The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file waiver amendments with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the following 1915 (c) waivers operated through the Office of Waiver and Facility Services: HIV-AIDS (SC.0186), Community Choices (SC.0405), Mechanical Ventilator Dependent (SC.40181), and Medically Complex Children (SC.0675). The Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities (ID/RD) (SC.0237) and Community Supports (SC.0676) waivers operated by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) will also be amended. The proposed effective date of these amendments is July 1, 2023.

Changes included in the HIV-AIDS (SC.0186), Community Choices (SC.0405), Mechanical Ventilator Dependent (SC.40181), ID/RD (SC.0237), and Community Supports (SC.0676) waiver amendments are provided below:

1. Appendix C: Collapse registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) nursing services into one nursing service; revise provider qualifications and service definition  
2. Appendix C: Collapse Personal Care I and Personal Care II services into one personal care service; revise provider qualifications and service definition   
3. Appendix C: Update policy for reimbursement to family members
4. Appendix E: Update participant direction opportunities
5. Appendix J: Incorporate Jan. 1, 2023, rate increases
6. Community Supports (SC.0676) ONLY – SCDHHS is evaluating modification to the cost cap in Appendix B

SCDHHS proposes the following change to the Medically Complex Children (SC.0675) waiver:

1. Appendix C: Revise Care Coordination service definition and provider qualifications
2. Appendix J: Incorporate Jan. 1, 2023, rate increases

Current waiver participants will not be adversely impacted.

Communication:

The intent to amend the identified waivers with proposed changes was discussed on Jan. 25, 2023,during the monthly Indian Health Services conference call. A second presentation to the Indian Health Services will occur on Feb. 22, 2023. Proposed changes will also be presented to SCDHHS’ Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) meeting on Feb. 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. at 1801 Main Street, Columbia, S.C.

Information regarding the waiver amendments and proposed changes will be shared with the public during the following webinars:

Webinars:         HCBS Waiver Amendments

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m.

Registration Link:

HCBS Waiver Amendments

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m.

Registration Link:

Copies of this notice and the proposed waiver amendments are available for public review at the following locations:

1. Electronic Access:
   1. SCDHHS-operated waivers

1. SCDHHS website: www.scdhhs.gov (under “Public Notices” and “Waivers” sections)
2. DDSN-operated waivers
   • DDSN website: www.ddsn.sc.gov
   • Family Connection of South Carolina website:www.familyconnectionsc.org
   • South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council website: www.scddc.state.sc.us
3. Hard Copies:
   1. SCDHHS front lobby – 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC
   2. SCDHHS community long term care (CLTC) regional offices:

Greenville CLTC                                                       Florence CLTC

620 North Main Street, Suite 301                             2701 Alex Lee Boulevard, Suite 200

Greenville, SC 29601                                                Florence, SC 29506

Spartanburg CLTC                                                    Conway CLTC

101 North Pine Street, Suite 405                              1201 Creel Street

Spartanburg, SC 29302                                             Conway, SC 29527

Greenwood CLTC                                                     Charleston CLTC

617 South Main Street                                            4130 Faber Place Drive, Suite 303 Greenwood, SC 29646          North Charleston, SC 29405

Rock Hill CLTC                                                         Anderson CLTC

454 South Anderson Road, Suite 11                         3215 Martin Luther King Jr.

Rock Hill, SC 29730                                                  Boulevard, Suite H

Anderson, SC 29625

Columbia CLTC

300 Arbor Lake Drive, Suite 900                               

Columbia, SC 29223                                               

Aiken CLTC

2361 S. Centennial

Ave., Suite B

Aiken, SC 29803

Orangeburg CLTC

191 Regional Parkway, Building A

Orangeburg, SC 29118

Public Comments and Responses:

If you have a question or comment regarding this amendment, please send it to the following mail or email address prior to March 8, 2023:

Email:   [email protected]

Mail:     Attention: Russell Morrison

      Office of Waivers and Facility Services

      South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

      Post Office Box 8206

      Columbia, SC 29202-8206

Any written comments submitted may be reviewed by the public at SCDHHS, Bureau of Policy, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. SCDHHS does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

SCDHHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities, such as qualified sign language interpreters and written information in other formats (large print, braille, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats). We provide free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as qualified interpreters and information written in other languages. If you need these services, please contact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Civil Rights Official by mail at: PO Box 8206, Columbia, SC 29202-8206, by phone at: 1-888-549-0820 (TTY: 1-888-842-3620), or by email at: [email protected].

If you believe SCDHHS has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with the Civil Rights Official using the contact information provided above. You can file a grievance in person, by mail, or via email. If you need help filing a grievance, we are available to help you.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, D.C. 20201 or by phone at: 800-368- 1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD). Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html .