AASD eList announcement
Date: April 17, 2020
To: Lead agency staff who work with people on the Elderly Waiver (EW) who receive customized living
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services Division
Purpose: To provide guidance on EW customized living rate setting protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic
Effective: Immediately
Contact: dhs.aasd.hcbs@state.mn.us
COVID-19 guidance for EW customized living
Lead agencies and providers are partnering in their efforts to prevent and contain COVID-19 in their community. This partnership is critical to continue to meet the needs of people living in the community in customized living provider settings.
For general information about customized living, see CBSM – Customized living (including 24-hour customized living).
Considerations
Customized living providers are engaged in significant efforts to prevent and contain COVID-19 outbreaks within settings and to continue to meet the needs of residents.
Lead agencies must respond to requests from providers and/or people on EW to perform assessments and reassessments and/or adjust customized living service delivery plans and resulting rates, as needed. This is especially important if a person on EW is symptomatic and/or has tested positive for COVID-19. In this instance, lead agencies should give this work the highest possible priority and follow the guidelines outlined in this eList announcement.
How to amend a current residential services tool and customized living service plan
Case managers/care coordinators can amend a person’s current residential services tool and customized living service plan, without recording changes in MMIS, when both of the following are true:
This is a current option for case managers/care coordinators, and the process is not affected by COVID-19. Submit the revised workbook by following the process outlined on DHS – EW residential services.
How to record changes in MMIS for case mix or 24-hour customized living
Case managers/care coordinators should use activity type 10 (service change) in MMIS to record a person’s changes in need when the changes will affect the case mix classification or establish eligibility for 24-customized living. Using this activity type does not extend the EW eligibility span beyond the current service year.
Case managers/care coordinators may choose to complete a reassessment instead of an activity type 10 if the person’s current waiver span is ending relatively soon.
This is a current option for case managers/care coordinators, and the process is not affected by COVID-19. Submit the revised workbook by following the process outlined on DHS – EW residential services.
Remote work protocols
Case managers/care coordinators can complete this work remotely. See the following guidance issued by DHS:
In addition to communicating remotely with people on EW, DHS encourages lead agencies to request updated assessments from providers to inform updates to the person’s EW service plans. Lead agencies should coordinate prioritization with local county emergency preparedness leads or contact DHS for more information about site prioritization.
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