|
CCPA advocates at Connecticut executive branch agencies on behalf of rehabilitation and behavioral health service providers. Our Board of Directors and Divisions develop positions on proposed regulations, governmental policies and other issues related to provision of services for people with disabilities. CCPA works closely with State Agencies. See our Links Section to view these and other websites.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Behavioral Health Partnership (DCF/DSS) |
|
|
|
|
|
-
Updates ~ Rate adjustments and rate incentives for the BHP for FY09 (as well as for FY10 and FY11) are still “up in the air” as the state grapples with the current year’s deficit of over $1 B.
Susan Walkama, President/CEO of Wheeler Clinic gave testimony on behalf of the Association regarding the BHP and the DSS Medicaid FFS rates at the February 18, 2009 public hearing, emphasizing that without rate increases it would be extremely difficult to provide ECC services for children or adults.
|
- BHP submits testimony to Appropriations ~ Judith Meyers, President and CEO of Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut and the Children's Fund of Connecticut, and member of the Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council, submitted testimony on behalf of the BHP at the February 18 hearing. Her testimony provides an excellent summary of key issues including the cost shift to private providers if DSS copays are enacted. See testimony regarding H.B. No. 6365, An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2011.
|
-
BHP to Focus on Co-Occurring Disorders ~ Susan Walkama, President/CEO of Wheeler Clinic and the chair of the Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council Provider Advisory Group invites all adult service providers to attend the February 18 meeting of the PAG in order to review the draft policy transmittals that outline the new proposed requirements for Enhanced Care Clinic treatment of individuals with co-occurring disorders. One is for adults and the other for adolescents.
Follow these links to review these draft documents:
|
|
|
- DCF and DSS Report to the Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council ~ View the report, presented on December 10, 2008.
|
|
|
|
| Office of the Child Advocate |
|
|
|
|
|
| Department of Children & Families
|
|
- Testimony from Commissioner Susan Hamilton regarding proposed budget adjustment for FY 2011 for DCF, 2/11/10
|
- DCF Client Confidentiality-PSDCRS Reporting Requirements. Click here to see the 5/.19/09 letter.
|
- DCF Client Confidentiality-PSDCRS Reporting Requirements. Click here to see the 3/16/09 letter.
|
- DCF Service Re-Procurement Plan and Timetable ~ Updated 3/6/09, this is an incomplete draft reprocurement plan – not all services are included yet.
July 2008 re-procurement plan and timetable, revised and approved from July 2008.
|
- DCF answers Appropriations Committee questions ~ View the 2/24/09 document, presented to the Appropriations Human Services Subcommittee.
|
|
|
- Governor Rell's Budget Proposal to Eliminate Office of Child Advocate and Close High Meadows ~ View more information in this 2/5/09 Hartford Courant article.
|
- Table of Organization ~ Commissioner Hamilton has released DCF's latest table of organization, updated 12/15/08.
|
|
|
|
|
- DCF Budget Reduction Options 2010-2011 ~ View the full options here, dated 11/13/08.
|
|
|
|
| Department of Corrections
|
|
- Governor Rell's Proposed Budget Saves $11M From DOC Budget ~ View more information in this 2/5/09 Hartford Courant Article.
|
|
|
|
| Department of Developmental Services |
|
- Click here to see the 2008 Provider Annual Report and Click here to see the 2009 Provider Annual Report, 1-29-10
|
- Response from Commissioner O'Meara from the Public Health Committee Co-Chairs Seeking Delay in Implementation of Attendance - Based Reimbursement, 1/29/10
|
- Letter to Commissioner O'Meara from the Public Health Committee Co-Chairs Seeking Delay in Implementation of Attendance - Based Reimbursement, 1/21/10
|
- Utilization Payment Process, 1/25/10. Click here to see the Power Point Presentation.
|
|
|
- Memo from Joe Drexler, DDS, Interpretation of Authorization for payment for Group Day Services attendance in the Fee for Service Program, 10/16/09
|
|
|
- FY10 Residential POS Contract Part 1 10-26-09, Draft Template for FY10
|
- FY10 Day and IHS POS Contract 10-26-09, Draft Template for FY10
|
- Letter to Secretary Genuario, from Commissioner O'Meara regarding DDS FY 2011 Midterm Budget, 11/30/09
|
|
|
- DDS Licensing Data 9-1-09, Average Percentage of Licensing Deficiencies for Public and Privately Run Community Living Arrangements (CLA's) for a 2 Year Period - 01 July 2007 to 30 June 2009 - Click here to read this
|
- Commissioner O'Meara Testifies on 2009 DDS Conversion Plan - Read Commissioner O'Meara's 9/3/09 testimony to Public Health and Human Services Committees regarding 2009 DDS Conversion Plan.
|
- DDS responds to letter from the Public Health Co-Chairs~ Read Commissioner O'Meara's repsonse to Senator Harris and Representative Ritter about the delay in the implementation of major system changes.
|
- Health and Nursing Standards and Nursing Protocols ~ DDS announced the release of several documents related to the health and nursing care of
individuals served by the department on 3/9/09. These include: 2 Health Standards, 4 Nursing Standards,
and 2 Nursing Protocols. View the full document, including the March 2009 Nursing Notes, here.
|
- DDS responds to questions from Appropriations Committee ~ Questions asked at the 2/20/09 hearing were answered to the Health and Hospitals Subcommittee in a 3/5/09 document.
|
- CCPA Submitted Comments and Concerns on the Proposed, Amended Regulations Concerning the Administration of Medications ~ View the 2/17/09 memo to Rod O'Connor, Legislative and Regulations Analyst, DDS.
DDS Proposed, Amended Regulations Concerning the Administration of Medications ~ View the Draft Regulation 17a-210 and the Notice of Intent to Amend and Notice of Public Hearing in the CT Law Journal. There was a hearing on Monday, 2/2.
|
- DDS Responds to CCPA Comments on Draft Contract ~ Joe Drexler, DDS Operations Center Director, sent a memo on February 11, 2009 to CCPA addressing all of CCPA's recommendations and concerns. View the memo here.
CCPA Submitted Comments on DDS Draft Contract ~ At the January 9th DDS Provider Council Meeting, DDS staff distributed a draft contract format for review. DDS has made several changes and revisions to thier standard contract. We had a small window of opportunity to review and comment on these changes and other areas of concern. View CCPA's Comments on the Draft Contract changes here.
Please note that we had significant debate over the contract language identifying a 6 hour day program service day vs. the past language of a 5 hour day plus lunch.
|
|
|
|
|
- 1/16/09 DDS Budget Reduction Breakdown by Agency ~ Follow the links below to view a 1/16/09 DDS response to CCPA’s FOI seeking a revised breakdown of their budget reduction options by agency. This relates to the DDS proposal to reduce provider rates to meet the Governor's request for a 10% budget reduction plan. The allocations by agency have been adjusted to address their errors in calculations and corrections in provider cost data. The total amount of the private provider reduction is slightly lower than their previous proposal. Proposed reductions now range from 1.5% to 7%. View the cover letter, dated 1/14/09, or the full breakdown here.
12/5/08 Methodology for Budget Options ~ CCPA receives response to FOIA request. View the full explanation of the FY10/11 methodology related to private provider rate reductions.
11/12/2008 DDS Budget Reduction Options 2009 ~ Please see updated document above, this document has been revised. Read the detailed impact by agency (11/12/08) of this proposed plan and read the summary.
|
- DDS Budget Update ~ Commissioner Peter O'Meara issued a letter dated January 5, 2009 about the current status of the DDS budget. Read the letter here.
|
|
|
- Draft Goals for the Planning Process for the Transition to a Uniform Rate Based System ~ Peter Mason, DDS distributed the draft goals at the 11/7/08 Provider Council Waiver Workgroup.
|
-
DDS Delays Implementation of Shift to Attendance-Based Reimbursement ~ In response to CCPA concerns and a letter from the provider representatives on the DDS / Private Provider Council, DDS has agreed to delay implementation of their proposed shift to an attendance-based reimbursement system. Originally that shift was scheduled to happen on January 1, 2009 for 50% of an agency’s contract amount. That shift has been delayed until July 1, 2009. Read Commissioner Peter O'Meara's response, dated October 31st, to the 9/29/08 letter from the Providers Council, Transitioning to an Attendance-Based Fee-for-Service Reimbursement Structure .
|
- DDS Budget Options 2009 ~ Released October 27, 2008. Read the summary, with additional information from 11/12/08 or the budget in detail.
|
- DDS 2009 Legislative proposals ~ Proposals released October 22, 2008.
|
|
|
- Cost Settlement Analysis and Fund Raising~
|
|
| Governor's Office |
|
- Letter from Lieutenant Governor Fedele regarding community providers - 12-11-09
|
- Governor Rell organizes team to identify potential savings ~ View her 3/4 press release here.
|
- Governor Rell urges adoption of mitigation options ~ View the 3/4 press release here.
|
- Governor Rell announces end of several Boards and Commissions ~ View the 2/21 press release here.
|
- Governor Rell releases 3rd mitigation plan ~ View the 2/19 press release or her full 2/19 plan here. Democratic leadership wrote a letter to Appropriations and requested an addendum from the Governor to bridge the deficit gap. View more on our Public Policy page.
|
- Governor Rell calls for deficit reconciliation ~ OPM, OFA, and the State Comptrollers Office were asked to meet to determine what the actual deficit figure is. Read the 2/17/09 Associated Press article here.
|
|
- Governor Rell orders cuts in state contracts ~ Car wash services were included in this cut. Read the 2/12/09 press release here.
|
- Governor Rell delivered her budget address on 2/4 ~ Read the transcript here.
|
- Governor Rell announces growth of budget deficit to $922 Million ~ Read her 1/20/09 press release for more details.
|
|
| Office for Health Care Access |
|
|
|
|
Department of Insurance
|
| |
|
This memo clarifies that insurance benefits are payable for services rendered “in a child guidance clinic or residential treatment facility by a person with a master’s degree in social work or by a person with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy under the supervision of a psychiatrist, physician, licensed marital and family therapist or licensed clinical social worker…” |
| |
|
| Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services
|
|
|
|
- Testimony of Patricia A. Rehmer, M.S.N, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Human Services Committee, March 2, 2010 - Bills - HB 5328 AA Implementing SAGA Hospital Rate Increases, HB 5232 AAC Transfer or discharge of residential care home patients; HB 5243 AAC Sober House
|
- Pat Rehmer is the Governor's nominee for Commissioner of DMHAS. Click here to read the Governor's press release.
|
- Commissioner Kirk Block Grant Testimony 09/15/09- Read Commisioner Kirk testimony to Appopriations, Human Services, and Public Health Committees regarding the 2010 Allocation Plans for the CMHS Block Grant and the SAPT Block Grant.
|
|
- Results-Based Accountability ~ DMHAS responds to the standard RBA questions for all agencies regarding their programs on 3/5/09.
|
- DMHAS Proposed Budget Reduction Options ~ Read the cover letter to FY10/FY11 Budget Options, Oct. 15, 2008: "The capacity of the public/private DMHAS system to meet critical needs is stretched. We cannot balance our overall fiscal challenges on the backs of our contracted PNP providers." View the detailed options here.
|
- 2009 DMHAS Legislative Proposals ~ Read the nine legislative proposals, dated October 3, 2008, here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Office of Policy and Management |
|
- September 17, 2009 memo from Secretary Genuario to Agency Heads regarding FY'10 Budget Implementation- Read Secretary Genuario's 9/17/2009 memo to the heads of all budgeted agencies.
|
|
-
Jan 5, 2009 Letter from Secretary Genuario ~ The letter is addressed to all agency heads regarding Incorporation of Results Based Accountability Procedures in Budget Hearings and Work Sessions. It is likely that RBA will be a major consideration in the Appropriations Committee budget hearing process. Read the full letter here.
|
-
Energy Funding Allocations ~ The OPM plan for allocation the $3.5M was approved November 12th. State agencies will be distributing money to providers based on your contracts and fee-for-service allocations from that state agency via a purchase order process. You don’t need to complete an application or amend your contracts to obtain these funds. State agencies should be cutting checks to providers shortly. The state agencies had to wait until after the end of the 11/24 special session (with approval of the plan) before they could issue funds.
|
- Re-Procurement - OPM Announces Major Changes Related to Contract Re-Procurement at the CCPA Annual Meeting ~
Gale Mattison, Executive Finance Officer, Office of Policy and Management (OPM) announced several significant changes to the re-procurement process, which are consistent with concerns raised through the Nonprofit Cabinet. He explained that these changes should be detailed, finalized and formally communicated in early January. Changes include:
- Delaying the requirement for state agencies to re-procure existing contracted services for 12 or 18 months in light of the current economic climate. This means that state agencies aren’t mandated to re-procure, but they still may if they choose to do so.
- Requiring state agencies to properly train staff in developing and reviewing an RFP.
- Implementing an appeals process if a provider feels that the procurement process was flawed. The provider may submit a written appeal to the Commissioner of that state agency and should receive a written response to that appeal.
|
- The Connecticut Nonprofit Human Services Cabinet issues statement on reprocurement ~ The Cabinet has strong concerns about the destabilization of the nonprofit human services delivery system as an unintended consequence of the competitive procurement process. Read the full statement, dated 12/1/08.
|
- Updated Re-Procurement Plans~ DMHAS and DCF have released their updated plans for re-procurement of human services.
|
- Cost Accounting Standards~ Click here for the latest updates from the Office of Policy and Management~ OPM released a new policy for state-wide cost accounting standards. Click on the link to view the list of Frequently Asked Questions. These standards will override the DMR Cost Standards and will become the uniform cost standards for all providers who contract with human service state agencies.
- All new State awards effective on or after January 1, 2007
- All contract amendments modifying funding effective on or after January 1, 2007
- All State awards effective on or after July 1, 2007
Read this Memo from Gale Mattison, Executive Financial Officer, OPM, to Purchase of Service Agencies and Providers regarding Implementation of Cost Standards, 11/1/06.
Follow this link to review the OPM Cost Standards – Issued 9/1/06 and the accompanying cover letter describing the standards implementation timetable as well as the resolution of the 18% administrative cap issue:
http://www.opm.state.ct.us/finance/pos_standards/coststandards.htm#Documents
|
|
| Department of Public Health |
|
- Deputy Commissioner Gyle 09/15/09 Block Grant Testimony - Click here for Deputy Commissioner Gyle's testimony to Appropriations, Human Services, and Public Health Committees regarding FFY10 Block Grant Allocation Plans.
|
- Governor Rell's Budget Proposal Reduces Funding for Health Departments by $2.5 M ~ View more information in this 2/5/09 Hartford Courant article.
|
- DPH Submits Budget Reduction Options for FY2010 ~ Read the full options here, dated 10/14/08.
|
|
| Department of Social Services |
| |
- Click here to see the job opening at the Departmernt of Social Services, Health Management Administrator, Application Closing Date: May 12, 2010
|
- Click here to see Regulations - DSS - Requirements for Payment of Rehab Services for Individuals Under 21 with Behavioral Health Disorders - Draft - 3/2/10
|
- CCPA Testimony 10/15/09 - BH - Payment of BH Clinic Services / Comments regarding the Payment of Behavioral Health Clinic Services as noticed in the Connecticut Law Journal, August 18, 2009
|
| |
Medicaid Audit Resources
|
| |
- DSS Coding Clarifications 4/3/09- Dr. Mark Schaefer’s response to a coding question:
Q: For some of our cases the work is with the parent. Is it acceptable to following the diagnostic eval 90801 to follow a treatment plan that is primarily parent guidance 90846?
A: Yes, as long as the work is truly focused on remediation of symptoms and functional impairment associated with the child's diagnosed condition.
Q: And, is 90849 a code that can be used for a parent guidance group; ie. a group of parents of hyperactive youth who are learning behavioral mgt techniques?
A: Yes
Q: Another question; 90887 This code seems to be for 'collaborative' work that is supportive of the treatment plan. A meeting at the hospital where discharge plans are being made- and referral is being made to our outpatient division? a PPT? This seems like a very appropriate use of thsi code to me.. What do you folks think?
A: Only if the work is provided on-site at the clinic and not by telephone. Otherwise, the code should be T1016 and in that case it would need to meet all of the DRA requirements of a case management service including a case management plan. The mininum requirements are outlined in the CT state plan.
|
| |
- Governor Rell's Budget Proposal Introduces Co-Pays for Medicaid and Premiums for HUSKY A ~ View more information in this 2/5/09 Hartford Courant article.
|
- DSS Budget Reduction Options Propose Major Cuts ~ The budget options proposed by DSS as part of the FY10, FY11 budget development process propose cuts to many accounts that affect people with disabilities, reducing and restructuring benefits and cutting reimbursement to private providers.
These are proposed reductions. Governor Rell may or may not include these suggestions in her February 4 budget plan. View DSS budget reduction options with cover letter from Commissioner Michael Starkowski dated 12/15/08.
|
|
|
|
|
