MSL was live on FB to give some news on the Assessments and Screeners being implemented by DHS. 

Developmental Screen

The Developmental Screen and Independent Assessments are different. The Developmental Screen is for children who are being referred to a developmental preschool or day habilitation center known as a DDTCS or CHMS (such as Easter Seals, Peds Plus, Access, or Friendship). The doctor would send out the referral, and this Screen would be done by a third-party to determine the eligibility for this type of center. This assessment should be fairly short, less than an hour. This Screener is set to begin on December 1, 2017 for certain centers and then expand out to the entire state by February 1, 2018.

Your Primary Care Physician should have received training on the new Developmental Screen, but if they don’t know about it, you can give them this training that DHS has already distributed. https://afmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PROREL_Webinar_BehavioralHealth_and_DevelopmentalDisabilities_20170908.pdf 

Independent Assessments

Independent Assessments are much longer Assessments that will be given to specific people who fall under Tier 2 and 3 need level of both Behavioral Health Services and Developmental Disability Services. 

These Assessments have already begun, and when yours is scheduled, you should first receive a letter. 

To get more information, tips, and even the full list of questions on the Independent Assessments, check out this recent post: https://medicaidsaveslives.com/2017/11/17/independent-assessment-be-prepared/