The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is providing information on the pending new annual submittal requirement of audited financial statements by qualified residential providers and supports coordination organizations. Please view the announcement for details.
Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) and Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP) providers are invited to sign up for a scheduled one-on-one virtual office hour to discuss incident management topics with ODP-BSASP. Providers may sign up for one 30-minute session, and multiple staff from the provider may join at the provider’s discretion. Topics for discussion may include: provider-specific IM issues or concerns; EIM reports; general questions about certified investigations; brainstorming ideas of how to improve “performance” related IM tasks; review of provider IM data and compliance; and discussion of provider trends.
We encourage AAW providers and ACAP to take advantage of this opportunity. Sessions are offered in 30-minutes intervals and are on a first-come, first-served basis. The first session is scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, September 13. To register, visit here. Be sure to complete all required information to reserve a time slot.
Please contact the Provider Support Inbox with questions.
In 2020, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) clinical team implemented a triage process to prioritize clinical support for participants and teams with high-risk needs. Currently, those participants deemed high-risk are assigned one clinical rep to consult with teams and ensure continuity of support. All other participant teams reach out to the clinical team as needed, but the clinical rep varies depending on the need at that time. The triage process remains fluid, and as participant’s needs change, risks increase, or new concerns arise, so will the level of clinical support. The triage levels are determined by multiple factors, including the information identified within the Periodic Risk Evaluation (PRE) and incident history. This triage process only applies to the ODP-BSASP Clinical Team and does not change any involvement, operational processes, or responsibilities of the Regional Office and the Regional Office Representatives.
New AAW Clinical Referral Process
In an effort to maximize the clinical team resources and triage team needs efficiently, the clinical team is implementing a new referral process for participant teams in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) in need of clinical support effective May 15, 2023. This new process will require Supports Coordinators (SCs) to complete an online form to share information about the type of support requested. View the full announcement here. The referral form is titled Referral for ODP/BSASP Consult for AAW Participants.
If you have any questions about this communication or process, please contact the Provider Support inbox.
The upcoming AAW quarterly meetings will be held for all Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) providers and Support Coordinators (SC) providing AAW services. Pam Treadway and Heather Easley will facilitate these meetings with the intent to provide updates on incident and risk management related activities, share AAW data, inform providers of any upcoming changes, review ODP expectations, etc. Providers will be able to network with one another and ask questions directly to BSASP.
The upcoming meeting will have a focus on restrictive interventions. Our BSASP clinical colleague, Jordan Hollander, will join for this focused topic presentation/discussion.
Friday, April 14
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Register Here
Multiple staff from a provider may attend but should register separately. Be sure to complete all required information to confirm attendance. A link to the meeting will be send prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Future Meeting Dates:
Registration announcements for future dates will be sent out prior to the meeting date.
Please contact the Provider Support inbox with questions.
ODP Announcement 23-027 announces that the Residential Habilitation (Life Sharing) Ineligible Rate will be removed from the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) effective July 1, 2023. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is continuing to align the AAW with the other ODP waivers. This alignment includes the removal of procedure code W7234. This procedure code will be removed from HCSIS, and providers will be unable to bill this procedure code within PROMISe for dates of service on and after July 1, 2023.
For questions, please contact the appropriate ODP Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) Regional Office.
ODP Announcement 23-026 announces the release of a new Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Provider Resource Guide. The guide is available online.
Providers are responsible for compliance with all applicable regulations and requirements of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) services, as well as local, state, and federal regulations and laws applicable to the services provided.
The guide is designed as an online-only document with links to pertinent regulations, bulletins, communications, forms, websites, and other materials necessary to support AAW providers in the quality provision of services. The online format will allow ODP to update the guide in a timely manner as needed.
Please contact your ODP Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) regional office with any questions.
ODP Announcement 23-023 provides a high-level summary of how the notice that the Federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023 will impact services rendered through the Consolidated, Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS), Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers (AAW).
Two documents that provide a brief description of flexibilities available during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including the date that the flexibilities end, are included as Attachment A (related to the Consolidated, P/FDS, and Community Living Waivers) and Attachment B (related to the AAW). Additional guidance regarding how to return to regular operations (requirements in the current waivers and policies) once each flexibility ends will be published in the future. Questions about this communication should be directed to the appropriate ODP Regional Office.
ODP Announcement 23-012 shares an updated AAW Provider Information Table to reflect changes made with the January 1, 2023, waiver amendment. This information includes waiver language, guidance, and provider qualifications. The requirements in the AAW will become effective when Appendix K flexibilities expire, six months after the expiration of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
The updated Provider Information Table includes these highlights:
Providers are reminded that they are responsible for being aware of any changes to definitions of services they provide and ensuring that individuals who furnish direct services are fully qualified prior to providing services to AAW participants. Questions or comments about this communication should be addressed to Tom Flynn.
The Office of Development Programs held a webinar to provide an overview of the Adult Autism Waiver Amendment that went into effect January 1, 2023. The session was recorded and will be available for viewing in the near future. Many of the changes will go into effect six months after the Public Health Emergency and Appendix K flexibilities end. The slides from the session provide clarification regarding Remote Supports, Teleservices and Assistive Technology.
ODP Announcement 23-008 announces that the amendment to the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW), effective January 1, 2023, was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 13, 2023. The amendment to the AAW includes the following substantive changes:
The waiver application approved by CMS and the record of change document are available here.
ODP will be holding a webinar to discuss major changes made in the approved AAW amendment. Webinars specific to Remote Supports will be scheduled and communicated in the coming weeks. The date, time, and registration link for the general AAW amendment webinar are as follows:
