The Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), in accordance with the requirements in 29 DCMR § 988.4, announces publication of the Medicaid Fee Schedule setting forth the reimbursement rates, effective January 1, 2022, for services available to participants under the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for the Individual and Family Support (IFS) Waiver. 
 
The Department on Disability Services (DDS), Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), operates the IFS Waiver under the supervision of DHCF.  The IFS Waiver was approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for a five-year period beginning November 1, 2020.

DHCF is identifying through this Public Notice the changes in the reimbursement rates for services rendered on or after January 1, 2022.  The services are set forth in the approved IFS Waiver, are fully described in a new 29 DCMR Chapter 90 (Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Individual and Family Support), and will be listed in the new 29 DCMR § 9001, upon publication of the regulations in the D.C. Register. The new rates align with ID/DD waiver service rates and follow the same rate methodology, except for Education Support Services, which is a unique service to this waiver. The new rates include the 2022 D.C. Living Wage where required and are expressly subject to the service and other limitations described in the IFS Waiver and applicable rules. 

DHCF is increasing the reimbursement rates for Sixteen (16) IFS Waiver services as follows: (1) Assistive Technology Services (29 DCMR § 9015; cf. 29 DCMR § 1941); (2) Behavioral Support Services (29 DCMR § 9016; cf. 29 DCMR § 1919); (3) Companion Services (29 DCMR § 9017; cf. 29 DCMR § 1939); (4) Creative Arts Therapies Services (29 DCMR § 9018; cf. 29 DCMR § 1918); (5) Day Habilitation Services (29 DCMR § 9019; cf. 29 DCMR § 1920); (6) Employment Readiness Services (29 DCMR § 9022, cf. 29 DCMR §1922); (7) Family Training Services (29 DCMR § 9023; cf. 29 DCMR § 1924); (8) Individualized Day Supports Services (29 DCMR § 9024; cf. 29 DCMR § 1925); (9) In-Home Supports Services (29 DCMR § 9025; cf. 29 DCMR § 1916); (10) Occupational Therapy Services (29 DCMR § 9026; cf. 29 DCMR § 1926); (11) Parenting Supports Services (29 DCMR § 9027; cf. 29 DCMR § 1942); (12) Physical Therapy Services (29 DCMR § 9029; cf. 29 DCMR § 1928); (13) Respite Services (29 DCMR § 9030; cf. 29 DCMR § 1930); (14) Speech, Hearing and Language Services (29 DCMR § 9032; cf. 29 DCMR § 1932); (15) Supported Employment Services – Individual and Small Group Services (29 DCMR § 9033; cf. 29 DCMR § 1933); and (16) Wellness Services (29 DCMR § 9034; cf. 29 DCMR § 1936). 

For Personal Care Services (29 DCMR § 9028; cf. 29 DCMR § 1910) and Skilled Nursing Services (29 DCMR § 9031; cf. 29 DCMR § 1931), DHCF will reimburse providers at the rates set forth in the Medicaid Fee Schedule for the Medicaid State Plan.

These reimbursement rates for each service will be included on the Medicaid Fee Schedule for the ID/DD Waiver/IFS Waiver and will become effective January 1, 2022. These new rates do not replace the rates established in response to the Public Health Emergency. The Medicaid Fee Schedule for the ID/DD Waiver/IFS Waiver is located on the DHCF website at https://www.dc-medicaid.com/dcwebportal/nonsecure/feeScheduleDownload.  For further information or questions regarding this fee schedule update, please contact Samuel Woldeghiorgis, Associate Director, Office of Rates, Reimbursement, and Financial Analysis, DHCF, at [email protected] or via telephone at (202) 442 9240.