Provider Newsletter
TableOfContents
 
EVV
As part of our ongoing efforts to equip and empower providers, we've launched a newsletter just for you. This periodic update will include information on important rule and billing changes, training opportunities, and more. If there's other information you'd like to see in these newsletters, let us know! 
Budget Approved Budget
On July 18, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 166, the state's operating budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, into law. We are pleased to report that the budget invests $370 million over the next two years to support Ohioans with developmental disabilities. 

The budget for the next two years will invest  $253 million to bring the DSP/Homemaker/Personal Care average reimbursement rate to $12.82 by Jan. 1, 2020, and to $13.23 by Jan. 1, 2021. The budget also invests $55.3 million to raise the on-site, on-call DSP reimbursement rate from $6.09 to $8.55. We view this as a very positive step in the right direction!

The budget also provides several other important provisions. To read more about Ohio's budget, please click here.
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) EVV
As you know, EVV went into effect on Monday, Aug. 5 for any site billing 15 minute HPC and also IO Waiver Nursing and is applicable for agency and independent providers.  

Providers must participate in  training offered by Medicaid  and request to enroll a device for each impacted location.  Because EVV is is implemented by Medicaid and Sandata, HCDDS's ability to assist with questions will be limited as we do not have access to the system or training.  The attached contact sheet should be used for questions related to EVV.
Toward Independence DSPs: Making a difference
Dr. Frazier-O'Bannon and Barry provided by Toward Independence
When Barry Clemons moved into the Manney Home, he had significant healthcare needs. His primary care physician, Dr. Larita Frazier-O'Bannon, even questioned whether he should go to a nursing home for skilled services.  However, the staff at the Manney Home rallied around Clemons to ensure his health condition improved.
 
When Clemons, 66, arrived at the Manney Home, he rarely spoke and needed significant care. Now, he is talking and planning to attend an adult day program. "We felt the staff showed great teamwork and compassion and went above and beyond to dedicate themselves to see that Barry's overall health improved," said Debbie Mitchell, program director for Toward Independence.
 
On July 25, Mark Schlater, CEO at Toward Independence, presented a proclamation to the Manney Home staff signed by Ohio DODD Director Jeff Davis and Rakesh Gupta, board president of Toward Independence. The proclamation recognized the efforts the direct support professionals put forth to improve Clemons' quality of life. 
 
Direct Support Professional Recognition Week begins Sept. 9.  We would love to hear more of the good stories and awesome outcomes that have been created with the support of you or your staff.  Attached is some guidance on how to submit a story. 
Progress Report Employment Form
As a part of the Employment 1st rule- 5123:2-2-05, providers of employment services (individual employment support, group employment support, career planning, and vocational habilitation) are required to submit to the team at least once every 12 months, a written progress report that demonstrates that employment services provided to an individual are consistent with the outcome identified in the My Plan.  The report should identify progress on the path to community employment or that someone has obtained community employment.  
 
If progress toward the desired outcome has not been made, barriers should be noted, shared with the team and the My Plan should be revised so that progress can be made to overcome these barriers. HCDDS has developed the attached form as an option for providers to complete to meet this rule requirement.
Documentation Updates and My Plan Process Changes Myplan

With the recent revamp of the HCDDS My Plan, the  guide for provider documentation
has been updated to reflect the changes to our My Plan process.  

We have also made some minor changes to documentation forms that many providers use to include the My Plan Span date.  Updated documentation forms such as the Outcomes Documentation, HCDDS Homemaker Personal Care Documentation and Adult Shared Living Document are also now available on our website. 

Other changes providers might notice in the My Plan process is that now the Discovery Tools are optional and typically will not be completed during the planning process.  And finally, the My Plan assessment continues to be periodically tweaked so you may see some minor variances in the tool.    
Provider Forum Minutes and Video Available Now!
As always, thank you to everyone who attended or viewed via livestream our last provider forum held July 3. If you were unable to attend, or if you want to view the information again,  click here to follow the link to the minutes and video.
ForumNEXT PROVIDER FORUM:
Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 9 a.m.
HCDDS Kingsley Offices
5093 Kingsley Drive 45227 or
  click here to livestream
*** following the meeting representatives from the Quality Team will be available to answer questions related to compliance or business operations***
 

Background Check Rule-Revised July 1Background

The Background Check Rule- 5123-2-02   was revised effective July 1.  The changes are highlighted in the attached explanation of changes  and include that providers must enroll applicable employees in direct services positions in Rapback and that a provider may not employ a person who has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for a disqualifying offense.  Also included in the new rule is an updated list of disqualifying offenses by tier.   
 
For employees starting after July 1, providers will need to use the new attestation and ensure that all 7 checks are completed prior to hire. Below are the 7 checks with the associated  link. 
  1. List of excluded persons and entities maintained by the Office of the Inspector General in the US Department of Health and Human Services. 
  2. DODD abuser registry
  3. Nurse Aide Registry
  4. Sex Offender and Child-Victim Offender Database
  5. US General Services Administration System for Award Management Database
  6. The Ohio Department of Medicaid Provider Exclusion and Suspension List
    1. See attached for documentation guidance (Guidance Ohio Department of Medicaid Exclusion and Suspension List)
  7. The Database of Incarcerated and Supervised Offenders  
TrainingTraining Opportunities   
Funding Paperwork Basics for Providers
Training topics covered include:
  • Fraudulent Billing 
  • Waiver Budgets
  • Locating Funding Forms
  • Residential Worksheets
  • The Live Alone Household Schedule
  • Revision Procedures and The Revision Request Forms
  • Cost Projection Tool Meetings
  • Locating Biller Training on the DODD Website
  • Brief Data Warehouse Discussion



This session will be held at the HCDDS Kingsley Location, 1-3 p.m. 
  •  Thursday, September 5
For more training information and to register, please click  here . 
Trainings for New Residential and Independent Providers
All trainings take place at the  HCDDS Support Center, 1520 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Providers who are not new are also welcome to attend. The deadline to register for each training session is the Wednesday prior to the training date. To register, please  click here . 

New Independent Providers
  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
New Residential Agency Providers
  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1-4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1-4 p.m.
The Academy Training Opportunities
Adult Day Services and Vocational Habilitation Training.  The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities states  that Adult Day Support and Vocational Habilitation waiver providers must take 8 hours of Adult Day Support and/or Vocational Habilitation training in addition to the 8 hour provider certification training. Staff must have this training within 90 days of hire and annually thereafter. This class does not apply to Independent Providers. Please click on the dates below for details and registration. 

To view The Academy's full schedule of training opportunities, click here. 
Department of DD Training Opportunities
Adult Day Array- August Provider Training.   Registration is now open for the next group of provider sessions in the "Back to Basics" services. The topic of August's Back to Basic Training is Adult Day Array:  Thinking Outside of the Box. Please click on this link to view and register for course offerings in 2019. 
DODD offers free training for Direct Service Professionals and other provider staff. Please click here  for more information on DODD MyLearning. 
CONNECT WITH US
Facebook