This bill mandates the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to include family caregiver support services as an allowable service under the Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs. The bill outlines that these services should be designed to help caregivers maintain their ability to provide care at home and may include counseling, education, training, and peer support. Additionally, the bill requires the department to adopt rules regarding the definition, scope, eligibility criteria, provider qualifications, and service limitations for these caregiver support services.

Furthermore, the bill eliminates the child care scholarship cost share for children in kinship care, ensuring that households where all enrolled children are cared for by a relative do not incur any cost share for child care services. It also modifies the work requirement for child care scholarship eligibility to include participation in approved mental health or substance use treatment programs and retirement for individuals who have reached retirement age. The implementation of these provisions is contingent upon federal approval and sufficient funding, with the department required to report on funding status until full implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 161:2, 167:83
As Amended by the Senate: 161:2, 167:83
As Amended by the Senate (2nd): 161:2, 167:83
As Amended by the House: 161:2, 167:83
Version adopted by both bodies: 161:2, 167:83
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 161:2, 167:83
SB608 text: 161:2, 167:83