Notice of Intent to Renew and Amend the Mental Health Home and Community-Based Services Waiver

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes section 17b-8(c), has issued notice of intent to submit a renewal of the Mental Health Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver to CMS, with a proposed effective date of April 1, 2027. The waiver is operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The renewal includes both substantive amendments and technical updates. The primary substantive change is the addition of a fifth level of care under Assisted Living services, designed to align the Mental Health waiver's service array with the service array used in the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders. Technical updates include completion of Appendix C:1.d to address how telehealth services are provided under the waiver, and completion of Appendix C:2.g to document the provision of Transitional Case Management services in acute care hospitals. Per CMS guidance, Appendix C:5 addressing Home and Community-Based Settings was completed. Quality Improvement sections were also updated: a performance measure was added to the sub-assurance under Appendix B, subsection (a)(i)(b), and existing performance measures under Appendix A, subsection (a)(i), and sub-assurances under Appendix B, subsections (a)(i)(a) and (a)(i)(c), were revised. Written public comments on the renewal application must be submitted no later than December 3, 2026, to Katie Daly, Director of Long Term Services and Supports, Mental Health Waiver Program, DMHAS, PO Box 351, Middletown, Connecticut 06457, or via email at Katie.Daly@ct.gov.