The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file a five-year renewal application for the 1915(c) Home and Community Based (HCBS) Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI [SC.0284]) waiver. The program is operated by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) and will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The proposed effective date of this waiver renewal is July 1, 2023. 

Changes included in the proposed renewal are provided below:

1. Appendix B-1 (b): Remove age limit 
2. Appendix B-3 (c): Increase reserve capacity for each risk category 
3. Appendix C: Collapse registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) services into one nursing service; revise provider qualifications and service description
4. Appendix C: Update policy for reimbursement to family members
5. Appendix E: Update participant direction opportunities
6. Appendix J: Update cost neutrality demonstration and cost projections

Current waiver participants will not be adversely impacted.

Communication:

The intent to renew the HASCI waiver with proposed changes was discussed on Jan. 25, 2023, during the monthly Indian Health Services conference call. 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 HASCI waiver renewal and its proposed changes will be shared with the public during the following webinars:

Webinars:         HCBS Waiver Renewal

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m.

Registration Link:

HCBS Waiver Renewal

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m.

Registration Link:

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

1. Electronic Access:

1. SCDHHS website: www.scdhhs.gov (under “Public Notices” and “Waivers” sections)
2. DDSN website: www.ddsn.sc.gov
3. Family Connection of South Carolina website: www.familyconnectionsc.org
4. South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council website: www.scddc.state.sc.us
5. Hard Copies:
   1. SCDHHS front lobby – 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
   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

Aiken CLTC

2361 S. Centennial

Ave., Suite B

Aiken, SC 29803

Orangeburg CLTC

191 Regional Parkway, Building A

Orangeburg, SC 29118

Columbia CLTC

300 Arbor Lake Drive, Suite 900                               

Columbia, SC 29223

Public Comments and Responses:

If you have a question or comment regarding this renewal action, please send it to the following mail or email address prior to March 1, 2023:

Email:   [email protected]

Mail:    Attention: Michelle Abney

                        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 .