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Why is the DBHDS SIS Redesign
Important to Autism Families?
Virginia will start using a newer second edition version of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS-A) for person-centered planning and waiver rate-setting in October 2024. Since April 2023, DBHDS has been working with Health Services Research Institute (HSRI) and Burns & Assoc. to update the current rate-setting algorithm to align with the newer SIS-A assessment.
The newer SIS-A redesign process is quickly coming to a close. The final public meetings will take place this month. If you haven't joined any of the sessions up until now, CRAAG encourages you to do so and to also send your questions, suggestions and comments to DBHDS by May 31st. DBHDS has established a new email address for this purpose. Email sis@dbhds.virginia.gov or by clicking here.
Supporters of CRAAG and other advocacy groups such as Autism Speaks, Commonwealth Autism, D3 - Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities, and Virginia Autism Project (VAP) are concerned that the current rate-setting algorithm underestimates the support needs of adults with autism. We have been attending the public meetings to understand how the algorithm is being changed and its potential impact on our loved ones.
What we have learned:
- DBHDS is in the final stages of preparing to implement the newer SIS-A and the updated algorithm by October 1, 2024.
- It will take about four years for all waiver recipients to be assessed with the newer SIS-A and to receive a new support level and/or rate tier from the updated algorithm.
- The tier assignment is meaningful for these six tiered waiver services: Group Day, Community Engagement, Group Home, Independent Living, Sponsored Residential, and Supported Living.
- HSRI's updated algorithm has not been approved by DBHDS yet, but a decision needs to happen before HSRI's contract ends in June 2024.
- DBHDS seems to endorse HSRI's updated six support levels/four tiers algorithm as opposed to the current seven support levels/four tiers algorithm. The updated algorithm will eliminate the current level 3, and depending on the individuals' scores on the newer SIS-A, their level would increase or decrease.
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DBHDS seems to endorse using all sections and subsections of the newer SIS-A scores and the Support Needs Index in the updated algorithm. The current algorithm uses far fewer SIS-A scores, which is a big concern of many autism advocates.
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DBHDS expects to see the following changes in individuals' support levels with updated rate-setting framework: 1) about 74% of people will remain in the comparable support level; 2) 8% of people will experience a decrease in support level; and 3) 18% of people will experience an increase in support level.
DBHDS recently made available a combined set of minutes from the three public Informational Meetings held during April 2024. Read the April 2024 minutes here to catch up on what you might have missed.
FINAL SIS Advisory Group Meeting #8
May 16th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm
The agenda/slides will be posted before
the meeting at the link below.
https://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=39744
FINAL SIS-A-2nd Edition Information Sessions
DBHDS is inviting the following target audiences, Families,
CSB's and Providers, to learn the outcome of the work.
The content is the same for all three meetings.
May 29th from 11:00am to 1:00pm - Providers
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85964725464
May 29th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm - CSB's
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85964725464
May 31th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm - Families
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85964725464
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