ARRM's Daily Dispatch

New resources now available for the 2014 election

Download The 5% Campaign’s Election Guide

Last week, The 5% Campaign released a guide to participating in elections. The guide included important dates to watch for, as well as frequently asked questions about taking part in the election process.

For ARRM members, important questions regarding what a staff person at a residential facility can do under current election law and how to vouch for residents at the polls are answered. You can download the full election guide here.

New Door Knocker Template Available

As we move closer to Election Day you can expect to see an increased number of candidates knocking on your door as a way to gauge your support and speak to you about the issues.

ARRM has developed a  door knocker template to help you feel prepared to talk to your local candidates. This door knocker can be handed to your candidate, includes important value and issue statements from the disability community, and a place to fill in your own personal information and story.

Important Dates to Remember

• August 12^th, 2014: Primary Election Day
• October 14^th, 2014 is the pre-election day voter registration deadline: Please note that you can now register to vote online. Visit the MN Secretary of State’s website for more information and remember that if you are not able to register prior to the election you can still register at the polls on Election Day.
• November 4^th, 2014: General Election Day

Visit ARRM’s Voting Resources section on our website

For more information, including how to find your polling place, and other useful guides and resources, visit the Voting Resources section of our website or contact Sara Grafstrom at sgrafstrom@arrm.org.

--Sara Grafstrom, Director of Advocacy and Community Relations

DHS to host statewide information sessions on background study changes

Legislation was passed in the 2014 session that makes changes to the current background study process.  The biggest change is the requirement for the use of fingerprints to complete the state criminal record checks. DHS has provided information about the changes to the background study program.

DHS will be hosting a series of eight information sessions statewide to provide an opportunity for license holders to receive information on the changes and to ask questions. Learn more about the information sessions and the dates they will be held.

View information on the implementation timelines
View DHS' frequently asked questions on the recent background study changes

Please contact Barb Turner with any questions at bturner@arrm.org.

--Barb Turner, COO

5% increase brings billing issues

As many providers experienced when the 1% rate increase was processed in April, many of the same issues are being experienced now with the processing of the 5% increase. 

Once again there is an issue with the pro-rating of leave days.  ARRM has again contacted DHS so that they can communicate with the counties so that service authorizations can be revised to allow providers to bill for all of the days that they provided service between April 1, 2014 and July 1, 2014.  If you are having problems with a particular county, please contact Barb Turner bturner@arrm.org so that this information can be passed on to DHS.

Providers are also experiencing delays in obtaining new service authorizations, which results in a delay in the ability to bill.  ARRM recommends working directly with the counties to resolve these issues.  If you are having difficulty, please contact Barb Turner bturner@arrm.org so that we can track systemic issues and address them with DHS.

--Barb Turner, COO

 

 

 

New forms available for CRS licensing by county licensors

There are now revised forms available to be used by county licensors for their portion of licensing Community Residential Settings (formally Corporate Adult Foster Care).

There is a new document called  Home Safety Checklist_CRS June 2014 as well as a 245D - Community Residential Setting Licensing Checklist. 

As county licensors prepare to do licensing visits as of July 1, 2014, they should be sending you these forms and using them in place of the old AFC forms.  As with any transition, at times things do not happen as smoothly as they should.  If you have any questions or concerns prior to or following a visit from your county licensor, feel free to contact me directly at bturner@arrm.org.

--Barb Turner, COO

ARRM to work with DHS on defining ‘quality improvement projects’

The five percent rate increase law, which went into effect July 1^st, requires providers to identify a “quality improvement project” that they will submit to DHS by January 1, 2015 and implement by June 30, 2015.  The law is vague on what projects qualify.

DHS has asked ARRM to help develop projects and processes that are meaningful rather than merely adding administrative exercises and costs.  As you know, ARRM has advanced several reform measures over the past few years that are intended to cost effectively direct resources at achieving quality outcomes that reflect individual choices and needs. 

ARRM accepted DHS’s invitation in the spirit of aligning our respective quality initiatives.  The discussions may very well identify some barriers people and providers experience in moving toward client choices that include the ability to lead more independent lives.

We hope to begin meeting later this month.

--Bruce Nelson, CEO