1. A. The ROW is designed to utilize the principles of self-determination and to supplement the family and/or community supports that are available to maintain the individual in the community and are designed to allow an individual experience that mirrors the experiences of individuals without disabilities. These services are not to be restrictive, but liberating, by empowering individuals to experience life in the most fulfilling manner as defined by the individual while still assuring health and safety. In keeping with the principles of self-determination, ROW includes a self-direction option, which allows for greater flexibility in hiring, training, and general service delivery issues. ROW services are meant to enhance, not replace, existing informal networks.

2. B. The ROW offers an alternative to institutional care with the objectives to:

   1. 1. promote independence for beneficiaries through the provision of services meeting the highest standards of quality and national best practices, while ensuring health and safety through a comprehensive system of beneficiary safeguards;
   2. 2. offer an alternative to institutionalization and costly comprehensive services through the provision of an array of services and supports that promote community inclusion and independence by enhancing and not replacing existing informal networks; and
   3. 3. offer access to services which would protect the health and safety of the beneficiary.

3. C. ROW services are accessed through a single point of entry in the human services district or authority, referred to as local governing entities (LGE). All waiver beneficiaries choose their support coordination and direct service provider agencies through the freedom of choice process.

   1. 1. The plan of care (POC) shall be developed using a person-centered process coordinated by the beneficiary’s support coordinator. The initial POC is developed during this person-centered planning process and approved by the human services district or authority. Annual reassessments may be approved by the support coordination agency supervisor as allowed by Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) policy.
4. D. All services must be prior authorized and delivered in accordance with the approved POC.

5. E. The total expenditures available for each waiver beneficiary is established through an assessment of individual support needs and may not exceed the approved ICF/IID Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP) rate/ROW budget level established for that individual except as approved by the OCDD assistant secretary, deputy assistant secretary, or his/her designee to prevent institutionalization. ROW acuity/budget cap level(s) are based upon each beneficiary’s ICAP assessment tool results and may change as the beneficiary’s needs change.

   1. 1. When the department determines that it is necessary to adjust the ICF/IID ICAP rate, each waiver beneficiary’s annual service budget may be adjusted to ensure that the beneficiary’s total available expenditures do not exceed the approved ICAP rate. A reassessment of the beneficiary’s ICAP level will be conducted to determine the most appropriate support level.
   2. 2. The average beneficiary’s expenditures for all waiver services shall not exceed the average Medicaid expenditures for ICF/IID services.
   3. 3. Beneficiaries may exceed assigned ROW acuity/budget cap level(s) to access defined additional support needs to prevent institutionalization on a case by case basis according to policy and as approved by the OCDD assistant secretary or his/her designee.
   4. 4. If it is determined that the ROW can no longer meet the beneficiary’s health and safety needs and/or support the beneficiary, the support coordination agency will conduct person-centered discovery activities.
   5. 5. All Medicaid service options will be explored, including ICF/IID placement, based upon the assessed need.
6. F. No reimbursement for ROW services shall be made for a beneficiary who is admitted to an inpatient setting.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, LR 33:2441 (November 2007), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, LR 41:2154 (October 2015), amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, LR 45:1764 (December 2019), LR 47:1507 (October 2021), LR 48:1559 (June 2022), LR 50:1828 (December 2024).