Orange County NC Website
4 <br />available for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). States may <br />choose to simultaneously operate 1915 (b) and (c) waivers. Medicaid waivers are used <br />to improve access to and quality of services, as well as manage cost. <br />REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS -1915(b)(c) Medicaid Waiver Expansion <br />KEY POINTS: <br />• This is the final RFA that will be issued for statewide expansion. <br />• Full expansion is expected to be completed by January 2013. <br />• LMEs applying to operate a waiver must have an unduplicated minimum <br />Medicaid eligible population of 70,000 individuals 3 years and older; a total <br />population size of 300,000 by July 2012, and a total population size of 500,000 <br />by July 2013. [OPC =total population of 227,963; number of Medicaid <br />eligible individuals 3 years and older is 22,372] <br />• A single LME may apply if it meets all minimum requirements. If a single LME <br />does not all minimum requirements it will be expected to merge with one or more <br />other LMEs, with one entity being identified as the lead LME. <br />• Applications must be received by May 20, 2011. <br />• By the date of the RFA application submission, all LMEs must identify which lead <br />LME they will partner with to pertorm the required Medicaid managed care and <br />LME functions. If LMEs do not identify working partners, then DHHS will assign <br />LME catchment areas. <br />OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OPC: In February 2010 OPC was approached by PBH, the <br />LME currently operating the 1915(b)(c) pilot project, about the possibility of forming an <br />alliance. With approval of the OPC Area Board negotiations were initiated. In June <br />2010 legislation was passed which restricted PBH from expanding their geographic <br />region and limited the number of sites for expansion of the Medicaid waiver. OPC's <br />negotiations with PBH were put on hold. Legislative support now exists for removal of <br />the restrictions on PBH, as well as expansion of the waiver, and the OPC Area Board <br />has authorized the Area Director to re-engage in negotiations. <br />OPC AREA BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO BOCC: At their April 11~' meeting the <br />OPC Area Board reviewed the RFA and after extensive discussion the following motion <br />was approved by unanimous vote. <br />The OPC Area Board authorizes management of OPC to pursue negotiations with PBH <br />to be identified as the lead LME to operate Medicaid funded services through a 1915 <br />(b)(c) combo waiver for the OPC catchment area; to pursue a merger arrangement with <br />PBH for the provision of services in the Orange, Person and Chatham counties <br />catchment area; and to seek authorization of the Boards of Commissioners of Orange, <br />Person & Chatham counties to proceed with negotiations with PBH towards these ends. <br />Because Chapter 122C of the North Carolina General Statutes empowers and requires <br />counties to determine the area authority through which they provide services, the OPC <br />Area Board requests authorization from each county to proceed in accordance with <br />the motion it adopted. Successful negotiations would result in the necessity at a later <br />date of a resolution from each Board of County Commissioners to both join PBH for the <br />provision of services and to dissolve OPC. The only action needed at this time is the <br />Board of County Commissioners' concurrence in the negotiations recommended by the <br />OPC Area Board. <br />