Advisory Committee on Services to Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Thursday, January 11, 2018
10 a.m. – Room C-47 Sequoyah State Office Building
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1.CALL TO ORDER – Teri Egner, Chairperson
2.ROLL CALL – Angela Donley, Secretary
Committee members who attended: Robin Arter, Tori Collier, Greg Crawford, Rene' Damon, Angela Donley, Teri Egner, Wanda Felty, Bryan Ferguson, John Gajda, Ellyn Hefner, Logan Consuela, Eddie Miller, Terry Trego
Others present: Chris Castleberry, Marie Moore, Ray Hester, Sylvia Bickell
3.DDS UPDATE – Marie Moore Interim DDS Director
DHS is fully funded until April 2018. There are no expectations of reductions at this moment. There are 7436 individuals on the DDS waiver request list. 5101 individuals are receiving waivered services. The majority of individuals receiving waiver services are on the Community Waiver (2900). There are currently 54 DDS job vacancies and 9 jobs are posted.
Interim DDS Director Moore asked The Committee how else could DDS be more helpful. Mr. Trego responded by saying they could use more information from DDS. Ms. Arter asked if they could have input on the DDS Case Manager Supervisors (CMS) meeting.Interim Dir. Moore stated they would send the CMS agenda to the committee.
Mr. Gajda asked if they could receive monthly data reports.Ms. Felty added if they could get reports to find trends to find impact of systems to supports. Ms. Felty also suggested if DDS could streamline to help families find constituents. Interim Dir. Moore responded saying DDS will increase their social media activity and is in the process of updating contact information online.
Ms. Felty asked if DDS receives provider vacancy reports.Interim Dir. Moore replied the agency received staff turnover reports each month. Ms. Felty responded it does not reflect the stress an agency is facing from vacancies.
4.Systematic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, & Treatment (START) – Chris Castleberry
Mr. Castleberry gave a presentation regarding a comprehensive assessment that will be completed by the University of New Hampshire called START. They will assess and advise DDS where improvements are needed with services. They will meet with focus groups and are partnered with Child Welfare. START will begin on February 8th, 2018 and continue through the summer. The Committee members were invited to participate.
5.* Approval of Minutes – January 11, 2018
Joh Gajda motioned to approve minutes. Rene' Damon seconded the motion. All members approved with no discussion or questions.
6.Home and Community Based Waiver Assurance and Sub-assurances – Sylvia Bickell
DDS sends a report to the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) every three years explaining how the assurances have been met. Ms. Bickell presented information about new assurances and sub-assurances that were being requested from CMS.
Ms. Felty asked if other states look at in-home supports services for the assurances and sub-assurances. Ms. Bickell stated each state has the same assurances, but they are reported differently.
7. Oklahoma's Approved Statewide Transition Plan / Home and Community Based Settings Requirements – Ray Hester
Mr. Hester explained to the committee that DDS demonstrated to CMS how they were in compliance with providing individuals the same opportunities and access to services as everyone else. He presented the requirements for Statewide Transition Plan, information on the changes requested by CMS, and what information regarding settings was provided to CMS. Oklahoma was the 5th state to get approved.
Terri Egner asked how did DDS get around the employment situation, isolation issue, or ICF in Enid that does not have community based employment.Interim Dir. Moore stated there were only issues with five adult day centers that will have to become compliant before March 17, 2022.
8.Electronic Visit Verification System (EVV) requirements under the CURES Act – Ray Hester
Under the CURES Act provider agencies have to obtain an Electronic Visit Verification System (EVV) for personal care and home health services by January 1st, 2019. CURES Act is intended to improve quality of care provided to individuals through further research, enhance quality control, and strengthen mental health parity. The penalty for non-compliance of CURES Act would be a 1/4 percent cut to Oklahoma's Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). Mr. Hester presented to The Committee what the requirements for an EVV are, what EVV systems must verify, and what services require EVV. He explained to The Committee the benefits from having an EVV. There are five different EVV models.
Interim Dir. Moore stated Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) will present two webinars to provide information to each state with obtaining an EVV. DDS is considering designing their own. The Committee members were concerned about discrepancies and technology and HIPPA issues.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comments.
Eddie Miller motioned to adjourn. Robin Arter seconded the motion. All members approved with no questions or discussion.
