BISMARCK – North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking public comment on the five-year renewal of its Medicaid 1915(c) waiver for medically fragile children. Public comment will be accepted through Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.

The waiver allows Medicaid to pay for services for children between the ages of 3-21 who are medically fragile. The goal of this waiver is to help families keep their children at home instead of having to place them in a nursing home or hospital to receive needed care.  

The draft waiver can be found at hhs.nd.gov/waivers. Copies are also available upon request.   

Comments can be submitted by mail to North Dakota Health and Human Services Medical Services Division, Attn: Kathy Barchenger, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325, Bismarck, N.D. 58505, by email to kbarchenger@nd.gov, or by phone at 800-755-2604 or 711 (TTY). 

After the public comment period ends, HHS will submit the five-year renewal to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for approval with a proposed effective date of June 1.