Save the MR/DD Waiver

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) extend West Virginias current MR/DD waiver program and require any renewal application to be developed with the meaningful participation* of all stakeholders.

The renewal application submitted in June, 2005 was not developed with the meaningful participation of all stakeholders. It does not adequately reflect stakeholder concerns. It does not adequately ensure the health and welfare of program participants, and it does not move toward self-direction as claimed. Instead, the application removes the determination of service needs from the interdisiciplinary team (which includes the participant) and puts it in the hands of an independent needs assessor at greater administrative cost to the program.

We urge CMS to insist that West Virginia develop policy that will actually support self-direction rather than hinder it.

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* Meaningful participation must include the ongoing involvement of a broad coalition of stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure that reforms will improve participants experience with the long-term care system. Consumers must be involved in system planning, policy development, local program management, and quality assessment.