January 10, 2013 - Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention

Audience

Open to the general public.

Time

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Locations

Council meetings will be held via Video Conference at the following locations:

Agenda

1. Call to Order 
2. Introduction of Council Members
3. Approval of October 4, 2012- Draft Meeting Report
4. Compliance with Part C Regulations Update on Impact of Part C Regulations on Use of Public and Private Insurance
5. Lead Agency Report
6. Annual Performance Report for FFY11/SFY12
7. AT Process/Procedures
8. Cornerstone Update
9. Service Delivery Approach Workgroup
10. Telehealth/Teletherapy Follow-up Discussion
11. Adjournment

Meeting Report

Present

• J. Diane Adams-Alsberry, CALM, Inc.
• Bob Cammarata, ICG Health Care Services
• Gerri Clark, Division of Specialized Care for Children
• Julie Doetsch, IL Dept of Healthcare and Family Services
• Matthew Grey, IL Department of Public Health
• Beatrice Nichols, IICEI Chairperson, Head Start
• Deanna Pratscher, parent, Thornton
• Pam Reising-Rechner, IL State Board of Education
• Dorelia Rivera Martinez, parent, Elmwood
• Kathy Schrock, Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley
• Therese Wehman, Elmhurst College

Absent

• Diane Blythe, parent, Crystal Lake
• Margaret Harkness, IL Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Mary Petersen, Department of Insurance
• David Rubovits, PhD, Jewish Child and Family Services
• Gina Ruther, DHS, Bureau of Child Care and Development
• Connie Sims, DHS, Division of Developmental Disabilities
• Amy Tarr, Division of Family and Community Services
• Constance Williams, PhD, DHS/Division of Mental Health
• Robin York , IL Department of Children and Family Services

Contents of Council Packet:

• Agenda
• Draft Meeting Report - October 4, 2012
• Caseload Summary Report and Payments Updates
• Impact of Part C Regulations Regarding Use of Public/Private Insurance
• Service Delivery Approaches Workgroup Materials
• 325 ILCS 20 Draft Revisions
• Register Version 89-500 Draft Revisions

Call to Order

The Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention (IICEI) convened at 10:02 a.m.

Introduction of Council Members

Council members introduced themselves.

Approval of October 4, 2012 Meeting Report

The October 4, 2012 Meeting Report was approved as written.

Compliance with Part C Regulations

 Amy Tarr identified changes to the Illinois Early Intervention (EI) Services Systems Act, including consent to use public/private insurance and public participation requirements. It was recognized that additional changes might be made to the Act before it is introduced as a bill. Changes could also be made to the draft EI rule that had been shared with Council members. Members were asked to review the rule that will be filed with JCAR and make comments during the public comment period. The CFC Procedure Manual will be re-released next week, with more user friendly forms. The manuals will be posted for public comment and hearings. Upon the request of Council members, the Bureau will notify Council members when the bill number is known for the statute, when the rule is sent to JCAR, and when the CFC Procedure Manual is posted for public comment. Next steps include revisions to the provider handbook, which will also be posted for public comment.

Update on Impact of Part C Regulations Regarding on the Use of Public/Private Insurance

Amy Tarr provided an update on the impact of the required consent to use private insurance and to share personally identifiable information with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for billing purposes. The expected shortfall for this fiscal year is estimated to be approximately $7 million. Efforts to lessen the impact include: mandatory on-line training for services coordinators on the system of payment; additional in-person training at CFC offices in which decline rates are higher; and tracking declines using monthly lists sent to CFC managers. The Bureau is looking within the Department to address the shortfall. Legislative options are also being explored.

Lead Agency Report

The Council will continue to receive the Caseload Summary Report. Other topics formerly included in the Lead Agency Report will be discussed during the Council meeting. Blake Whitson provided an overview of the summary report and a payment update.

Blake Whitson reviewed the APR, noting performance to meet targets. An explanation of progress or slippage was provided. Changes to the reporting of transition conference data were explained. Challenges with transition were discussed, including LEA participation in the transition conference, the difficulty withholding meetings during certain times of the year, and holding the meeting within the required time frame (not more than 9 months and not less than 90 days before a child's third birthday).

Issues with longstanding noncompliance were explained. Ann Bailey from NCRRC is coming to provide technical assistance on this and other APR issues. The issues center on the requirement that CFC offices maintain 100% compliance for three consecutive months before a finding of noncompliance can be closed. The primary area of concern is timely services. To assist provider recruitment, information will be posted on the Provider Connections website identifying service needs. Provider Connections is also offering sessions at professional association conferences. Information from talks with Ann Bailey will be shared with the Council at its next meeting.

AT Process/Procedures

 Colleen Cunningham reported that, at the start of the fiscal year, each CFC office designated an Assistive Technology (AT) person. Effective January 1, 2013, the timeline for submitting AT requests was reduced from 34 months to 32 months, to ensure that children receive the AT prior to leaving EI. Exceptions for children who are referred late are considered. Reasonable caps on the cost of specific equipment have been set, due to the wide range of pricing. General guidance documents have been provided to CFC offices. Procedures must be followed and documented. A new letter of necessity will be rolled out around the end of February, along with training regarding the process.

Cornerstone Update

Ann Freiberg reported that Cornerstone is introducing the ability for CFC offices to have web-based access to the system within a year. One CFC office is currently piloting this function. Conversations have been held with Cornerstone staff to look at how to open the system up to providers to streamline work for both CFC offices and providers. Amy Tarr explained that the program is currently trying to see if the Cornerstone system can continue to work for EI. The introduction of a different web-based system in not of the picture, but is on the back burner. It was requested that participation of providers be considered when discussions of provider access to Cornerstone begin.

Service Delivery Approaches Workgroup Report 

Therese Wehman and Chelsea Guillen provided the Council an update of the work of the Service Delivery Approaches Workgroup, including charts that have been development for several functions of the system. The group starts with policies and procedures and then opens the discussion to identify challenges and strategies to address them. Ann Bailey has brought a national perspective to these discussions by sharing what other states are doing. Appreciation for the group's work was shared. It was recognized that these are working documents, not final recommendations from the group. The workgroup's recommendations and timelines will look at the system comprehensively.

The workgroup's recommendations will be presented to the Council and then sent to the Bureau who will decide about implementation. Changes to policy and procedure will be open for public comment. Although the workgroup will not consider recommendations that cannot be operationalized, what would make the system better for children and families, not fiscal viability, is the driving force. Coordination with the Early Learning Council (ELC) was questioned. Karen Berman is part of the Service Delivery Workgroup and reported that, although there is not a formalize mechanism, the ELC is aware of the workgroup and is not duplicating or at odds with its work.

Council members were invited to provide comments to the draft work, which included the following:

• In response to a question about the timeline of this work, hope was expressed that recommendations would get done this year. A move to alternating face-to-face meetings and conference calls may help the work move more quickly.
• Support was expressed for the recommendation to not hold evaluations and the IFSP team meeting on the same day, because it will allow families the opportunity to review information an participate as an active member of the IFSP team.
• Other topic discussed included: the need for evaluators to also provide direct services; the use of associate-level providers and EI supervision requirements versus licensing requirements; services in natural environments; and the use of evaluation tools that result in standard deviation, rather than percent delay.

Telehealth/Teletherapy Follow-up Discussion

No update was provided. If anyone is interested in participating on this group, please contact Kathy Schrock.

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 12:17 pm.

Contact Information

If you are interested in more information regarding this council, please contact:

Jenni Grissom
IDHS - Bureau of Early Intervention
823 East Monroe
Springfield, IL  62701
Ph:  217/782-1981

email:  jennifer.grissom@illinois.gov