the new jersey department of human services division of ......2018/04/26 · eric kaufmann...

QUA RTERLY DIVISION UPDA TE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FA MILIES A ND PROVIDERS

The New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities

Jonathan S. Seifried, MA

Acting Assistant Commissioner

April 26, 2018

Overview

Executive Management Team and Unit Contacts Fee-for-Service (FFS) Implementation Ombudsman for People with ID/DD NJ ABLE Plan Update Transportation for SDEs Fiscal Intermediary (FI) Update The Stephen Komninos’ Law

2

Executive Management as of March 2018 3

Jonathan Seifried Acting Assistant Commissioner

Carol L. Jones Chief of Staff

Eric Kaufmann Assistant CFO, DHS

Charles Naus Chief Information Officer

Jennifer Joyce Director, Supports Program and Employment Services

Kelli Rice Director, Community Care Waiver Unit

Michelle Whitmore Special Assistant

Diane Flynn Division Communications

DDD Unit Contacts

Unit Contact Name Contact Email

Intake James Schiralli [email protected]

Support Coordination Cheryl Betz [email protected]

Supports Program Jennifer Joyce [email protected]

Provider Performance & Monitoring

Wendy Yosco [email protected]

Housing Eric Kaufmann [email protected]

Housing Subsidies Courtney Davey [email protected]

Case Management Mariana Pietrunti [email protected]

Contracting Jose Gonzalez [email protected]

Quality Improvement Heather Ciociola [email protected]

CCP Fee-For-Service Michelle Whitmore [email protected]

4

mailto:[email protected]










FFS Implementation: Contract Renewals

Agencies not fully converted to FFS by June 30, 2018 will have contracts renewed for those individuals without approved service plans Notices related to renewal to be issued soon

Respite and Emergency homes will remain in contract at least through December 31, 2018

5

FFS Implementation: Community Care Program

With the folding of DDD’s Community Care Waiver (CCW) into the State’s Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver in November 2017, the program name has changed

Community Care Waiver is now Community Care Program (CCP). We are working to update our website and communication materials to reflect the name change

CCP Manual will be released in early May

6

FFS Implementation: Community Care Program

8500+ Community Care Program (CCP) Transition Letters and Support Coordination Agency Selection Forms sent to individuals identified for transition from CCP to CCP-FFS

6400+ CCP individuals assigned to Support Coordination Agency

3900+ CCP individuals with approved Individualized Service Plan (ISP)

7

FFS Implementation: Supports Program

Current Supports Program (SP) enrollment: 6700+ Full enrollment of all eligible individuals into SP still

on track to be completed June 2018 Review of SP-enrolled individuals who are not

accessing services other than Support Coordination To ensure needs are being appropriately addressed To ensure individuals are aware of available services Identify individuals who may need to be dis-enrolled from SP

SP Manual will be released in early May

8

FFS Implementation: Support Coordination

Increased capacity Medicaid/DDD approved Support Coordination Agencies: 120 Individuals currently assigned to SCA: 12,219

DDD currently developing training curriculum on SC Basics Training will be incorporated into SC orientation process Curriculum Workgroup includes DDD and SCA

representatives Once initial curriculum is identified feedback from Family

Advisory Council will be obtained

9

Ombudsman for People with ID/DD

Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) and Their Families Paul Aronsohn appointed by Governor Murphy April 2018 In, but not of, NJ Department of Treasury Information, support, oversight for New Jersey children and

adults with ID/DD DCF Division of Children’s System of Care DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities

10


Duties to include: Serving as a source of information for individuals and their

families, to help them better understand state and federal laws and regulations;

Coordinating with the State Council on DD, to provide information and support on navigating and understanding the process for obtaining services from the state Division of Children's System of Care and DDD, including information on transitioning between the two programs;

Providing information and communication strategies to individuals and their families for resolving disagreements with various state agencies, as well as education on the dispute resolution;

11


Duties to include: Working with service recipients, families and the departments to

facilitate the provision of services and supports; Identifying common concerns for individuals and their families,

and making recommendations to the Division of Children's System of Care, DDD, DCF and DHS; and

To assist the Division of Children's System of Care and DDD in creating public information programs designed to inform individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families, and the public about the role of the ombudsman

12

NJ ABLE Plan

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act – federal legislation signed into law in 2014 establishing tax-free savings account for eligible individuals with disabilities

Signed into law in NJ in 2016 NJ ABLE Plan and website set to launch April/May

2018

13

NJ ABLE Plan

Enables eligible individuals with disabilities to establish ABLE savings accounts that will not affect their eligibility for public benefits such as SSI and Medicaid Earned income on an ABLE account is not taxed Withdrawals used for qualified disability-related expenses

for/on behalf of the beneficiary “Funding…that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits

provided through private insurance, Medicaid, SSI, the beneficiary's employment and other sources.”

14

Transportation for SDEs

New mandatory code for transportation provided by a self-directed employee – effective March 2018 Reasonable & Customary hourly wage 15-minute unit increments Employer/employee enrollment, employee hourly wage,

employee timesheet submission and payment all handled the same as with other SDE-provided services

Support Coordination Agencies notified in March New and renewed plans must use the new code for SDE-

provided transportation

15

Fiscal Intermediary Update

DDD contract with Easterseals NJ (ESNJ) extended through June 30, 2019 – DHS/DDD continuing to review options to address EIN issue Information will be distributed as it becomes available – until

then, “business as usual” PPP/DDD SDE Option dual enrollees continue with ESNJ

Dual enrollees able and willing to identify someone other than the individual to act as Employer of Record can transition to PPL

16


PCG Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL) Customer Service phone line

Available Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm: 844.842.5891 Website: www.publicpartnerships.com Online Employer/Employee Enrollment: www.pplenroll.com

17

http://www.publicpartnerships.com/

http://www.pplenroll.com/


PPL walk-in office hours Princeton Office

619 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 MON, TUE, WED: 12pm – 4pm; THU, FRI: 9am – 12pm

Newark Office 24 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Newark , NJ 07102 TUE: 9am – 12pm; THU: 12pm – 4pm

If individuals prefer to schedule an office appointment, call 609.945.6420

Special Saturday hours held 2/24/18 at The Arc Mercer

18


Escalating issues to Public Partnerships: For all stakeholders: [email protected] | 844.842.5891 For qualified providers: [email protected] For Support Coordinators: [email protected] After allowing at least one business day, all stakeholders may

escalate unresolved issues to: [email protected]

Escalating issues to DDD: For all stakeholders: [email protected] For Support Coordinators: SC Agency’s Quality Assurance

Specialist (“DDD Mentor”)

19






L E G I S L A T I V E U P D A T E

O F F I C E O F P R O G R A M I N T E G R I T Y A N D A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y A N D

D I V I S I O N O F D E V E L O P M E N T A L D I S A B I L I T I E S

A P R I L , 2 0 1 8

* C U R R E N T A S O F 0 4 / 2 6 / 1 8

New Jersey Department of Human Services

AGENDA

Introduction

Updated Statutory Requirements The Stephen Komninos’ Law – Public Law 2017, Chapter 238 Criminal History Record Information – Public Law 2017,

Chapter 328 Child Abuse Record Information – Public Law 2017, Chapter

213

Discussion – Law Provisions Next Steps

22

The Stephen Komninos’ Law - Overview

• Signed into law October 6, 2017

• Effective May 1, 2018

• Law establishes new processes and requirements for provider agencies, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and units within the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (OPIA)

23


DHS working to operationalize provisions Stakeholder input critical to implementation

Regulatory and policy changes needed

Requires provider training, information exchange

and support

24


DHS Communications Plan includes: Information will be posted on DHS web page, including:

Power Point presentation and link to corresponding webinar –webinar available on You Tube

Statute Commissioner’s letter to guardians/families and to providers Fact Sheet Charts identifying incidents reportable to guardians for community and facilities Posters

Worked with College of Direct Supports on a training module for direct care staff – will be part of the mandatory training bundle

Office of Licensing (OOL) Bulletin Presentations at trade organizations, quarterly provider meetings Internal staff training

25


The Stephen Komninos’ Law requires significant changes to

key practice areas

26

Two Unannounced Site Visits Annually

Two, unannounced site visits to all community-based, residential programs to evaluate risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation

DHS Field Safety and Services Unit within OPIA • Specific to group homes and supervised apartments • DHS developing a safety assessment tool • Agency response to visits/identified findings

Agency liaisons to address immediate safety concerns Data and trend analyses to remediate risk

• Interface with agencies, OOL, DDD Provider Performance Monitoring Unit (PPMU)

27

Guardian Notification of Injuries

Residential/day program provider responsibility to notify guardian/family member - incidents/ allegations involving: All minor, moderate and major injuries reportable according

to DHS regulations

Guardian/family member must be notified as soon as possible; no later than two hours

Extraordinary circumstances, no later than eight hours with a detailed explanation for delay provided to DHS and guardian/family member within 14 days

28

Guardian Notification of Injuries

Requires providers to establish a process to identify family members requesting injury notification or opting out

Delayed notification requires agency to submit

written, detailed explanation for delay to guardian/requesting family member and DHS Critical Incident Management Unit (CIMU)) within 14 days of incident

29

Guardian Notification

Notification must be in-person or by telephone

Any follow-up communication may be electronic Permits guardian/family member to opt out via written

notification/ consider preferences Individual served can indicate he/she does not want family

member to be notified Guidance provided on leaving message with information

30

Guardian Notification

DHS action includes: Updated page within Unusual Incident Reporting and Management System

(UIRMS) Guardian/family member notification will be documented, tracked in

UIRMS Updated Unusual Incident Report (UIR) form Regulations/Division Circular to outline number of attempts, other

considerations Updated DHS Administrative Order/ policies

Agencies require an internal system for ensuring documentation/tracking of guardian/family notification

DDD PPMU will follow-up with agencies using monthly/quarterly exception report

31

Injury Verification

DHS expanded the Critical Incident Management Unit (CIMU) within OPIA

Injury verification within 48 hours of all incidents/

allegations in community-based, residential programs and DHS developmental centers involving: Abuse, neglect and/or exploitation All major and/or moderate injuries

Emphasis on timely and accurate reporting

32

Guardian Participation in Office of Investigations Interview

A guardian may participate in an Office of Investigations (OI) interview of the individual the guardian represents

All OI staff trained Created an informational insert to include with OI initial

notification letter to guardian- explaining process Will work with guardian to facilitate he/she sitting in on

OI interview May need staff to also participate Facility/agency will be notified

33

Guardian Participation in Office of Investigations Interview

Guardian or family member may provide information to facilitate an investigation

A guardian will continue to receive a letter summarizing the findings of an OI investigation- will include remedial action taken

The actual records/reports of an investigation shall also be provided to the guardian or other person responsible for the welfare of the individual if the information is needed in connection with the provision of care, treatment, assessment, evaluation or supervision and the provision of information is in the best interest of the individual as determined by DDD

34

Drug Testing Direct Care Staff

Drug testing requirements: Direct care staff applying for employment at a program,

facility, or living arrangement licensed or funded by the Department

At least once per year, one or more direct care staff subject to random drug testing-total number of random tests at discretion of person responsible for overall operation

Drug testing permitted as-needed with reasonable suspicion-and through established process/written approval of person responsible for overall operation

35

Drug Testing Direct Care Staff

Employee must be removed if he/she fails to comply Employee testing positive: May be referred for treatment services, or Terminated from employment

DHS working to identify most effective and prudent approach Amendments to regulations OOL/PPMU oversight

36

Reporting Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

Strengthens requirements for reporting abuse, neglect and/or exploitation to: Person employed or volunteering in a program, facility, community

care residence, or living arrangement licensed or funded by DHS Person conducting site visit Program providing community-based services with indirect state

funding

Maintains existing immediate reporting requirements for abuse, neglect and/or exploitation

Identifies specific information needed when reporting

37


Expands Tara’s Law penalties for failing to report: For employees/volunteers in all settings - failing to report is a

disorderly person offense DDD case manager/case manager supervisor - failure to report

is a fourth degree crime DDD case manager/case manager supervisor - failure to report

and incident results in death, is a third degree crime Person convicted of the above subject to $350 per day penalty

for each day allegation not reported

38


DHS amending UIRMS to capture failure to report Training is critical College of Direct Supports module Existing staff - 60 days from date of availability New staff – at time of hire Test for competency

● Updating “Report Abuse” poster Consequences for failure to report

39

Exchange of Parent/Guardian Contact Information

Requires developmental centers to schedule meetings with parents/guardians twice per year to provide an opportunity to share experiences

Requires community-based, residential programs and day

program providers to: Request contact information from each parent/guardian If parent/guardian agrees, provider will exchange contact

information with other parents/guardians within the program for opportunities to share experiences

Programs/agencies with multiple sites – identify the scope of who is included, consider individual preferences, keep information updated and accessible

40

Criminal History Record Checks

Updated legislation for conducting federal and state criminal history record information (CHRI) checks for: Agency employees and agency heads Community Care Residence (CCR) providers Individuals living in the household of a CCR provider Alternates for CCR providers

Signed into law on/about January 12, 2018 Effective immediately

41


Shifts responsibility for conducting fitness for employment determinations from the agency to DHS

DHS responsible to: Make fitness determination within 14 days of receipt of

federal and state CHRI

Provide written notification to employee and agency head of qualification/disqualification

42


If disqualified via state conviction, DHS required to provide the employee the convictions which constitute the disqualification

Employee may petition for a hearing on the accuracy of the CHRI with the appropriate state or federal agency

or court

43


Agencies shall not employ an individual or qualify a CCR provider, alternate or CCR family member if determined by DHS to be disqualified

Employment must be terminated if employee refuses to cooperate with CHRI check

Provisional employment within agency is permitted for up to six months with sworn attestation when CHRI results are pending

Duties must be performed under supervision until CHRI check is

cleared

44


Shifts responsibility for determining rehabilitation from agency to DHS

Establishes timeframes for employee and DHS to determine rehabilitation: Employee has 14 days from date of written notice of disqualification

to provide evidence of affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation DHS has no longer than 60 days from receipt of evidence to

determine qualification and provide written notification to individual/agency head

May be submitted electronically with authorization

45


Office of Licensing - Plans of Correction

Plans of correction required for all licensing deficiencies

Requires OOL to complete an unannounced, follow-up inspection of site if life/safety deficiencies are identified

46

Child Abuse Record Information Checks

Signed into law August 7, 2017 Effective February 1, 2018 Requires checks of the Department of Children and

Families (DCF) child abuse registry for any person seeking employment in: Any facility or program licensed, contracted, regulated or funded by DHS Providing community-based services with indirect funding

Known as CARI check Law also applies to staff employed by DCF provider

agencies, DHS developmental centers

47

Child Abuse Record Information Checks

Working with DCF on a process DHS to amend regulations to prohibit employment

if employee is identified on the registry as substantiated for child abuse/neglect

48

Next Steps

Follow-up action: Regulatory changes Staff understanding of and cooperation with DHS staff Agency contact information/point person for verification visits Identify guardian/family member, obtain updated contact

information and maintain information on file Agency protocols for:

Verification and unannounced visits Drug testing Family contact information sharing Timely reporting

49

Office of Licensing Update

Draft Revision of Regulations

Obtained provider input External factors Resolving outstanding issues with DDD Next steps: Regulatory process

50

Office of Licensing Update

Announcements

Danielle’s Law Informational Bulletin Background Checks Plans of Correction Unannounced Inspections Feedback from Providers Personnel Changes

51

Questions

OPIA created an email address

for providers to email questions regarding the Stephen Komninos’ Law

[email protected]

Lauri Woodward, Director

Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (609) 292-1617

52


the new jersey department of human services division of ......2018/04/26 · eric kaufmann...

Documents