NH DHHS Seeks Public Input on Home and Community-Based Services

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS), in partnership with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) and the UNH Center on Aging and Community Living, will hold a series of public forums to solicit stakeholder feedback on New Hampshire’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) system for older adults and people with disabilities. 

Through funding by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) “Money Follows the Person” Demonstration Expansion award, DHHS, with support from HSRI, will evaluate New Hampshire’s long-term services and supports system, including the Choices for Independence waiver, and consider recommendations for ensuring greater system access across all populations and geographic areas of the State.   

“New Hampshire has made investments in recent years geared toward enhancing our long-term supports and services,” said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. “We look forward to working with individuals, caregivers, and stakeholders to ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of the people who use long term services and supports, so they can live independently in their communities.” 

Once the data collection and analysis are complete, DHHS and HSRI plan to issue a final report in June 2024 that will include actionable recommendations to promote community integration, independence, and a robust system of services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities.

Anyone who has feedback about HCBS access and quality is encouraged to attend a listening session. For additional information about the listening sessions or to provide direct feedback, please email NHHCBSfeedback@dhhs.nh.gov.

In-person listening sessions:

• Berlin, Tuesday, December 5
  1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
  Berlin Senior Center
  610 Sullivan Street, Berlin
   
• Concord, Thursday, December 14
  2:30 – 4:00 p.m.  
  GoodLife Programs & Activities 
  254 North State Street, Concord

Virtual listening sessions:

• Wednesday, December 13
  6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

A second virtual listening session, with Spanish language access, will also be scheduled.

The link for all virtual sessions is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84586985396

Or by telephone: 
    Dial: +1-646-931-3860
    Meeting ID: 845 8698 5396

People who need accommodations for communication access to in-person sessions such as interpreters, CART (captioning), assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services, can contact BEAS at 603-271-9203 or NHHCBSfeedback@dhhs.nh.gov 5 business days before the listening session. At least five business days' advance notice is requested in order to assure availability; requests made fewer than five days prior to the event will attempt to be accommodated but cannot be guaranteed.    

This project is entirely funded through a federal Money Follows the Person grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.