Information Letter 10-02

May 13, 2010

Page 2

May 13, 2010

To: Community Living Assistance and Support Service (CLASS) Providers

Subject: Information Letter No. 10-02

Enhancements to the CLASS Program Notification Processes

Note: This letter has been revised to removed the final paragraph, Viewing Consumer MESAV.

Effective August 2009, an enhancement to Medicaid Eligibility Service Authorization Verification (MESAV) was implemented that allows all providers the ability to view future service authorizations for consumers up to 90 calendar days from the current date. With this change, beginning May 15, 2010, the MESAV will replace the Individual Plan of Care (IPC), currently faxed by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) Provider Claims Services (PCS), as the official notification that the IPC is approved.

Benefits of this change include:

·  DADS IPC data entry time reduced from 20 to 15 business days or less, not including a two business-day mailing period, from the date the IPC is received by the CLASS Program in the DADS Provider Services Office.

·  Elimination of issues with unreliable fax machines, as well as hard-to-read faxed IPC copies and telephone numbers.

·  Reduction of paper waste.

CLASS providers should access a MESAV within 15 business days, not including a two business-day mailing period, from submission to the CLASS Program in the DADS Provider Services Office. MESAV information can only be requested for three consecutive months when the dates requested are within the service authorization period. For example, if an IPC with an authorization period from March 1, 2010, through February 28, 2011, is submitted to DADS Provider Services on February 16, 2010, a MESAV can be requested on March 1, 2010, for authorization information from March through May 2010. Errors found in the MESAV can be faxed (using current procedures) to PCS for immediate resolution. Changes are made retroactive to the begin date of the approved IPC.

Authorization of IPCs. Providers should continue their current business practice regarding whether or not to suspend services pending service authorization approval/entry. The MESAV inquiries allow providers to check services, units, Medicaid eligibility, and the effective dates for authorizations. On-site provider reviewers will use MESAV data to verify service authorization approvals instead of requiring provider agencies to maintain the DADS-authorized copy of the IPC. Monitoring is generally done retrospectively so this should not cause any surveyor or contract monitoring problems.

Tracking of Service Authorizations. It is critical for CLASS providers to use MESAVs to regularly track service authorizations as soon as they become available in the system.

If there are additional questions about the contents of this letter, contact Provider Claims Services at 512-438-2200, Option 1.

Sincerely,

[signature on file]

Gordon Taylor

DADS Chief Financial Officer

GT:nmp