Fall 2024 §1115 Waiver Amendment – Public Notice
In support of its commitment to advancing health outcomes for Marylanders with complex medical and social needs, the Maryland Department of Health (the Department) is requesting an amendment to its existing §1115 HealthChoice Demonstration Waiver. Specifically, Maryland is seeking approval to authorize:
An expansion of the existing Assistance in Community Integration Services pilot program;
Coverage of fertility preservation services; and
An expansion of Express Lane Eligibility for non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income adults.
This proposed amendment seeks to implement these services and anticipates their inclusion in the overarching renewal of the HealthChoice demonstration, effective January 2027.
As announced in the abbreviated public notice released in the Maryland General Register on October 4, 2024, the draft §1115 amendment and related public notice materials are posted for a minimum 30-day public comment period, starting October 7, 2024 and ending on November 6, 2024.
Interested parties may submit written comments electronically via email to mdh.healthchoicerenewal@maryland.gov or may send written comments concerning the waiver amendment to:
Alyssa Brown, Director
Medicaid Office of Innovation, Research and Development
Maryland Department of Health
201 West Preston Street, Room 223
Baltimore, MD 21201
Two public hearings will be held to solicit input on the proposed amendment. The date, time, and location of the public hearings are listed below:
Public Hearing #1:
Thursday, October 10, 2024; 1:00PM–2:00PM
In-person: Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850
Virtual/Audio: GoToWebinar Virtual Platform. To participate in the public hearing remotely, please visit:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4139728790215225440
Public Hearing #2:
Thursday, October 24, 2024; 1:00PM–3:00PM
In-person: Maryland Department of Health - Level L-Room L1, 201 West Preston Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Virtual/Audio: GoToWebinar Virtual Platform. To participate in the public hearing remotely, please visit:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3613407961570427992
Please note that if you desire to make a public comment, you may attend the meeting in person, or if you’d like to appear virtually, register via the link above. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing audio and visual information about joining the webinar.
Individuals needing special accommodation, please contact (410)-935-3938.
2022-2026 Renewal Period Effective January 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved and renewed Maryland's §1115 demonstration waiver, known as HealthChoice, for a period of five years. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) accepted public comments from May 4, 2021, through June 4, 2021.
HealthChoice, first implemented in 1997 under the authority of Section 1115 of the Social Security Act, is Maryland's statewide mandatory managed care program for Medicaid enrollees. Under HealthChoice, eligible families and individuals are required to enroll in a managed care organization that has been approved by the Maryland Department of Health. Each managed care organization is responsible for ensuring that HealthChoice enrollees have access to a network of medical providers that can meet the health needs of each enrollee. For more information, see the current §1115 Waiver Special Terms and Conditions.
