STATE TO CONTINUE ADHC PROGRAM THROUGH MARCH

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Federal Government Asks for Additional Time to Process Proposal that Will Launch the Community-Based Adult Services Program
 
February 20, 2012 (Sacramento) -- The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today announced that the elimination of the optional Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) benefit will be delayed until March 31. The one-month delay is in response to a request by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for more time to process California’s amendment to the existing 1115 “Bridge to Reform” waiver to implement the new Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program.
 
Because of the delay, the CBAS program is now scheduled to launch on April 1.  During the one-month extension of the ADHC benefit, Medi-Cal will continue to fund the ADHC centers.
 
“Throughout this ongoing transition, DHCS has made the care of ADHC participants its highest priority,” said DHCS Director Toby Douglas.  “We will continue to work diligently as we move forward toward CBAS implementation.”
 
Since December 2011, nurse evaluators have assessed thousands of recipients to determine if they are medically eligible for the new CBAS program. CBAS will provide necessary medical and social services to those with the greatest need.  It has not yet been determined how many ADHC participants are eligible, as the assessments are ongoing.
 
During this one-month extension, ADHC centers will continue to serve all eligible ADHC recipients, even those who have been determined to be ineligible for CBAS. Medi-Cal will also continue providing reimbursement to the centers for services provided.
 
Under a settlement agreement of an ADHC lawsuit last year, the ADHC program was initially to be phased out and replaced on March 1 with the CBAS program.  The terms of the settlement included CMS’s review and approval of the waiver amendment. Therefore the settlement terms are not otherwise affected by the delay.

  


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