HB2591 would reduce the number of former foster youth with developmental disabilities discharged into homelessness or inappropriately placed in hospitals. The bill intends to maximize the most cost-effective services for former foster youth with developmental disabilities.
Caseload forecasting would be used to inform an expansion of developmental disability waiver slots to serve individuals exiting from a dependency or from extended foster care services. Funding for the waiver slots would be budgeted as a maintenance level cost.
The bill amends previous WAC to forecast the number of individuals under age twenty-one who are functionally and financially eligible for Medicaid waiver services. It calls for the department to convene a shared planning meeting that includes developmental disabilities administration staff when the youth are between ages 16 and 16 and 1/2 to plan services for the youth in advance of their transition to adulthood. Details about what is required during the shared planning meeting are provided.
