year extension of its Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver for the SeniorCare prescription drug assistance program. The current waiver is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012. The State requests that the waiver be extended for an additional three-year period, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015.

The Department will request a waiver extension that keeps the SeniorCare program in its current form.

History of the Program

On July 1, 2002, The State of Wisconsin received the necessary waiver approvals from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to operate a portion of SeniorCare, a prescription drug benefit for seniors, as a five-year demonstration project. Through its partnership with the federal government, the SeniorCare waiver extends Medicaid eligibility through Title XIX to cover prescription drugs as a necessary primary health care benefit.

Population and Numbers Served

The target population for services under this demonstration project is seniors 65 years of age or older with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $22,340 for an individual and $30,260 for a two-person family in 2012. Each month the SeniorCare waiver program serves about 60,000 seniors.

Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations:

The federal equivalent to SeniorCare is Medicare Part D. SeniorCare is the only program of its kind.

Agency contact person:

Al Matano

Division of Health Care Access and Accountability

P.O. Box 309

Madison, WI 53707-0309

[phone] (telephone)

[phone] (fax)

[e-mail]

Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:

Comments may be submitted to the agency contact person listed above or to http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/seniorcare/ until Monday, July 16, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.