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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The North Dakota Department of Human Services is seeking public comment on draft amendments to the Autism Spectrum Disorder/Home and Community-Based Services waiver application.  The waiver serves children, ages birth through seven, diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and includes an array of home and community-based services.

The draft amendments contain various changes that were authorized by the 2013 Legislature.  These changes include providing additional behavioral supports and autism-specific services, increasing capacity to serve more children and their families, and other enhancements designed to better meet the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families living in North Dakota.

The draft Autism Spectrum Disorder/Home and Community-Based Services waiver application is on the department’s website at www.nd.gov/dhs/autism/index.html.

Individuals wishing to comment should contact Trisha Page at tpage@nd.gov or by calling 701-328-8920, toll free 800-755-2719, or ND Relay TTY 800-366-6888.  Comments can also be sent to the Autism Services Unit, N.D. Department of Human Services, Attn: Trisha Page, 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 1C, Bismarck, ND 58501.  Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. (Central Time) on Thurs., Feb. 13, 2014.

Following the 30-day comment period and tribal notification process, the department will submit the amended waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for federal review and approval.  The amended waiver is expected to be implemented in June 2014.