Committee adopts repeal of consumer-directed services rules to fold into consolidated Medicaid chapter

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to adopt docket 16-0313-2501, a repeal of the consumer-directed services chapter so that its provisions can be codified into the consolidated Medicaid Plan Benefits docket presented by the Department of Health and Welfare.

Jared Larson, chief of staff at the Department of Health and Welfare, told the committee the move follows last year’s House Bill 345, which repealed many Medicaid rules and required the department to repromulgate them in a consolidated chapter. Larson said the consumer-directed services chapter had been inadvertently omitted from the consolidation and that adopting the repeal will place the content into the single consolidated Medicaid chapter. "If you accept this repeal, it is codified back in the subsequent docket, in a consolidated Medicaid docket," Larson said.

Senator Wintrow asked for confirmation that the material being repealed appears in the new consolidated rules without substantive change; Larson confirmed that, saying the department’s intent was to remove duplicative language and leave only policy levers the legislature controls. Senator Harris moved to accept the docket and the committee adopted it on a voice vote. The transcript does not show a roll-call tally.

The department identified Sasha O'Connell and Eric Brown as subject-matter experts available for follow-up questions. Committee members were told the department would continue working with legislators and stakeholders if issues arise during interim review. The committee proceeded to the consolidated Medicaid Plan Benefits docket after the vote.