ARRM's Daily Dispatch

ANCOR Releases Messaging for National DOL Overtime Campaign

ANCOR recently held a series of webinars introducing its national campaign aimed at addressing issues with the proposed Department of Labor Overtime Rule. The Save Our Services campaign’s goal is to convey the seriousness of this proposed rule and the impact it would have on our industry.

Along with basic messaging best practices, the webinar presented the campaign’s main message, as well as three supporting messages. Those messages can be found below and can be used in communication you have with federal lawmakers and media moving forward. As additional resources and calls to action become available to support the Save Our Services campaign, ARRM will pass them along.

Main Message: Though well-intended, the proposed Overtime Exemption Rule threatens to put an unreasonable strain on already overstrained providers of community-based care for people with disabilities, which could have a serious impact on their ability to provide quality care to those who need it.

Supporting Message #1: Providers are funded by state and federal Medicaid dollars and have no control over their rates, so they have no margin to absorb cost increases. We want to pay our employees more, with benefits and overtime, but current funding makes this impossible, and the proposed rule will further exacerbate this problem.

Supporting Message #2: If implemented as written and no additional funding is provided; the rule could have the opposite of its intended effect by leaving providers with no other choice but to cut wages just to stay afloat. This would hurt workers and, by contributing to the already serious problem of turnover among direct service providers, do a disservice to the people who rely on them.

Supporting Message #3: Congress should pass legislation to increase Medicaid funding support for providers accordingly so that they can afford to comply with this rule- and other unfunded mandates like it- so that our members can continue to provide the care people with disabilities rely on every day.

--Sara Grafstrom, Director of Advocacy and Community Relations

Training on GRH funding

DHS sent out information to providers regarding a mandatory training for GRH rate 2 providers.  This training is required for providers who receive funds through GRH for supplemental services.  It is not required for providers who receive GRH only for room and board.  Most ARRM members do not receive supplemental service funding through GRH and would not need to attend the training.  

 

--Barb Turner, COO 

ARRM Member Workforce Survey Results Are In

ARRM contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen in 2015 to send a survey to our members which would provide information to support or legislative efforts in securing a rate increase during the 2016 legislative session.  The data to be received would show people served, average wages, and job vacancies statewide for Home and Community Based Services, among other information.

The ARRM survey was completed by our members in December.  We thank all of the respondents for their time and effort in completing the survey.

We have now received the results from CliftonLarsonAllen.  ARRM is compiling the results, and some of the work will be used by the Best Life Alliance in their efforts.  We are also preparing the information in further detail for our members.  We look forward to sharing with all of you in the next few weeks. 

Please feel free to contact me at lslayton@arrm.org with any questions.

 

---Luana Slayton, Chief Fiscal Analyst

DHS provides answers to FAQs on Positive Support Rule

 

ARRM has been working with DHS licensing to get clarification regarding the requirements for training under the new Positive Support Rule.  Although we initially thought that this would be a quick and easy process, it turned out to be  more complicated than expected.  Because this rule impacts many types of providers, including child care providers, and due to the fact that this rule was the result of a lawsuit being closely monitored by the Federal Court, there were many people involved in developing the FAQ answers.

On Wednesday, DHS posted information on their website that provides answers to a number of questions they have received.  The answers to the questions on training were not as black and white as we had hoped.  ARRM immediately contacted DHS to request further clarification.  The information provided in this blog includes language provided by DHS to hopefully give better direction to providers.  The underlined language is clarification provided by DHS.

Anyone who is a license holder, owner, or manager in a nonclinical role must receive the function specific training if their duties involve the substance of the function specific training (functional assessments; person-centered planning; design and use of data systems to measure effectiveness of care; and supervision, including how to train, coach, and evaluate staff and encourage effective communication with the person and the person's support team.)

 

 

DWRS Framework Non-Wage Cost Survey To Be Sent To HCBS Providers

Legislation requires DHS to complete a study on the non-wage components of the DWRS frameworks. Truven Health Analytics was contracted by DHS to study these components and provide a report with recommendations to DHS.  As part of that study, they have created a survey to be completed by providers. Selected stakeholders provided feedback to Truven on a draft of the survey. ARRM submitted feedback on behalf of ARRM members. Chris DeVos of REM of MN and Mike Mills of Duluth Regional Care Center (DRCC) along with Luana Slayton and Barb Turner from ARRM submitted input on possible improvements to the survey.

On Tuesday, DHS sent out a message in the MNITS MHCP Provider News.  The message contains a link for providers to submit an email address in order to receive the survey. Providing this information "registers" your agency to receive the survey.  If you do not register your agency will not receive a survey.  Truvan is requesting one survey per organization. 

This survey provides an opportunity for providers to impact the non-wage components of the DWRS frameworks.  The Non-Wage Cost Study survey to all providers will be sent next week, Tuesday January 19^th. In addition, Truven is hosting a webinar next Wednesday January 20^th about the project and on completing the survey. ARRM strongly urges all members to complete the survey as the results may be significant in potential changes to the framework.

We are providing below information from DHS about registering to receive the survey, and about the webinar.

We thank our providers in advance for taking the time to complete this very important survey.

Please email Barb Turner, bturuner@arrm.org, or Luana Slayton, lslayton@arrm.org with any questions about the information provided here.  Members should contact Truven through the link included below for questions on the survey itself.

See message below for information from DHS.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Study of non-wage costs incurred by HCBS providers

DHS has commissioned Truven Health Analytics (Truven Health), an independent consultant, to perform a study of the non-wage costs incurred by Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) providers in administering Medicaid services. This study includes evaluation of existing non-wage costs in order to confirm the value of these costs within current payment frameworks.

The results of this study may have significant impacts for the rates and methods by which we reimburse non-wage costs. A significant component of this study will be a Truven-administered survey beginning January 19, 2016. Your participation in the survey is critical to develop a full understanding of the costs.

Follow this two-step process to access and complete the survey:

1. Click on the survey link [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/26CSQ5R] and enter your email address. Use one email address per provider organization. You will receive an email on Jan. 19, 2016, from Survey Monkey with a unique link specific to your organization for completing the survey.
2. Open the survey from the email you receive. You will be able to save your progress as you go and can share it with other in your organization so they can also contribute. You will have until Feb. 19, 2016, to complete the survey.

To help acquaint users with the goal of the non-wage cost study and for a technical overview of how to complete the survey, Truven Health will host a webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016.  

MN HCBS Provider Survey informational webinar:

Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 10–11 a.m. CST

Join WebEx meeting

For more information on DWRS and research, go to the DWRS Website. For questions on the Non-Wage Cost Study, email MN.Provider.Survey@truvenhealth.com. This will be monitored by Truven Health, response time will vary based on the complexity of the questions asked.

 

--Luana Slayton, Chief Fiscal Analyst

Remembering Arliss Anderson

Please join us in remembering Arliss Anderson, CEO of My Brothers’ Keeper, one of our ARRM members. Arliss passed away on January 1, 2016 after battling cancer for a number of years and her funeral was held on Thursday, January 7th.

As founder and Executive Director, My Brothers’ Keeper grew to become an important provider of housing and services for people with disabilities and mental health needs in the Shakopee and Minneapolis areas. She was devoted to her company, which was like her second family.

In addition to founding and leading My Brothers’ Keeper, Arliss served on the ARRM Board of Directors from 2008 - 2011. Even while she was sick, Arliss always seemed to have an upbeat attitude.

Our condolences go out to Arliss' family, colleagues and friends at My Brothers’ Keeper, and those she worked with throughout the disability industry.

View Obituary

--Nancy Peterson, Director of Member Services & Education

Change in Minnesota Health Care Programs fees for 2016

As we had informed members previously, beginning in October 2015 there is a fee charged for enrollment and renewal in Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).  This is a fee that is charged per site/service.  The new rate effective January 1, 2016 is $554.00.  This is a fee mandated by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is good for a five year period.  DHS MHCP will send notice when it is time for your renewal.

Feel free to contact Luana Slayton, ARRM Chief Fiscal Analyst, with questions at lslayton@arm.org.

--Barb Turner, COO