ACT TODAY: Comment by September 9 on Georgia's Plan re HCBS

Do you or someone you love get services through waivers like GAPP, ICWP, NOW, COMP, SOURCE or CCSP? If so, It is very important to let your voice be heard by September 9, 2016. But don’t wait! Follow these instructions now and register your comments today!

A new federal rule, called the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule, tells providers how to give out services paid for by these waivers. The rule is supposed to help people who receive services have full lives in their communities with their families, friends, and neighbors. Our state must write a State Transition Plan (STP). The STP will say what changes Georgia will make to follow this new rule.

The STP is accepting public comment and the deadline to submit is September 9. Give us your input about the changes you want to see. Georgia needs to hear from people like you who care about waivers and services.

First - look at the plan at http://dch.georgia.gov/hcbs/hcbs-transition-plan
Second - Share your suggestions and any changes you would make if you were writing the STP. You can comment by emailing , fax it to 404-651-6880, or mail it to the Board of Community Health, PO Box 1966, Atlanta, GA 30301-1966. If you can, please also send your comments to the federal agency in charge of making sure Georgia follows this new rule at . Let them know your email is about Georgia's STP!

Remember, the deadline to share your thoughts is September 9, 2016.

Here are a few of the most important things that need to be part of Georgia's STP:

People must be given a choice to live in their own home or apartment. Services must come to people where they live. People should not have to change where they live or where they spend time to get services.
Services must help people be independent and make their own decisions.
Services must help people go to different places and do different things in their communities. The services must move around with the person.
Services must give people privacy, dignity, respect, freedom from being told what to do, and freedom from restraint.
Services must help people find real jobs for real pay.
People must have a choice about what services they get and who provides them.

You only have until September 9, 2016 to tell the State whether your services help you stay in charge of your own life or need to be changed so that Georgia is following the new rule.

Here are a few suggestions to include as you form your comments:

You could tell the State about where you live. For example, is it with your family, in your own apartment, a group home or a host home? Do you live where you want to live? Do you get to leave when you want to go out? Do you get to decide how you spend your money? Do you get to be around the people you want? Do you have privacy (for example, can you lock your door, use the phone when you want, have your own room)? Do you get to eat what and when you want?
Do you have a chance to find a paid job in the community? Do you get to decide how to spend your day? Do you get to spend as much time as you want to in the community?
What do you think Georgia can do to make sure you have the choices you want and are able to live your life how you want in the community?

You can also come to a meeting to make your voice heard about the STP. Be sure to RSVP to DCH at .

State Transition Plan Dialogue Meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Time: 2:30 pm-4:00 pm
Where: 2 Peachtree St. 37th Floor War Room

If you plan to go to the meeting, please look over the STP beforehand: https://dch.georgia.gov/hcbs/hcbs-transition-plan.

Please take advantage of this important opportunity to live the life you want and deserve.