CLC announces the inauguration of it’s new
Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) program.
What
is HCS?
HCS
stand for Home and Community-Based Services. It is one of several programs in
Texas known as a waiver
service. Waiver services in general
are Medicaid programs that differ from traditional (institutional) Medicaid
programs in that the federal government through the Centers for Medicaid and
Medicare Services (CMS) allows states more flexibility in meeting the needs of
recipients. In other words, the feds do not impose as many rules on waiver
programs as they do the traditional services such as nursing homes and
Intermediate Care Facilities/ for people with Mental Retardation (ICFs/MR).
In
Texas
the program that
provides the most options for persons with mental retardation is the HCS program
because it allows a service provider and the person (or the person’s guardian)
to craft a program around what the person wants balanced against what the person
needs.
Who
can receive services from CLC’s HCS program?
Individuals who are currently receiving
supports in the HCS program from another provider can transfer into CLC’s
services. Additionally, when
individuals who live in the area served by Johnson- Ellis - Navarro Counties
MHMR Services (JEN), have been notified they can begin to receive these
services, those individuals can choose CLC as their service provider.
How
is HCS funded and who determines who gets services?
A wide array of services and supports funded
through a combination of Medicaid and private funds comprise the HCS program.
Individuals who have incomes from sources such as Social Security, a job, a
trust, etc. use those funds for specific expenses such as housing, food, and
other things for which Medicaid does not pay.
Then Medicaid funds are used for services like day programs, case
management, counseling, nursing, etc. The Department of Aging and Disability
Services or DADS – formerly the Department of Human Services (DHS) -
determines eligibility for the program but locally, JEN administers the program
and maintains the waiting list. Individuals who are not currently on JEN’s
waiting list must be placed on the list before they can receive HCS services.
How
is HCS different from ICF/MR?
ICFs/MR were first developed in the 1970’s
as a way of regulating and improving large state institutions (in
As conditions in large institutions began to
improve, it was soon discovered that people tended to do better in smaller
settings, so the ICF/MR regulations were applied to smaller and smaller
settings. In 1988 the regulations changed and now all ICFs/MR regardless of size
have to comply with the same set of regulations. In 1983
ICFs/MR provide what is frequently referred to
as a “bundled” service. It is
facility based, meaning it is a service tied to a specific location, i.e.
building, home, apartment building, etc. and all services are in one way or
another associated with this location. ICFs/MR
involve “bricks and mortar” or is a residential model as well as a service
delivery model. Providers are paid
one rate that includes everything, i.e. food, medicine, nursing, speech therapy,
transportation, soap, deodorant, staff, psychological services, recreation, and
lots more. The provider is
responsible for collecting from each individual any income he/she has from
sources like Social Security, a job, etc. Medicaid
then fills in the gap left after this applied income is subtracted from what the
state of
Again, as services evolved it seemed expedient
to “unbundled” services and to let individuals have more choice over where
they lived, who they lived with, and how they used their money.
So,
Services and supports through this delivery
model can be provided in a variety of settings including the home of parents, an
apartment or the person’s own home, or in a residential setting (small group
living). The person uses his/her
funds to pay a negotiated room and board fee and anything left over is the
individual’s. The provider
arranges for the services (psychological, nursing, speech therapy, etc.) and
assures the individual has what he/she needs.
The state has more control over this program than it does the ICF/MR and
sets its own standards of care.
What
if I want to become a service provider for CLC?
CLC
is accepting applications for Foster Care Providers and Front Line Staff
Apply
in person at:
Community Living Concepts
110
East Walnut
(817)
558-9559
How do I find out more about CLC’s services
including HCS?
For information call John Akers or Jan Hannah @ 817/558-9559 or use the request information form,
and / or the
feed back form
associated with this website.
Community
Living Concepts, Inc.
Serving
Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in