In accordance with the provisions of section 17b-8(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, notice is hereby given that the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services (DSS) intends to submit the following three applications to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), each to be effective April 1, 2026:
- Renewal of the Employment and Day Supports Medicaid Waiver
- Amendment of the Comprehensive Supports Medicaid Waiver; and
- Amendment of the Individual and Family Support Medicaid Waiver
All the above-referenced waivers are operated by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
DSS and DDS are proposing the following changes to all three waivers:
- Adding a new waiver service titled “Virtual Health Consultation.” This service is tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals supported by DDS by providing timely specialized telehealth assessments when a participant's primary care physician is unavailable or unable to determine the most appropriate clinical course of action. The service ensures greater access to both routine and specialized medical care that might otherwise be challenging to obtain through traditional means, and helps reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, while promoting efficient and accessible care.
- Adding a certificate of completion as a provider qualification in lieu of a high school diploma or GED for the Peer Support waiver service. Peer Support is a unique waiver service in that it provides support and advocacy from individuals with intellectual disability who are qualified to provide the service. A certificate of completion is a portfolio of a student’s accomplishments during high school developed for those who are unable to graduate even with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in place.
- Technical and administrative clarifications, including those revisions requested by CMS and noted as part of the CMS Consolidated Final Quality Report.
The Departments are also proposing the following additional changes to the Individual and Family Support Waiver and the Comprehensive Supports Waiver:
- Adding a new waiver service titled “Transitional Residential Habilitation.” This service is a home and community-based habilitation service with the goal of supporting a person to develop individualized, positive coping strategies, techniques, and independent living skills so that they may successfully transition to a least restrictive setting in the community. This service is meant to be provided temporarily up to 24 months.
No current enrollees will be negatively impacted by the changes proposed in the applications.
- For a copy of the Notice of Intent summarizing the proposed changes, please follow this link.
- For a copy of the full waiver application for the amendment of the Comprehensive Supports Medicaid Waiver, please follow this link.
- For a copy of the full waiver application for the amendment of the Individual and Family Support Medicaid Waiver, please follow this link.
- For a copy of the full waiver application for the renewal of the Employment and Day Supports Medicaid Waiver, please follow this link.
All written comments regarding these applications must be submitted by November 30, 2025 to: Krista Ostaszewski, Health Management Administrator, DDS Central Office, 460 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106, or via email at Krista.Ostaszewski@ct.gov.