Good Morning,
QUICK NOTES
- Per IDPH, the preliminary seven-day statewide COVID-19 positivity for cases as a percent of the total test from February 3 - February 10, 2022 is 4.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 3 - February 10, 2022 is 5.8%.
- Remember to register for the DDD webinar Pathways for Accessing Affordable and Subsidized Housing on February 23 at 1pm.
- The Division currently has 7 NOFOs published, all of which can be found via the IDHS Grants Page (based on fiscal year):
HCBS SETTINGS UPDATE
Reminder! The Illinois HCBS Site Validation Survey is due by February 15 for all provider-controlled or owned sites. DDD will be sending reminder emails to providers where we have identified that information is still missing. If you DON'T receive one of those emails, you can assume your information was received. If you have questions regarding this, please email DHS.HCBS.
Next week, we will release the policy and site-specific information all provider-controlled or owned sites will need to submit to DDD. This will include organizational policies and sites specific evidence of compliance with the settings rules. Providers will be able to use an HFS portal to upload documents that will be reviewed by DDD validators. DDD will also host a webinar on February 23 from 10-11:30 am to walk providers through the policy and evidence requests and the HFS portal. You can submit questions in advance of the webinar at DHS.HCBS. Register for the webinar here. We will record the webinar and post it on the Division of Developmental Disabilities HCBS Settings Rule Updates webpage.
For more information, background and resources including the HCBS Settings Toolkit on the HCBS Settings Rule, you can check out the Division of Developmental Disabilities HCBS Settings Rule Updates webpage. If you have additional questions or concerns, please email DHS.HCBS.
UPDATE ON CHILDREN'S WAIVER RENEWALS
Early next week, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) plans to post for public comment the Division's two (2) children's waivers: Children's Support Waiver (Home-Based Services/CHBS) and Children's Residential Waiver (Child Group Homes/CGH). As a reminder, all of the Division's Home and Community Based Waivers are on a 5-year renewal cycle; this includes the above 2 waivers as well as the Adult DD Waiver for which the comment period closed earlier this month. Please see below for notable changes the Division is proposing within each waiver.
- Children's Support Waiver
- Updating language to be consistent with person-centered planning.
- Updating the Behavior Intervention and Treatment waiver service definition.
- Updating Performance Measures to reflect CMS recommendations and to create consistent expectations amongst the nine HCBS waiver programs in the state.
- Adding restraint and restrictive intervention language for youth who are receiving services from a Support Services Team (SST).
- Children's Residential Waiver
- Updating language to be consistent with person-centered planning.
- Updating the Behavior Intervention and Treatment waiver service definition.
- Removes the ability of providers to utilize seclusion in the delivery of waiver services.
- Revising restraint and restrictive intervention language.
- CGH rates are being increased by 3% in accordance with the FY22 Budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor (this has been done via Appendix K to date).
- Updating Performance Measures to reflect CMS recommendations and to create consistent expectations amongst the nine HCBS waiver programs in the state.
Specific to the Behavior Intervention and Treatment waiver service, please be aware that this definition is being updated in our waivers based upon updates within the State's Medicaid State Plan to the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Service.
ROCS BILLING AND RATE SHEET/TURNAROUND FORM UPDATES
As a follow-up to the Division's communication earlier this week regarding the ROCS system and billing issues, ROCS Version 6.11 has been released and is available for download now. Please use this link for instructions on downloading this latest version of ROCS. With the installation of Version 6.11, provider agencies can now bill or rebill for any services prior to January 1, 2022. If you have concerns about any of your agency's January 2022 billing, please review your MOBIUS Remittance and Error Reports which will provide information on what bills are being processed. If you have any questions with ROCS, please reach out to DoIT. If you have questions related to your billing, please reach out to the Division .
Specific to rate sheets and turnaround forms, the Division is working as quickly as possible to release both rate sheets and turnaround forms to all provider agencies to reflect the updated rates effective January 1, 2022. It is our goal to have both mailed by next week.
PASRR PROGRAM REDESIGN ANNOUNCEMENT
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has partnered with Maximus to overhaul the federally mandated (42 CFR 483.100 through 483.138) Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process in Illinois. The PAS (Preadmission Screen) is the process by which Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agencies (and other screening entities) determine eligibility for services and programs. The PAS (Level 1) process is used to screen individuals prior to Nursing Facility admission for any indication of a mental illness or a developmental disability; it is also used to refer individuals to other program areas (such as the Division of Rehabilitation Services) when needed.
HFS made the decision to seek out a new PASRR partner for several reasons, including:
- Creation of a more consistent Level I process throughout the State.
- One system that houses all Level 1 PASRR, Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility, and Supportive Living Program screening and assessments thereby increasing efficiency, timeliness, and ease of use.
- Increased compliance with federally mandated PASRR guidelines
What is changing?
- The PAS Level 1 form is changing from the paper form currently used to a single, centralized web-based system called AssessmentPro.
- All PAS Level 1 determinations will be made by Maximus. ISC agencies and other screening entities will input clinical information about individuals who want services.
- The PAS Level 2 process/determinations for Division of Mental Health will be made by Maximus. *The DD PAS Level 2 screening process for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities will not change and will continue to be conducted by ISC agencies.
- The admission process for Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities (SMHRF) and the Supported Living Program (operated by HFS), will be overseen by Maximus.
Individuals receiving DD services and DD provider agencies will not experience any changes. The ISCs will soon be trained on the new system. The PASRR transition to AssessmentPro is scheduled to launch on Monday, March 14, 2022.
HBS REMINDER
The Division wants to remind HBS participants and families they need to update their Personal Plan and Service Authorizations any time your service needs or desires change. This includes when you choose to eliminate or reduce services you're currently using. You should communicate your changes with your ISC agency and the provider with whom the services are changing. This is particularly important for those service providers who provide SDA and Behavior Intervention.
Take care,
- Allison V. Stark
- Pronouns: she/her/hers
- Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- 600 East Ash-Building 400, Springfield, IL 62703
- Tel: (217) 782 -6803
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.
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