The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Medical Services is now accepting public comments on the new
Children with Serious Emotional Disorder Waiver (CSEDW) until May 23, 2019. The CSEDW is part of DHHR’s child welfare reform effort and will provide an array of services that enables children who would otherwise require institutionalization to remain in their homes and communities.
The CSEDW is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver program authorized under §1915(c) of the Social Security Act. The CSEDW provides services that are additions to Medicaid State Plan coverage for Children with Serious Emotional Disorders who are enrolled in the CSEDW program, from age 3 up to the youth’s 21st birthday.
“The purpose of this new waiver is to help keep youth with diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders in their homes and communities when possible,” said Cindy Beane, Commissioner for DHHR’s Bureau for Medical Services. “We look forward to receiving public input to ensure development of this waiver considers recommendations from the residents we serve.”
It is anticipated that the CSEDW will reduce the number of children housed both in-state and out-of-state in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) and shorten the lengths of stay for children who require acute care in PRTFs.
“DHHR is working diligently on all fronts to improve outcomes for West Virginia youth, and this waiver is one of many important components in our efforts to reform the child welfare system,” added DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch.
Public comments will be accepted via email at
BMSSEDWaiver@wv.gov. Comments may also be mailed to DHHR’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Unit: Bureau for Medical Services, 350 Capitol Street, Room 251, Charleston, WV 25301.