Notice of Public Hearing

WAIVER RENEWAL

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to s. 49.688 , Stats., the Department of Health Services will hold a public hearing on renewal of the SeniorCare program, which requires the submission of a waiver renewal application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Hearing Date(s) and Location(s)

Date and Time
Monday, May 11, 2015 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Public comment at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Location
SeniorCare Advisory Committee Department of Health Services One West Wilson Street Room 751 Madison, WI 53703

Wilson Park Auditorium

Wilson Park Senior Center

2601 West Howard Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53221-1941

Agendas for these meetings will be posted to http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/seniorcare/ .

Accessibility

English

DHS is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. If you need accommodations because of a disability or need an interpreter or translator, or if you need this material in another language or in an alternate format, you may request assistance to participate by contacting Al Matano at [phone]. You must make your request at least 7 days before the activity.

Spanish

DHS es una agencia que ofrece igualdad en las oportunidades de empleo y servicios. Si necesita algún tipo de acomodaciones debido a incapacidad o si necesita un intérprete, traductor o esta información en su propio idioma o en un formato alterno, usted puede pedir asistencia para participar en los programas comunicándose con Al Matano al número [phone]. Debe someter su petición por lo menos 7 días de antes de la actividad.

Hmong

DHS yog ib tus tswv hauj lwm thiab yog ib qhov chaw pab cuam uas muab vaj huam sib luag rau sawv daws. Yog koj xav tau kev pab vim muaj mob xiam oob qhab los yog xav tau ib tus neeg pab txhais lus los yog txhais ntaub ntawv, los yog koj xav tau cov ntaub ntawv no ua lwm hom lus los yog lwm hom ntawv, koj yuav tau thov kev pab uas yog hu rau Al Matano ntawm [phone]. Koj yuav tsum thov qhov kev pab yam tsawg kawg 7 hnub ua ntej qhov hauj lwm ntawd.

Copies of Waiver Documents

A copy of waiver documents, including the waiver application once complete, may be obtained from the department at no charge by downloading the documents from http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/seniorcare/ or by contacting:

Regular Mail

Al Matano

Division of Health Care Access and Accountability

P.O. Box 309

Madison, WI 53707−0309

Phone

Al Matano

(608)267−6848

FAX

(608)261−7792

E−Mail

[e-mail]

Analysis Prepared by the Department of Health Services

Statute interpreted: Section 49.688 , Wis. Stats.

Statutory authority: Section 49.688 , Wis. Stats.

Explanation of agency authority:

Section 49.688 (11) directs t he department to request from the federal Secretary of Health and Human services a waiver, under 42 USC 1315 (a), of federal Medicaid laws necessary to permit the Department of Health Services to conduct a project to expand eligibility for medical assistance, for purposes of receipt of prescription drugs as a benefit.

Related statute or rule: N/A.

Plain language analysis:

The State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is requesting a three-year extension of its Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver for the SeniorCare prescription drug assistance program. The waiver assumes the SeniorCare program will operate the same as it currently is today. If any additional changes are required to this program as a result the Wisconsin biennial budget deliberations, the Department will assess the impact of these changes on the waiver renewal timeline. The current waiver is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015. The State requests that the waiver be extended for an additional three-year period, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018.

History of the Program

On July 1, 2002, The State of Wisconsin received the necessary waiver approvals from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to operate a portion of SeniorCare, a prescription drug benefit for seniors, as a five-year demonstration project. Through its partnership with the federal government, the SeniorCare waiver extends Medicaid eligibility through Title XIX to cover prescription drugs as a necessary primary health care benefit.

Population and Numbers Served

The target population for services under this demonstration project is seniors 65 years of age or older with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $23,540 for an individual and $31,860 for a two-person family in 2015. Each month the SeniorCare waiver program serves about 50,000 seniors.

Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations:

The federal equivalent to SeniorCare is Medicare Part D. SeniorCare is the only program of its kind.

Agency contact person:

Al Matano

Division of Health Care Access and Accountability

P.O. Box 309

Madison, WI 53707−0309

(608)267−6848 (telephone)

(608)261−7792 (fax)

[e-mail]

Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:

Comments may be submitted to the agency contact person listed above or to http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/seniorcare/ until Monday, June 22, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.

Fiscal Estimate

A copy of the full fiscal estimate may be obtained from the department’s contact person listed above upon request.