April 9, 2024 IICEI Workforce Workgroup - Agenda and Meeting Reports

IICEI Workforce Workgroup

  • April 9th, 2024
  • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
  • Join via Zoom
  • Meeting ID: 836 1690 5785
  • Password: 003786
  • One Tap Mobile: +13126266799,83616905785# US (Chicago)

Agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Ground Rules and Expectations
    1. Review of norms
    2. Approval of minutes
  3. Cost Modeling Discussion
    1. Revisit differentiated rates
    2. Discuss compensation for cancellations and travel
    3. Determine option for simplifying billing
  4. Public Comment

Attendees

Participant Name Attended
Amanda Albright Yes
Esther Beard Yes
Autumn Bruere Yes
Antonio Borjas Yes
Michelle Clyne Yes
Susan Connor Yes
Tracy Cooper Yes
Jen Crick Yes
Rob Derry No
Chelsea Guillen Yes
Kesha Harris Yes
Katie Jacobs Yes
Zareen Kamal Yes
Jenny Masterson Yes
Rachel Mika Yes
Carol Muhammad Yes
Stephanie O'Donnell Yes
Monica Patrick Yes
Makenzie Pettit Yes
Amy Santos No
Delreen Schmidt-Lenz Yes
Ellen Shwatal Yes
Ashley Stoffel Yes
Nicole Van Hise Yes

Minutes

I. Welcome

  • Brief welcome and meeting housekeeping
  • Carol Muhammad introduced herself to the workgroup as the new co-chair to the Workforce workgroup.

II. Ground Rules and Expectations

  • Quick review of meeting norms
  • March Minutes: Approval of minutes motioned by Michelle Clyne, Tracy Cooper second, and all in favor. No opposed.

III. Cost Modeling Discussion

  • Afton Partners are in the last phase of cost modeling and plan to have it done by June.
  • Group revisited differentiated rates, reimbursement for cancellations, and travel.
  • Some of the themes of the discussion included:
    • Differentiated Rates-
  • If offered by community, how do you adjust if children/families move?
  • Concern that center based services are paid at lower rate than those provided in natural environment
  • Curiosity about how differentiated rates would impact recruitment.
  • If differentiated based on experience, need to consider that EI providers may come into field with student loans, may need benefits, etc. Some EI services can be provided in other settings that start with a higher rate of pay.
  • Differentiated pay could align with what providers would receive in other practice areas.
  • Perhaps differentiated rates could be tied to the CFCs with the largest shortages.
  • If clinic based services were paid at the same rate, would there be some sort of a cap to ensure that services were being provided in the natural environment except for in extenuating circumstances?
  • Difference in rates could dis-incentive
    • Travel/Mileage-
    • Explore if mileage reimbursement versus increasing rates for travel times is more preferred/beneficial.
    • Travel time and parking costs should be considered as well.
    • Mileage reimbursement to cover the costs of car maintenance/gas versus thinking about how to cover the time early interventionists spend driving which reduces their ability to see more families/have more visits in any given day.
    • Suggestion to pay for travel, not just mileage. It could be a good way to make up that difference without just attaching the rate to underserved or rural families.
    • Are there tax implications for mileage reimbursement?
    • Looking at rate with travel, what does that look like for LVV?
    • Travel shouldn't be incorporated into pay rate - implies that they are all traveling the same time and distance.
    • Cost of time and cost of mileage are two separate issues.
    • How would we pay for mileage or stipends? Can Part C dollars be used or State?
    • Cancellations-
  • Cancelling 20% of visits is common.
  • Timing of cancellation has an impact; if providers know early enough, they can use the time for other billable activities
  • Paying an amount for cancellations could lead to unethical decisions or lack of trying. How does that then impact vulnerable families?
  • Is trying to change too many things going to result in a vastly different system that pushes providers out?

IV. Public Comment

- Incentivizing education for Providers on Family practices, empowering families to think about continuing education and mentorship could also be ways to help address no shows and cancellations.

The next Workforce Workgroup meeting will be May 14th, 2024 at 1:00 pm via Zoom.