Tag: resource

Independent Assessment Resource

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As you may know, Independent Assessments will be required for any Medicaid recipient in Tier 2 or 3 for Behavioral Health or Developmental Disability Services of DHS, as well as other Medicaid populations in Arkansas.

Public comment for these rules ends tonight, August 12, 2017! Read the manuals for things that might affect you, and then send your comments and questions to Shelby.Maldonado@dhs.arkansas.gov. Make sure to tell her which documents below you’re commenting on. If you need any help, just watch a video tutorial by clicking the red button below.

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AR Independent Assessment Manual AR_IA_July_17.doc New manual for Independent Assessment 1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact

See all of the manuals for Independent Assessments.

 Optum (the company that DHS has contracted to do these assessments) has released the following resource to help you understand the Independent Assessment process.

Click on the image below to learn more:

Screen Shot 2017-08-11 at 10.34.16 AM

 

Solution to Denied PAs for Therapy Providers

Published on by medicaidsaveslivesLeave a comment

MSL has been made aware that there’s a lot of confusion on submitting PAs to request more than 90 minutes of therapy for children since the therapy cap was implemented on July 1, 2017. Lainey has talked with AFMC and DHS as well as the OT Association President who has been successful in submissions.


You need a separate statement letter that answers the following questions individual to the child’s case:

1. How does the therapy administered effectively treat the beneficiary’s condition?

2. What gives you a reasonable expectation that the beneficiary is experiencing meaningful improvement or that the therapy is preventing worsening of the beneficiary’s current condition?

3. How are the frequency, intensity, and duration of the requested therapy services realistic for the age of the child?

List the question and provide the answer. Make sure you provide the other information listed there as well. AFMC told Lainey today that they will deny any submission that does not have this requirement. If you have received denial with 3 statements that say you didn’t meet the requirement, try resubmitting with this.






Public Comment Help – PASSE Model Phase I

Published on by medicaidsaveslivesLeave a comment

DHS has released a manual/rule change for public comment until August 11, 2017. After that, you will not be able to get your comments on the record. In addition, they are hosting a public hearing on August 8.


You should read the manual for yourself to make sure you cover everything that concerns you. However, even if you read it, you might still wonder what to say. The comments below are an example of what one person plans to send in.

Use the form below. By choosing “Submit,” you will send an email directly to the appropriate DHS representative. Enter your information, and type your comments into the text box. You may copy/paste the comments listed at bottom into the comment section of the form, but don’t do so unless you have read it first and agree with it all. The following comments are just examples of one person’s opinions. Public comments are most effective when you make them more personal to you!

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Thank you for your response. ✨

EXAMPLE | EXAMPLE | EXAMPLE | EXAMPLE | EXAMPLE | EXAMPLE | EXAMPLE

This is my public comment regarding PASSE-New-17up.doc:

Section 211.000 – It says that the PASSEs should begin October 1, 2017. I believe that this model is not ready to begin taking on clients for several reasons. Rules like this one still have to be sent through the legislature for their approval. The Insurance Department isn’t supposed to approve the PASSEs until mid-September, which will only leave them a couple of weeks before they start managing people’s care. We don’t know what the rules will be, and we don’t know who the PASSEs will be. If the PASSEs aren’t ready and don’t do a good job, they could make mistakes. This will hurt people. I want DHS to push the date back and allow us to keep things the way they are until the PASSEs have had adequate time to review all of the finalized rules and to hire and train people who understand the rules.

Section 214.000 – It says that people can choose another PASSE during the first 90 days and once every year. How will we know what the differences between each PASSE is? I want to pick the best PASSE, but I don’t understand all of the rules or what they all offer. (At this point, I have reason to wonder if the PASSEs themselves understand the rules, as they have not been finalized.) It also says “on the beneficiary’s annual anniversary of attribution to a PASSE.” Is this a single day to respond, or is it a week? You need to define how long that amount of time would be.

Section 214.000 D – It says a client can move because of “poor quality of care,” but how do we prove that? That is a relative term. Who determines what kind of care is poor? I believe that the patient should determine whether care is poor and what that means in their situation.

Section 215.000 – What if the abeyance is due to DHS/Medicaid’s fault in paperwork (and the client can prove that)? Will the coordinator help the recipient to know that their Medicaid eligibility is in dispute and help them to figure that out?

Section 222.000 G – “The right to be provided written notice of a change in the beneficiaries care coordination” should be at least 14 days, not 7 days. If you are relying on snail mail, half of the time can be used simply in sending the notification, leaving the receiver very little time to respond or make other arrangements. Why isn’t this policy the same as 223.000 B, allowing 30 days from the time it goes into effect?

Section 231.000 – The travel times and distances listed need to be cut in half, especially for DD and BH providers who are seen on a more frequent basis. For example, it is not in the best interest of a child or adult to have to travel an hour to and then an hour to return from a location to see a therapist multiple times per week.

Section 241 G, 242 A, & 243.000 – DHS needs to give the PASSEs enough money to have a qualified individual available to help me whenever I need them, as many times as I may need them. Many providers seem to be concerned that the amount announced at the AR Waiver Conference (in July 2017) of $177 is not enough. I want them to get what they need so they can give me what I need. After December 31, 2018, they should have a different funding source and should not use any money from recipients’ care for administrative funding needs.

Section 242.000 – It says in the document that care coordinators will be employees of the PASSE (241 B). However, it does not say where the care coordinators should be located. Because Arkansas is so rural, care coordinators located in the communities they serve would be most knowledgeable for their clients.

Section 254.000 – Will DHS be required to submit the data received from PASSEs, such as data that shows savings or lack thereof, for public viewing? We want to see that data as well.

Section 261.000 – This says that grievances must be resolved within 30 days of the filing date. What will happen in the meantime? If a person needs treatment, do they have to wait all that time to receive it?

Section 264.000 – This description needs more definition. Who may serve on a Consumer Advisory Council? I believe that beneficiaries or direct consumers should serve, but caregivers who speak in place of beneficiaries who can’t speak for themselves should also be able to serve.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Go Without Health Care

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Author: Lainey Morrow, MSL Founder & parent

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We’re all struggling, aren’t we? We can’t very well handle someone else’s bills probably, but there are fairly easy things we can do. One very sad thing I frequently encounter is the suffering of individuals when great resources exist to prevent such a thing. Sometimes it might be a person whose health is suffering, while for others it may be a suffering future due to delays in development.

As a matter of fact, I have experienced this myself. For 2 years, my husband and I struggled to provide for my daughter. We went into debt, staying awake many nights with worry, and she went without necessary services. We thought we were on our own. We thought we’d been denied for the only things that were out there. We worked as hard as we could, and still it wasn’t enough.

By the time she was 2, my daughter was very developmentally delayed. We didn’t find out about resources we could have accessed until we moved to another state. My friend told me about TEFRA, and my daughter was easily accepted. It makes me sick to think of all she went without simply because we didn’t know this immense resource was available to us. All I needed was someone to tell me about it, which is why that’s a huge mission of MSL – to pass along important information and to connect people with great resources that exist out there.

Someone from another state recently asked me what resources exist for them, so I started to look into it. What if you don’t qualify for Medicaid? TEFRA is an option that only certain states provide, but how do you know if it’s available in your state? If TEFRA isn’t available or you don’t qualify, then what?

Let no one go without, so here’s all my research for you to share.

Do you qualify for Medicaid?

Ways to qualify for Medicaid.

Where to start if denied.

Which states have TEFRA? (This is a specific type of Medicaid usually for kids with disabilities under 19, usually requiring families who make too much to pay a premium.)

If your state doesn’t have TEFRA or you don’t qualify, what are the other options:

 

Like I said, I didn’t find out about something my daughter desperately needed until another parent told me about it. Two long years, and we could have gone more.

We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone. Someone helped me. Keep your eyes open. You may not need a resource, but someone in your friends list might. If you see a good resource, share it! It just takes a few clicks. Charities are out there to be used. They want to help people who truly need help. Sometimes they just need a little free publicity to connect with the people who need them.

This is just a start. If you know of any great resources, especially ones that apply to all states, please send them to me to share!

 

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Take Action: Graphic to Share

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The news changes like the wind. Are they voting or aren’t they? Repeal and replace or repeal without replace? No matter what’s happening with them, we need to continue to make our needs and wants abundantly clear.

Many are saying that they can’t get through to Senators via phone calls. Don’t stop calling because they are counting the calls. 866-426-2631

However, social media is a great way to publicly contact your Senators, especially since they won’t post their direct email addresses.

Share this graphic with them and tag them in your posts. Use hash tags like #BCRA or #ProtectOurCare to help others see your posts!

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Making Sense of the Manuals for Public Comment

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Screen Shot 2017-07-17 at 10.36.45 AMDHS released several manuals to the Medicaid website on July 13, 2017 that are available for public comment until August 11. Once public comment ends, these rules will be sent through the legislative committees and passed as law.

“In accordance with federal and state law, the Division of Medical Services of the Arkansas Department of Human Services must advertise and make available for public comment proposed new and amended rules and other documents, such as certain initial waiver requests and waiver renewals.”

However, they released over 60 documents actually, which may have left you feeling confused about which one needs your comment or what’s in them all. Here’s your guide to wading through the state terminology and legalese.

RULE #1: When you send in your comments, make sure to list the document that you wish to comment on!

RULE #2: Make sure you send your comments to the appropriate person.

Send your comments to Shelby.Maldonado@dhs.arkansas.gov, and as long as you’ve included the right document title, she will be able to direct it to the correct person.

  • If you’re viewing this on a phone or tablet, you might want to turn it to the side (landscape) to view the width of the table well. The right 2 columns are what MSL has added to help with the list that DHS provided.

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Instead of scrolling through the long table, which can be confusing, this list of topics can get you straight to what you want to see. Click the link to go directly to the corresponding manual in the table.

 

The following table will attempt to explain what each document is (memo, explanation letter, mark up with changes, or new manual), what it contains, and possibly some documents to assist you. Remember, the list of topics above can assist you in finding what you need much faster.

Document Title Document Description Assisting docs/info
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for DDS Standards for Certification, Investigation and Monitoring; State Plan Amendment 2017-011; Child Health Management Services provider manual update; and Developmental Day Treatment Clinic Services provider manual update IPLtrSPA17-011.doc memo
(SPA011 – 1 of 15)
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 Attachment 3.1A 1i SPA17-011-31A1i.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, CATEGORICALLY NEEDY (page as it will appear in new manual)
(SPA011 – 2 of 15) Page 1i
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 Attachment 3.1A 1i with tracked changes SPA17-011-31A1i-markup.doc SAME MANUAL PAGE: mark up that shows changes
(SPA011 – 3 of 15) Page 1i
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 Attachment 3.1A 4A SPA17-011-31A4A.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, CATEGORICALLY NEEDY (page as it wil appear in new manual)
(SPA011 – 4 of 15) Page 4a
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 Attachment 3.1A 4A with tracked changes SPA17-011-31A4A-markup.doc SAME MANUAL PAGE: mark up that shows changes
(SPA011 – 5 of 15) Page 4a
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 Attachment 3-1B 2h SPA17-011-31B2h.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, MEDICALLY NEEDY (page as it wil appear in new manual)
(SPA011 – 6 of 15) Page 2h
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 Attachment 3-1B 2h SPA17-011-31B2h-markup.doc SAME MANUAL PAGE: mark up that shows changes
(SPA011 – 7 of 15) Page 2h
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 SPA17-011-31B4b.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, MEDICALLY NEEDY (page as it wil appear in new manual)
(SPA011 – 8 of 15) Page 4b
State Plan Amendment 2017-011 SPA17-011-31B4b-markup.doc SAME MANUAL PAGE: mark up that shows changes 1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact
(SPA011 – 9 of 15) Page 4b
DDS Standards for Certification, Investigation and Monitoring – Redline DDS-Stnds-Redline.doc DDS STANDARDS for Certification, Investigation, an Monitoring for Center-Based Community Services  1. Summary DDTCS-CHMS 2. Info
(SPA011 – 10 of 15) entire manual, mark up that shows changes
DDS Standards for Certification, Investigation and Monitoring DDS-Stnds-Clean.doc DDS STANDARDS for Certification, Investigation, an Monitoring for Center-Based Community Services
(SPA011 – 11 of 15) entire manual, as it will appear
CHMS-2-17 Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter CHMS-2-17.doc letter that explains which parts of the CHMS manual have been changed
(SPA011 – 12 of 15)
CHMS-2-17 Provider Manual Update CHMS-2-17up.doc CHMS Manual mark up with changes. 1. Summary DDTCS-CHMS 2. Info
(SPA011 – 13 of 15)
DDTCS-2-17 Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter DDTCS-2-17.doc letter that explains which parts of the DDTCS manual have been changed
(SPA011 – 14 of 15)
DDTCS-2-17 Provider Manual Update DDTCS-2-17up.doc DDTCS Manual mark up with changes. 1. Summary DDTCS-CHMS 2. Info
(SPA011 – 15 of 15)
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for State Plan Amendment 2017-010, Outpatient Behavioral Health Services and Inpatient Psychiatric Provider Manual Updates and Residential Community Reintegration Program Certification IPLtrSPA17-010.doc memo
(SPA010 – 1 of 8)
State Plan Amendment 2017-010 Attachment 3.1 A SPA010-Attach3-1A.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, CATEGORICALLY NEEDY (page as it will appear in new manual – NO MARK UP AVAILABLE)
(SPA010 – 2 of 8) Page 6c17a
State Plan Amendment 2017-010 Attachment 3.1 B SPA010-Attach3-1B.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, MEDICALLY NEEDY (page as it will appear in new manual – NO MARK UP AVAILABLE)
(SPA010 – 3 of 8) Page 5f17a
Residential Community Integration Program Certification ResCommReintCert.doc Residential Community Integration Program Certification
(SPA010 – 4 of 8) entire manual as it will appear NO MARK UP AVAILABLE
Inpatient Psychiatric (INPPSYCH-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter INPPSYCH-1-17.doc Letter that shows the changes to Manual Update for Inpatient Psychiatric Services for Under Age 21
(SPA010 – 5 of 8)
INPPSYCH-1-17 Provider Manual Update INPPSYCH-1-17up.doc Manual Update for Inpatient Psychiatric Services for Under Age 21
(SPA010 – 6 of 8) entire manual as it will appear NO MARK UP AVAILABLE
Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OBHS-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter OBHS-1-17.doc Letter that shows the changes to Manual Update for Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
(SPA010 – 7 of 8)
OBHS-1-17 Provider Manual Update OBHS-1-17up.doc Manual Update for Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
(SPA010 – 8 of 8) entire manual, mark up that shows changes
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for Independent Assessment Manual IPLtrAR_IA.doc memo
(AR_IA – 1 of 2)
AR Independent Assessment Manual AR_IA_July_17.doc New manual for Independent Assessment 1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact
(AR_IA – 2 of 2)
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for DDS Policy 1076 -Appeals IPLtrDDS1076.doc memo
(1076 – 1 of 3)
DDS Policy 1076 with Tracked Changes DDS1076-Appeals-markup.doc DDS Policy APPEALS Manual
(1076 – 2 of 3) entire manual, mark up that shows changes 1. Summary Appeals
2. Info Policy 1076 Appeals
DDS Policy 1076 -Clean DDS1076-Appeals-clean.doc DDS Policy APPEALS Manual
(1076 – 3 of 3) entire manual, as it will appear
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for DDS Policy 1086 IPLtrDDS1086.doc memo
(DDS1086 – 1 of 3)
DDS Policy 1086 with tracked changes DDS1086-HDC-markup.doc DDS Human Development Center Admission and Discharge Rules Policy Manual
(DDS1086 – 2 of 3) entire manual, mark up that shows changes 1. 1086 HDC Rules Summary

2. 1086 Info

DDS Policy 1086 DDS1086-HDC.doc DDS Human Development Center Admission and Discharge Rules Policy Manual
(DDS1086 – 3 of 3) entire manual, as it will appear
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for Medical Services Policy Manual Sections E-600 through E-670 and Appendix R IPLtrABLE.doc memo
(ABLE – 1 of 2)
Medical Services Policy Manual Sections E-600 through E-670 and Appendix R ABLE.pdf Able Act Policy Manual: Eligibility Factors, Contributions, Withdrawals, Expenses, Exclusions,
(ABLE – 2 of 2) entire manual, as it will appear – NO MARK UP AVAILABLE
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for Community and Employment (CES) 1915 (c) Waiver, DDSCES-1-17 Provider Manual Update and Certification Standards for CES Providers IPLtrDDSCES.doc memo C Waiver
(CES – 1 of 5)
DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver Minimum Certification Standards DDSCESCertStand-markup.doc DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver Minimum Certification Standards
(CES – 2 of 5) entire manual, mark up that shows changes 1. Summary of Changes

2. Info – CES Waiver
DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver Minimum Certification Standards DDSCESCertStand.doc DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver Minimum Certification Standards
(CES – 3 of 5) entire manual, as it will appear
Developmental Disabilities Services Community and Employment Supports (DDSCES1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter DDSCES-1-17.doc Letter that shows the changes to Manual Update for Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES)
(CES – 4 of 5)
DDSCES-1-17 Provider Manual DDSCES-1-17up.doc Manual Update for Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – DDS Community and Employment Supports (CES)
(CES – 5 of 5) entire manual, mark up that shows changes 1. Summary of Changes
2. Info – CES Waiver
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) Waiver and New Provider Manual IPLtrPASSE.doc memo
(PASSE 1 of 5)
Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity Program – Phase I PASSEWvr.pdf PASSE Program Information B Waiver
1. Summary of PASSE
2. Info & Financial Impact
(PASSE 2 of 5)
Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity Spreadsheet SpreadsheetPASSEWvr.pdf PASSE Information – Enrollment Projections, Costs
(PASSE 3 of 5)
PASSE-New-17 Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter PASSE-New-17.doc letter that explains Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) Program manual
(PASSE 4 of 5)
PASSE-New-17 Provider Manual Update PASSE-New-17up.doc New PASSE Manual
(PASSE 5 of 5) entire manual, mark up 1. Summary of PASSE
2. Info & Financial Impact
Interested Persons and Providers Letter for Independent Assessment for Personal Care and Criminal Background Check Requirements for Providers IPLtrIA.doc memo
(IA – 1 of 22)
State Plan Amendment 2017-009 with Tracked Changes SPA17-009-markup.doc STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT: AMOUNT, DURATION AND SCOPE OF
SERVICES PROVIDED, CATEGORICALLY NEEDY (mark up that shows changes
(IA – 2 of 22) Page 10aa
State Plan Amendment 2017-009 SPA17-009.doc SAME MANUAL PAGE: as it will appear
(IA – 2 of 22) Page 10aa
ARChoices in Home Care Home and Community-Based 2176 Waiver (ARCHOICES-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter ARCHOICES-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to ARChoices In Homecare Home and Community-Based 2176 Waiver Manual
(IA – 3 of 22)
ARCHOICES-1-17 Provider Manual Update ARCHOICES-1-17up.doc ARChoices In Homecare Home and Community-Based 2176 Waiver Manual
(IA – 4 of 22) entire manual, mark up that shows changes
Child Health Services/Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter EPSDT-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – EPSDT Manual
(IA – 5 of 22)
EPSDT-1-17 Provider Manual Update EPSDT-1-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – EPSDT Manual change
(IA – 6 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes IA required for certain home health clients
1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact
Home Health (HOMEHLTH-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter HOMEHLTH-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Home Health Manual
(IA – 7 of 22)
HOMEHLTH-1-17 Provider Manual Update HOMEHLTH-1-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Home Health Manual change
(IA – 8 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes background check changes
Hospice (HOSPICE-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter HOSPICE-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Hospice Service manual
(IA – 9 of 22)
HOSPICE-1-17 Provider Manual Update HOSPICE-1-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Hospice Service manual changes
(IA – 10 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes background check, IAs for personal care
1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact
IndependentChoices (INCHOICE-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter INCHOICE-1-17.doc letter that expains changes to Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – IndependentChoices Manual
(IA – 11 of 22)
INCHOICE-1-17 Provider Manual Update INCHOICE-1-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – IndependentChoices Manual changes
(IA – 12 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes various changes included background checks
Personal Care (PERSCARE-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter PERSCARE-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Personal Care manual
(IA – 13 of 22)
PERSCARE-1-17 Provider Manual Update PERSCARE-1-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Personal Care Manual changes
(IA – 14 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes
Private Duty Nursing Services (PDN-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter PDN-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to the Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Private Duty Nursing Services manual
(IA – 15 of 22)
PDN-1-17 Provider Manual Update PDN-1-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – Private Duty Nursing Services Manual changes
(IA – 15 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes background checks
Physician (PHYSICN-3-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter PHYSICN-3-17.doc letter that explains changes to the Physician/ Independent Lab/CRNA/Radiation Therapy Center manual
(IA – 17 of 22)
PHYSICN-3-17 Provider Manual Update PHYSICN-3-17up.doc Physician/ Independent Lab/CRNA/Radiation Therapy Center manual changes
(IA – 18 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes IA requirement
1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact
Rural Health Clinic (RURLHLTH-1-17) Provider Manual Update Transmittal Letter RURLHLTH-1-17.doc letter that explains changes to the Rural Health Clinic Services manual
(IA – 19 of 22)
RURLHLTH-1-17 Provider Manual Update RURLHLTH-1-17up.doc Rural Health Clinic Services manual changes
(IA – 20 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes IA requirement
1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact
Section I (SecI-3-17) All Provider Manuals Update Transmittal Letter SecI-3-17.doc letter that explains the changes to the Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – All Providers manual
(IA – 21 of 22)
SecI-3-17 All Provider Manuals Update SecI-3-17up.doc Arkansas Medicaid Health Care Providers – All Providers manual
(IA – 22 of 22) Section II, mark up that shows changes IA requirement
1. IA Public Notice
2. IA Manual Summary
3. IA fiscal Impact

Medicaid Saves Lila

Published on by medicaidsaveslivesLeave a comment

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This is my sweet girl, Lila. She’s active and intelligent. She loves to swing, eat blackberries, and paint. Don’t you dare turn your back on her because she’s mischievous too! She loves her friends, family, and kitty-cats. She is absolutely the most wonderful thing I’ve ever done with my life, and she just so happens to have Down Syndrome.

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She might smile a lot, but her life hasn’t been easy. Born almost a month early due to multiple complications, Lila spent some time in the NICU. She’s overcome multiple illnesses and surgeries, including open heart surgery soon after her first birthday and many others since. In fact, we have received 2 new diagnoses this year alone, and she’ll have at least one surgery.

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My husband and I are proud Arkansans. We’re educated, hard-working, tax-paying citizens. At the time of Lila’s birth, we lived in another state. Despite the fact that we both had good jobs and primary insurance coverage, we struggled to provide for her needs. When we moved back to Arkansas, Lila was significantly delayed in many areas.

IMG_6519 Our friends told us about TEFRA, a type of Medicaid funding that provides for disabled children and that requires the family to pay a premium. Our primary insurance pays first for all that it will cover, and Medicaid makes sure that Lila doesn’t go without the rest. We gladly pay a monthly fee for this essential assistance!

Lila now receives medical treatments that she needs from specialists and Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapy. She attends a school where she is loved and accepted, and they practice important skills in the classroom to prepare her for mainstream Kindergarten. Lila is constantly learning the necessary skills to be independent: speaking new words, learning to feed herself, to dress herself, and to climb stairs. One of my favorite moments was the first time I ever heard her say, “Ma Ma.” Can you imagine waiting 4 years to hear that?

IMG_2776We never expected to need Medicaid. Even though we’d paid taxes for years for Medicaid, we didn’t know that a person’s life can change drastically in a moment – a car accident, a stroke, a job loss, a cancer diagnosis, a chromosomal difference – to cause them to need Medicaid. We thought that if we worked hard enough, we could take care of ourselves and Lila. But no matter how hard we work or what we give up, we just can’t afford to provide for all of Lila’s needs. Now, because of Medicaid, Lila is thriving, and we’re not being crushed under the weight of Lila’s ever-growing medical debt. We have hope that she will continue to develop and someday be a valued, contributing member of society. We are incredibly thankful for Medicaid.

We tell everyone we can how essential Medicaid is! Lila has visited the Capitol and state lawmakers multiple times to represent herself and friends like her. Since she can’t speak much yet, my husband and I tell them how much Medicaid is literally saving lives. I can’t wait for the day that Lila will tell them herself. She brings a beauty and light to this dark world, and we will never stop fighting for her!

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Revised Senate health care bill: Where are we now?

Published on by medicaidsaveslivesLeave a comment

A revision of the BCRA Senate Health Care   bill has been released, but what’s different? We have the one-stop-shop for understanding the bill for yourself.

Some reports say that they want to vote as early as Tuesday. Get to reading and then get to calling!

Every call matters. Here’s the number for Senators across the nation: 866-426-2631

Find your states US Representative & contact his/her office

Find your state’s US Senator & contact his/her office

Read the new revised bill to make sure you discover everything for yourself.
Check out these resources to guide you:
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What was the original bill?

Full text of the original bill. Click on the image below, and  use the resources above to help you.
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Facts & Faces of Medicaid

Published on by medicaidsaveslivesLeave a comment

Share the facts and faces of Arkansas Medicaid.

Show people who Medicaid cuts would hurt. Don’t give up. Keep calling and sharing.

Data source is credited. We have gathered several of KFF’s posts here to save you some time.

ASAN Advocacy Training Resource

Published on by medicaidsaveslivesLeave a comment

With the looming Medicaid cuts, people want to learn how to get involved and fast! This training resource is from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. You may be advocating for a different condition, but the information they’ve gathered here is very valuable for everyone.

Their page gives a whole list of information and strategies to effectively take action when advocating for yourself or a loved one.

Their page will give you:

  • A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Getting Through to your Elected Officials
  • Fact Sheet: How to Call Your Elected Officials
  • Fact Sheet: In-Person Meetings with Elected Officials
  • Fact Sheet: Sending Elected Officials Emails, Letters, and Faxes

Get to work!