ARRM's Daily Dispatch

Important Updates for New IHS Service Enrollment

By Barb Turner

An exciting new service, Individualized Home Supports, was approved for implementation effective July 1, 2018. Unfortunately all of the on-line information has not been completed at this time. This includes the hyperlink to the Provider Manual as well as the assurance form that must be completed as part of the enrollment process.

Steps to Enroll in IHS Currently

If you are interested in providing this service you must submit form DHS-6638 which is available on-line. Unfortunately, the applicant assurance statement, which also must be submitted, is not currently in EDoc, therefore there is no hyperlink on the form to get you the assurance statement. It is unclear when this work will be completed as it has been submitted to the DHS MNITs team, but has not reached the priority for completion yet.

ARRM gathered the following information to pass along to our members who are interested in enrolling for this new service:

• You must contact the provider enrollment help desk at 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411
• The help desk staff will FAX the form to you
• If you do not have a FAX a form can be mailed to you
• If you submit DHS-6638 without the assurance form you will be contacted by provider enrollment and they will work with you to expedite the process and get the form to you and process it

Feel free to contact me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

ARRM Testifies At Special Senate Committee Hearing

Last week, Senior Director of External Affairs Barb Turner attended a special hearing of the Minnesota Senate Human Services Finance and Policy Reform Committee, chaired by Sen. Jim Abeler (GOP-Anoka). The Committee was reviewing the status and recent reports for several programs supporting people with disabilities, particularly around the topic of financial oversight. Barb was one of only three testifiers, the other two being the Legislative Auditor's office and DHS.

During her testimony, Barb reinforced HCBS providers' concern and attention to the issue of fraud and commitment to assure public funds are being used legally, appropriately and efficiently. She reminded the Committee that ARRM worked cooperatively with DHS on language for required data reporting for HCBS and reviewed all the existing documentation already required under the HCBS waiver and ICF rules.

She also clarified the difference between PCA state plan services and HCBS services, and challenged the recommendation for from the Legislative Auditor to implement practices similar to those in place for PCA, citing both the significant difficulties for PCA reporting and how the differences in HCBS would only exacerbate those issues. Barb urged Committee members to target bad actors as opposed to placing additional industry-wide administrative burdens on providers, the vast majority of whom are doing things the right way while dealing with historic workforce shortages. Finally, she urged the Committee to not overburden providers and use what is already in place and working as they implement requirements for the Cures Act ( Electronic Visit Verification).

On MnCHOICES, Barb requested DHS to look at a formal way for providers to give input as part of the assessment process. This was received well by both committee members and DHS.