OPWDD Provider Association Meeting

May 18, 2015

Welcome – Acting Commissioner Kerry Delaney

-  Transformation Panel – Commissioner Kerry Delaney noted that the Panel has met on employment, housing and managed care. The next meeting will focus on the “vision” for managed care and will be followed by a meeting focused on the fiscal issues in managed care. An additional meeting will be held to discuss Sheltered Employment.

-  Employment Workshop – This conference was held by OPWDD earlier in May. The Commissioner said the dialogue held at this event allowed for good ideas for the future. There will be regional follow-ups.

-  Complex populations – As the transformation unfolds, the Commissioner is seeking ideas on how to better serve this group. They plan to hold a conference on best practices in the fall, and welcome ideas on speakers, topics and other suggestions.

Provider Issues

-  BIP Grants - Kate Marlay reports that they will apply to the federal government to be able to extend the time period for BIP contracts. If approved, the extension will be individually determined for each BIP grantee. If the extension is granted by the feds, it may be as long as September, 2016, and possibly even to 2017. Apparently, several other States have applied for and received a similar extension. OPWDD says that BIP contracts are being processed as quickly as possible, but are slowed in the Comptroller’s office, and they don’t know when they’ll be released.

-  ICF & RRR – Earlier in May, OPWDD announced that RRR will no longer be included in ICF rates. Only the capital expenses in PPA’s will be included in the future. Providers asked if they need to do PPA’s for small projects ($1,000 to $10,000) in order to get reimbursement and were told “yes” if they want to be reimbursed, but they should be bundled (add several projects together in one PPA).

-  People First Community Fund – Providers asked when agencies will hear if they will be awarded funds. Laura Rosenthal replied they are looking for more data from some agencies, to clarify their requests. But, they should be able to send award letters in the next few days.

-  Site specific reporting on CFR’s – Providers noted the difficulty in determining specific costs, retroactively, for each site. Carleen Coons replied they will be providing assistance on this soon. Joanne Howard noted they will soon be sending a memo requiring this effective January 1, 2015.

-  Nurse Practice Act – Roger Bearden reported they are developing a process to issue operating certificates for waiver services. Providers asked how agencies will be paid to add Med. Administration to their programs. OPWDD is working with DOH to determine this.

-  CAS Update – Kate Bishop reports that they have data on the first 400 of 1,000 people who were tested with the CAS. This data will be used to validate the CAS, and will be correlated with program costs by actuarial services.

-  Change of Auspices – Providers raised questions about OPWDD’s action when an agency is facing failure, either programmatic or financial. Helene DeSanto replied that their response depends on the situation. Sometimes, there isn’t enough time for an RFS or another orderly transition of services. Providers expressed concern that more agencies, large and small, are failing and need more assistance.

Residential Registration List – Emilie Wright

-  They are completing three steps in this process

1.  Validating the existing list

2.  Gathering data on services in place

3.  Preparing a report for the Legislature.

Families on the list will be called starting in June through September.

Lean Updates – Dianne Henk and Mike Savery

-  Reported that OPWDD is conducting groups on the OFPC LSC Review process and on the contracting process. Their target for the time it takes from Inspection to approved POCA is 54 days for OFPC SODs. For contracting with providers, the process well exceeds 90 days; their goal was to reduce renewal cycle times to less than 90 days.

Outside Services – Kate Marlay

-  The letter explaining these changes was distributed a few weeks ago. There were difficulties with the webinar, and it will be repeated soon.

Anticipated New Regulations – Kate Bishop

-  Kate reported that new regulations will be issued within a month on Person-Centered Practices. They will mirror the Person-Centered Practices regulations in the federal rules on HCBS settings.