DHS recently hosted a FB live about the PASSE to answer our questions, but some of your questions were not answered at that time. The images below show DHS’s follow-up answers to some of the questions.
For those of you who would like to go back and watch the Facebook live video from January 19, click here.
MSL took your questions to DHS, and they answered live on Facebook. This video has several good demonstrations and answers that you might need to see. The PASSEs will start taking clients in February 2018.
Watch the video:
Certain people who receive Medicaid through Developmental Disability Services and/or Behavioral Health Services will be contacted about an Independent Assessment – only Tiers 2 and 3. Read the following situations to decide where you might fit:
Tier 1:
Individual receives DD services under the Medicaid State Plan (DDTCS, CHMS, therapy, etc.), but does not meet ICF/IID level of care eligibility
Tier 2:
Individual meets ICF/IID level of care eligibility, but does not currently require 24 hours/day of paid support and services to maintain his or her current placement
Tier 3:
Individual meets ICF/IID level of care eligibility and does require 24 hours/day of paid support and services to maintain his or her current placement
Tier 1: Counseling
Time-limited services provided by a qualified licensed practitioner in an outpatient setting to assess and treat mental health and/or substance abuse conditions
Tier 2: Rehabilitative
Home and community-based services with care coordination including a full array of professional and para- professional services for individuals with higher needs. Services provided by certified behavioral health agency staff members.
Tier 3: Residential
Services provided in residential setting for individuals with the highest need
FYI – This letter was sent by Arkansas Department of Human Services DDS Division to all Waiver Providers today:
Next week, our Founder Lainey Morrow will be meeting with DDS Director Melissa Stone, BHS Director Paula Stone, and Optum (the company doing the Independent Assessments).
They are going to answer our questions about Independent Assessments and explain the whole process. What questions would you like for Lainey to ask them?
Also, they plan to provide training on the IA process, so you can know what to expect. They’ve asked for feedback on which method each one of you would prefer. This doesn’t mean they promise to provide it in that way, but they want your input.
Use the form below to send your questions and input. If you don’t see an option that fits you, add your own.
In February 2017, DHS notified 500 people that they would be receiving the funding to come off of the waiver waiting list this year. They sent paperwork for each recipient to fill out. In July, they sent another letter.
As of today, barely 250 people have responded, and the rest are in danger of losing their chance to come off the waiting list.
Our state DHS had to request the additional 500 slots from a federal agency, and that agency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, finally granted it on August 22, 2017. In the meantime, DHS sent another letter this summer in order to reach the rest of the people who have not yet responded. They also began working on plans of care for those who have responded. Once a person responds, it will take 60-90 days to set up the Independent Assessment, the staff required for the plan of care, supplies, and possible residencies.
If you have already been communicating about your plan of care, you will most likely see some progress in September to October. It is important to note that the federal approval was holding up progress. If you had chosen the company who you’d like to work with, please know that they were only notified as soon as the federal approval came through. You should be hearing from them soon.
Those of you in the 500 who were notified in February should receive DHS’ final letter in the coming days. If you have not yet responded to DHS about your spot in the top 500, they will also attempt to reach you by phone. If they can’t reach you by phone, they will remove you from the list of 500 and move on to the next people waiting.
If you have questions about this, you can’t simply call any office. You must call these specific people:
– For the status of applications:
Merinesa Morris
(501) 683-0571
– For all other questions:
Regina Davenport
(501) 683-0575
If you are a person on the waiting list, a caregiver, or a provider of someone on the list, please share this to ensure that this information gets to the correct people.
Here is a copy of the letter that will be going out:
Medicaid Saves Lives 