Support Coordination Alliance

Minutes

February 10, 2015

Attendance

Tina Wiltsee, Avenues to Independent Living (via phone)

Alison Goodrich, CAU

Bill England, Disability Services

Rita Steinberger, BIANJ (via phone)

Alex Humanick, Skylands Family (via phone)

Van Datrube, Reliable Home Care

Mercedes Witowksy, CAU

Iliana Castro, CAU

Julian MacNeill, PCSLLC

Staff: Dan Keating

Event Planning: Kathy Powers, Matheny

  1. Welcome and Introductions were made.
  1. Minutesfromthe January meeting had the following corrections:
  2. Issue #6: Hiring of “qualified SCO” Did we recommend foregoing of the one year experience? Dan will look at the letter he submitted to DHS/DDD. It was included in the ABCD letter to Liz Shea about the proposed amendments. Actually asking for: a BA in related field with a year but waive it if the BA is in those fields. Keep the current definition or have a related field without related experience.
  3. Issue #7 Strike a sentence(need follow up)
  4. Issue #8 “training”. Replace dummy with“test”and add“for training purposes.”
  5. Follow Services to DDD.
  6. Issue: If an error is made on the i-Record, DDD can fix the problem. The issue is for some reason, service and/or provider information was not entered correctly on the i-Record and the provider and family begin the service. Because of that error, the provider does not receive payment.According to the SCA,DDD expects the family to pay for something that was entered in error. Currently, the provider either forfeits that payment or the provider will request payment from the SCO. However, Tina explained a current situation in which she discovered that DDD has a way to fix this problem. Of note, DDD has to fix it system wide, not just for one person when presented with the issue. DDD needs to put together a process.
  7. Issue: There needs to be an Acuity Rate for more involved cases. According to DDD, SCO’s receive a rate that is well established, in fact they receive more than what they are doing now. DDD feels that everything will balance out. Why is DDD not utilizing the SC rate now as a pilot? The SCA recommends that DDD allow for a pilot period for Medicaid Billing since it is the SCO that will carry the burden of entering information and billing. The thought is that if DDD is already receiving Medicaid money for SC, they should allow the SCOs to begin billing using Medicaid.
  8. Additionally, SCOs need to know the ICD-10 diagnosis code. It is thought that DDD will populate into the i-Record, but is it there now?
  9. Issue: i-Recored
  10. When will i-Record roll out and can there be a test person for training and troubleshooting process.
  1. What are the criteria for the new i-Record to roll out from the SCO perspective? Exceptions for vacation and closed day reports are not accessible for SCOs to manage the business.

The approval report does not indicate the date the service was delivered. When was the contact made so it can reference the date that corresponds to the activity; not the date the plan was uploaded. There should be a marriage of the ISP and plan into one document so it isn’t separate. Documents are currently uploaded into a word document. Response times are critical.

Will the i-Record handle the capacity of input projected? We are looking at features and functionality; not performance/capability of the system. Providers should receive an automation of the service detail report and voucher sending. I-Record should kick it out and Easter Seals should have minimal involvement. Providers should know what changes occurred on the i-Record that impacts the service recipient.

What happens to changes that are needed after the plan is authorized? What is the process going to be? Can i-Record kick out the information in the meantime?

ABCD/Dan will send Chris and Chuck with a copy to Liz, the bullets listing these concerns.

  1. Issue: Work being done that was not in the original RFP remains an issue. Is the SC rate really reasonable? DDD suggested that they give them facts and figures. Entry level state case management was $42,000 plus a pension and health insurance. Privatization usually results in an employee not receiving a pension. However, given the work load and comparable duties of the state case manager, compensation should be in alignment.
  2. Pull initial contracts and do the add on lists and present to DDD. Take the RFP requirements and a list of what has been added on. Get feedback from other states. Column to allocate time to complete that task/topic vs what was originally allocated.
  3. Issue: There remain noted inconsistencies around procedures and process for intensive case management/behavioral issues. How is the information being relayed to SCO’s? Donna was to submit to Chris the information solicited from SCA members around other inconsistencies.
  4. Issue: What is Emergent Services? When the person needs a higher level of care but is not on the CCW, DDD but will evaluate whether more money is needed to meet the need that exceeds the SP budget. If emergency, DDD will evaluate the type of support needed/requested. SCA concern: Who knows about that process?
  5. Issue: Documentation. SCOs will not be able to approve certain ISP’s, but where is that documented? Additionally, there will be Intensive Case Management in DDD probably for behavioral and complex issues. However, where is this documented and when can an SC refer someone to that unit?
  1. Issue: Role of SC and Support Broker. SCOs’ are being told “to look at day programs, etc.” This again seems to be another duty not originally prescribed in the RFP nor documented by DDD. SCs are not to influence a family decision, so why are they being told to look at day programs, etc.? It is the Support Broker who should give pros and cons about a day program. What are the lines of demarcation/roles?
  1. Follow Through:

1. Owners. Meeting with Dawn on 2/23/15 at 2pm to present issues. She indicated that she is willing to listen although she is not in agreement. Next steps are being explored by interested SCA members. (Bill)

2. Compensation and duties vs the contract and how it compares with other states (Alex, Neeta and Julian)

3. New system and outline for i-Record (Tina)

4. Processing errors that weren’t intentional method to correct-get in place.(Tina and Bill)

5. Emergent care issues-(Donna to follow up)

6. Inconsistencies-document to be sent to Chris (Donna)

7. Solicitation to get new SCOs on board.

  1. Other

Rates are coming out at 5:00 pm Wednesday night; less than 24 hours before DDD has a state wide provider meeting, one person per agency allowed.

On Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 1:00 pm, the Assembly Human Services Committee will hear from Dan and Patti about the State Transition Plan.

Next Meeting

March 10, 2015: There is a Family Support Coalition Meeting this day. We can either change the date or the time.

Meetings otherwise begin at 10:00 am at the ABCD Office in Hamilton

Dbouclier:forums/supportcoordination/1.20.15