ARRM's Daily Dispatch

Minnesota's Budget Surplus Creates Cautious Optimism

Minnesota lawmakers will have a projected $900 million dollars to work with during the 2016 Legislative Session, but early indications are that economic growth is slowing. The budget announcement was made at the Department of Revenue Building on Friday, February 26.   Reaction by legislative leaders immediately following the announcement was one of a guarded sense of optimism that there is growth in the economy, but concern that wages are stagnant and Minnesota workers continue to struggle financially.

 ARRM will work diligently with our coalition to negotiate with legislators, the governor and health officials to secure funds to help fill some of the 8,700 vacant care provider and staff shortages.  We believe that advocating for a five percent rate increase for home and community based providers, we will be able to help accomplish what legislative leaders outlined on Friday by putting more money in the hands of working Minnesotans.

We will continue to update you on progress of this, and other, legislative initiatives throughout session.

Thanks!

--Julie Bartkey, Communications Director

 

ARRM office update- We are moving!

There was increased excitement at the ARRM office this week as the renovation for our new office space started on Monday.  We are not moving far, just one floor down, but our space will be expanding to include our own large conference room.  There have been limitations to the things we have been able to do to make remote meeting attendance more pleasant for our members as the conference room has been shared with other tenants in the building.  With our move we will now have our own space for large meetings, and the ability to upgrade the technology to make meeting experiences more positive, especially for people who call in for meetings.  This has been one of the top issues noted in the past two ARRM member satisfaction surveys and we are very excited to be able to take action on this.

While exact dates for completion and the actual move are not solid, we anticipate being in our new space sometime in April.

Watch for further updates and an open house later this Spring.

--Barb Turner, COO

 

Strong Response Rate for Truven Non-wage Component Survey

The HCBS Non-wage Component Survey was created by Truven Health Analytics to review the funding rates within the DWRS frameworks for the non-wage related component values.  This survey was administered to all 245D license holders, by tax identification number, starting in January of this year, with the final deadline being this past Friday, February 19th. 

DHS has indicated they are very pleased with the response rate, with over 400 surveys being completed.  They believe this will give them strong data for a comprehensive review of the non-wage component values within the frameworks.  The report from the survey results is to be completed in May of this year.

ARRM wishes to thank its members for their diligence and time spent on this survey, and being a part of this strong response rate.  This study will provide valuable insight to a very important aspect of DWRS. 

Thank you.

-- Luana Slayton, Chief Fiscal Analyst

 

Minnesota DHS releases the first in a series of Bulletins on Person Centered Principles and Practices

DHS released a Bulletin for Lead Agencies and other interested parties dated February 11, 2016.  The topic of the Bulletin is lead agency requirements for person centered principles and practices for people receiving publicly funded services in Minnesota.

This first Bulletin provides information on the various sources of person centered requirements, which includes:

• Minnesota's Olmstead Plan
• Jensen Settlement Agreement
• CMS HCBS Final Rule
• 245D Licensing Standards
• Positive Support Rule

There is also information on additional training and information as well as resources.  You can access the Bulletin here: 

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/publications/documents/pub/dhs-285572.pdf

 

--Barb Turner, COO

Reminder: Truven HCBS Non-wage Survey Deadline is Friday, February 19

The deadline to submit the Truven Health Analytics HCBS Non-Wage Component Survey is this Friday, the 19th.

THIS SURVEY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUED REVIEW OF THE NON-WAGE COMPONENTS WITHIN THE DWRS FRAMEWORKS.  A high response rate is crucial to representing your needs to DHS.

We are including below information on how to request a survey if you have not yet requested one.  You simply provide your email address and a link will be sent to you.  For those who have requested a survey and have not received it, or if you have any other questions as the deadline approaches, please also see the information below.

We are here to help - please contact Luana Slayton at lslayton@arrm.org with any questions or needed assistance.

-- Luana Slayton, Chief Fiscal Analyst

 

 From DHS and Truven:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IF YOU HAVE NOT REQUESTED A SURVEY

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.

IF YOU HAVE REQUESTED A SURVEY AND NOT RECEIVED IT, OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS

Thank you for submitting your e-mail for participation in the MN HCBS Provider Survey, to study providers’ non-wage cost values in the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) rate-setting methodology. We would like to remind you that survey responses are due this Friday, February 19^th.

If you have submitted your e-mail to Survey Monkey, but have not received your unique link, please check your junk and clutter mailboxes for a message from survey-noreply@smo.surveymonkey.com. If you are unable to find the link, please respond to this e-mail (MN.Provider.Survey@truvenhealth.com) and a link will be manually created.

Additionally, please note, only 1 submission is needed per organization.

Any questions can be submitted to MN.Provider.Survey@truvenhealth.com. With it being the final week of the survey, we expect higher than usual volume, so please submit your questions as early as possible.

Thank you again for your participation and interest. We have started to receive complete submissions, and with your help will be able to make the strongest and most equitable recommendations possible. Combining data from publicly available primary data sources and your experience is crucial to help us measure provider costs throughout the state so that our recommendations can be based on real, reliable data, and best represent true costs of service.

Thank you,

The Truven Team

 

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.

Update/clarification on the National Core Indicators survey

ARRM has received a number of questions regarding the due date of the NCI survey and the fact that two of three educational webinars are offered after the survey due date.

Then National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey is a national survey.  Last year eight states participated, and this year Minnesota decided to participate also.  The national deadline for completion of the survey is actually June 30, 2016.  That explains why there are webinars offered in March and April.  Minnesota wanted to be able to use data from the survey during the 2016 Legislative Session.  Because of that, Minnesota has asked that surveys be returned by March 1, 2016.

If you are unable to complete the survey by March 1, 2016, but would like to participate in the overall national survey results, you can submit your survey anytime prior to June 30, 2016.  ARRM would like to encourage as many members as possible to complete the survey by March 1, 2016 in order to have useful data for this year's legislative session.

NOTE:  There has been confirmation that this survey is intended to be completed only for DSPs that work with individuals with ID/DD.  If you have staff that work with both individuals with ID/DD and other disabilities they should be included.  If staff never work with individuals with ID/DD they should not be included.

Contact Luana Slayton with questions.  lslayton@arm.org

--Barb Turner, COO

 

 

 

 

 

DHS offering opportunity for Person-Centered Organizational Implementation Cohort

Last year Minnesota DHS offered an opportunity for 4 agencies to participate in an opportunity for technical assistance and training on Organizational Implementation of Person-Centered and Positive Support Practices.  RSI, Mains'l, TSE and Hennepin County were selected to participate in the first round.  DHS is now offering the opportunity for 8 additional agencies to participate.

Leaders at Mains'l and RSI speak very positively about their experience and are willing to answer questions.  You can reach them at:

Jon Nelson - jon.nelson@residentialservices.org  (218)740-7606

Terri Williams - tcwilliams@mainsl.com  (612)269-4694

Barb Hoheisel - bshoheisel@mainsl.com  (763)416-9180

Included here is the application that must be completed and submitted by February 29, 2016. 

There is a conference call informational meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2016 from 1:00 - 2:30  866-865-2157 pin code 6537807337#

Questions about the application or the technical assistance that can be provided may also be directed to:

Rachel Freeman, Institute on Community Integration, freem039@umn.edu or 541-979-3409

The completed application should be emailed to Rachel, or mailed to

Rachel Freeman, Ph.D.

Institute on Community Integration

University of MN

Pattee Hall Room 110A, 150 Pillsbury Dr. SE

Minneapolis, MN 55455

 

--Barb Turner, COO

 

 

ARRM announces new Communications Director

ARRM is pleased to announce that Julie Bartkey has been hired as the new Communications Director.  Julie brings to the position experience in Public Relations and as a news director and anchor.  We are most excited about the experience she brings from working at the State Capitol in the Minnesota Senate Media as TV producer and moderator.  Julie's experience at the Capitol will be a great asset in ARRM's work at the Legislature.

Julie will begin working at ARRM on February 17, 2016. 

--Barb Turner, COO

National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey sent out by DHS

In an attempt to examine the stability of the statewide DSP workforce, Minnesota DHS is participating in the National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey this year.

The survey will ask questions about the type of services your organization provides, length of DSP employment, number of DSPs employed, vacant positions, wages, benefits and recruitment and retention strategies. A unique link to the survey tool has been sent out to provider agencies.  The survey must be completed by March 1, 2016. 

ARRM is supporting this NCI survey as a way to gather data.  It is very similar to data gathered by ARRM in past surveys and we are anticipating that the data from the NCI survey will further assist us in our work in the future.

Results of the survey will be reported in aggregate and your organization will not be identified in the survey reports or dataset.

If you did not receive a link to the survey or you have any questions, contact Sarah Thorson Sarah.J.Thorson@state.mn.us

Below are some helpful links and information regarding the survey:

VIDEO GUIDE:

NCI Staff have also prepared a video guide to the survey. Please find the video here:

https://youtu.be/vIxgtEhgJxQ

 

Webinars:

NCI staff have organized three webinars for providers.  These webinars will each be one hour and will discuss the survey and demonstrate how the data should be entered into the online system.  There will also be ample time for questions.

February 10, 2016	3:00 PM-4:00PM Eastern Time To join the meeting: https://hsri.adobeconnect.com/s3/ For audio: Conference Number(s): 866-503-4560 Participant Code: 5829737639
March 10, 2016	3:00 PM-4:00PM Eastern Time To join the meeting: https://hsri.adobeconnect.com/s32/ For audio: Conference Number(s): 866-503-4560 Participant Code: 5829737639
April 14, 2016	3:00 PM-4:00PM Eastern Time To join the meeting: https://hsri.adobeconnect.com/s33/ For audio: Conference Number(s): 866-503-4560 Participant Code: 5829737639

 

--Barb Turner, COO

 

DHS Releases Report on Transitioning MSOCS Residential Services

On Tuesday, DHS released a report from the Community Based Services Steering Committee, "Transitioning MSOCS Residential to a Safety Net Service".  Along with the report was a cover letter from Commissioner Johnson Piper. 

The Steering Committee was appointed by former Commissioner Jensen in 2015.  DHS welcomes questions, contact information is in the Commissioner's letter:

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/county_access/documents/pub/dhs-285427.pdf

The report can be found here::

https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-7200-ENG

 

---Barb Turner, COO