ARRM's Daily Dispatch

Office of Inspector General Legislative Report Available

Legislation in 2013 required the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to submit a report to the legislature on the transfer of vulnerable adult investigation duties and correponding 245D licensing fee schedule.  This report has been submiteed and is available here

https://mn.gov/dhs/images/report_on_transfer_of_vulnerable_adult_investigation_duties.pdf

Contact me at bturner@arrm.org with questions.

--Barb Turner, COO

Positive Support Rule Function Specific Training will be available through ARRM

ARRM is pleased to announce that we have worked with STAR Services, an ARRM member, to provide a resource for the function specific training that is required under the new Positive Support Rule. This training will be available to all ARRM member agencies at no cost as a member benefit.

The training will meet the requirements under 9544.00090 Subpart 2 A. (4 hours) and Subpart 2 B (2 hours)  This is training will be available effective December 1, 2015.  Watch for future information regarding details and how to access the training.

Contact me at bturner@arrm.org with questions.

--Barb Turner, COO

Apply to join MN State Quality Council by 11/23

The Minnesota State Quality Council (SQC) is currently recruiting new Council members, which can include representatives from any of the following groups:

• Disability Service Recipients;
• Family Members of Disability Service Recipients;
• Disability Service Provider Organizations; plus,
• Disability Advocacy Group Representatives.

The SQC, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Disability Services Division, exists to support a system of quality assurance and improvement of services for people with disabilities.  The Council is committed to a system that is person-centered, outcomes-based, quality-driven, and effective in its use of public funds.  Full Council meetings will be held from 1 PM until 3 PM on the 4th Friday of each month.  Council workgroups will generally meet once per month for two hours.  Separate workgroups address Council governance, legislative feedback, data and surveys, regional quality councils, and person-centered planning.

Interested candidates must submit applications prior to Tuesday, November 24, 2015.  Application instructions plus the official vacancy announcement appear on the Minnesota Secretary of State Open Commissions and Appointments website.

ARRM Responds to Star Tribune Article

As you know, we sent an ARRM Alert to members last week with some ways to respond to the Star Tribune's recent series of articles on Minnesotans with disabilities.

We have been impressed and encouraged by the many thoughtful responses by ARRM members, and others, on social media and in the press over the past few days.  In case you missed them, here is a quick round-up of the latest Star Tribune letters and commentaries:

REM family member

Readers write (Nov. 15)

Don Lavin, ED of The Arc Minnesota

Star Tribune Editorial Board

In addition to sending the ARRM Alert, we also sent a letter to Minnesota legislators yesterday and a similar but shorter commentary to the Star Tribune this afternoon. 

--Bruce Nelson, CEO

ARRM and others reviewing Star Tribune series

The Star Tribune is running a five-part series of articles, A Matter of Dignity, this week about services for Minnesotans with disabilities.  You can find links to the articles on their website.

When you read the articles you will note that they ignore what you do and see in people’s lives every day.

On a system level, think of where we were 30, 20, ten and five years ago and the continual progress toward increasing choice and independence for people.  While we move forward we must and do explore ways to make changes that honor people’s wishes and rights to live and receive the services they choose while making sure that the rights and choices of other people receiving services are honored and that we maintain a stable provider community.

ARRM is talking with many of our partners to consider a response to the story and ways to make sure others in your communities understand the value and importance of the work you do in supporting our fellow citizens lead the meaningful lives they choose and deserve.

-- Bruce Nelson, CEO

ARRM meets with DHS regarding positive support rule training requirements

I met with DHS last week to discuss the interpretation of requirements for function specific training for non-profit board members and some upper management positions. 

I made a request that they review their interpretation of "executives, managers, and owners in nonclinical roles".  They have agreed to review the issue and provide us with a decision no later than November 18, 2015 when they join us to do a presentation at the ARRM Business & Finance Forum (BFF).

Contact me at bturner@arm.org with questions.

--Barb Turner, COO

New ACA Deadline is February 1, 2016

The new Affordable Care Act Deadline is February 1, 2016.

The link below will take you to an article providing information on form 1094C/1095C.  This is a form that is required to be completed and distributed no later than February 1, 2016.

ARRM has heard from some members that they are finding this form a challenge to complete.  ARRM is currently working on providing a webinar to assist members with this form.  Please watch for further information in the near future.

https://www.associatedfinancialgroup.com/Resource-Library/Resource-Library-Article/ArtMid/666/ArticleID/297

Please contact me at bturner@arm.org with questions.

--Barb Turner, COO

Check MN-ITS mailboxes for important DHS requests

DHS recently sent two items to provider's MN-ITS mailboxes.  Please check your messages and follow up as requested.

1.  The DHS rate setting team sent out a short survey to all providers asking for information on the process of requesting a rate exception.  They are trying to determine where the challenges are in the request process.

2.  DHS is requesting contact information for the CEO of each provider organization by November 10, 2015 so that they can send a "Staff Stabilization Survey" out in January 2016.  This survey will gather information on wages, turnover, recruitment and retention. This is a survey that has been piloted by 10 states and Minnesota has decided to implement it beginning 2016.  DHS intends to have the data available to be used during the 2016 legislative session. ARRM will work with DHS to review the data when it is compiled.  If the return rate is good ARRM may not need to send out the wage survey we have been doing every other year which gathers that same data.

Contact me at bturner@arm.org with any questions.

--Barb Turner, COO