堪萨斯「社区支持豁免」正式生效：首年纳入500人，为残障人士提供居家社区服务
托皮卡消息：堪萨斯州州长劳拉·凯利与州老龄与残障服务部（KDADS）、州卫生与环境部宣布，联邦医疗保险与医疗补助服务中心（CMS）已批准该州新的「社区支持豁免」（Community Supports Waiver），并已于10月1日正式生效。CMS 于今年7月1日批准这项 1915(c) 居家与社区服务豁免，与 KanCare 托管医疗豁免修正案同步实施。
新豁免面向5岁以上、患有智力或发育障碍、无需全天候照护但否则可能需要入住中间护理机构的人群，首年预计纳入500人。服务包括个人就业支持、个人护理和喘息照护等，设计上参考了州议会2022年智力与发育障碍豁免现代化特别委员会的建议，强调按需匹配的支持力度，帮助服务对象在家和社区中更独立地生活，并促进竞争性融合就业。
凯利表示，这项批准体现了协作和把堪萨斯人需求放在首位的成果，是帮助个人和家庭在需要时获得所需照护的里程碑一步。州政府同时提示，现有同类服务的等候名单约有5300人，KDADS 呼吁等候时间最长的人优先申请新计划；也有声音担忧每人每年2万美元的额度可能不足以覆盖全部需求。
信息来源：堪萨斯州长办公室、州老龄与残障服务部（经 Kansas News Service 报道）https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1086/56
Kansas Community Supports Waiver Takes Effect: 500 Enrolled in First Year for Home-Based Disability Services
TOPEKA — Kansas' new Community Supports Waiver took effect on Oct. 1, after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services waiver, Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) announced. CMS approved the waiver on July 1, and it operates concurrently with an amendment to the KanCare managed care waiver. Projected enrollment is 500 individuals for the first waiver year, running through Sept. 30, 2027.
The waiver serves Kansans ages 5 and older with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who do not require 24-hour support but would otherwise need services in an intermediate care facility. Developed with input from the Legislature's 2022 Special Committee on I/DD Waiver Modernization, it offers flexible, right-sized supports — including individual employment support, personal care services and respite care — to help people live more independently at home and in their communities and pursue competitive integrated employment.
"The approval represents what is possible through collaboration, forward-thinking, and putting the needs of Kansans first," Kelly said. Officials note that a related existing program has a waitlist of an estimated 5,300 people; KDADS is urging those waiting the longest to apply, though some advocates worry a $20,000 annual cap may not cover everyone's needs.
Source: Kansas Office of the Governor; KDADS (via Kansas News Service) https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1086/56
图片来源：堪萨斯州议会大厦穹顶（托皮卡），CC BY 2.0，摄影：America's Power（Wikimedia Commons）
