HomeMy WebLinkAboutEI Provider Meeting Minutes 10-17-14Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Friday, October 17, 2014
Staff Present: Trish Elliott, Ashley McCartney, Ed Franchi, Steve Nevada, Jen Johnson
Providers: Shelley Tobin & Theresa Miller (Invo HealthCare), Jenn Hawbecker (UCP),
Matt Yingling & Linda Hess (SAM, Inc.), Adam Rowland (Advanta), Krista Miracle
(Pediatric Therapy Specialists)
Conference Call: Megan Lesko (Building Blocks), Megan Scholl (Keystone Service
Systems)
MEETING MINUTES
Welcome & Introductions
Fiscal Updates
Ashley shared information on how to complete the monthly projection sheets,
including anticipated billing and actual billing for each month. There was discussion
regarding the projections having to equal the estimated monthly billing provided.
The estimated monthly billing is for the provider’s reference and the projected billing
should reflect the provider’s best estimates. Providers are to estimate based on past
billed trends and historical data, kids aging out, etc. It was also noted that payer
sources may vary for families at any given time.
Verification Changes
Verification has changed. We will not have one again until 2016 but each County
will be responsible to be doing self-verification every year using the new verification
tool. Trish will still be coming to the providers. Trish has read the new information
and has discussed with other Counties.
Leadership Training will be held in State College October 21-22. Some of that
training will focus on verification changes.
York-Adams was a pilot County for the new verification tool. York-Adams invited
other providers to the closing meeting where the State gives an informational
briefing. Some changes in the verification included more parent interviews, more
home visits, and more SC and Supervisor interviews. The purpose of these changes is
to monitor the quality of the process when a family initiates a call for services to
when the services actually begin if a child is found eligible. Deadlines are being
monitored as well, but the quality of the services is the main focus.
Contract Process
The County continues to look for ways to stream line the contract process. The
contract process will be electronic. One benefit of the electronic process is that there
will be less turnaround time with the contracts.
Access
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Friday, October 17, 2014
The County is looking in to how to improve access to Early Intervention Services in
Fulton County. The County is open to feedback on how access can be improved.
One suggestion is that a percentage of the contract with the County must be for
Fulton individuals. The initial contract percentage the County is considering is 10%
of the overall caseload per provider. Data to support this decision is still being
analyzed. The challenge is getting therapists and staff to drive to and from Fulton
County and getting the appointments set up on the same day so that therapists can
spend their time in the Fulton County seeing multiple infants/toddlers instead of
driving back and forth several days a week. Hopefully, we will have another provider
located in Fulton County to provide services in March. We do know there are
potential concerns and we don’t want to lose providers because of accessing Fulton
and having 10% of their individuals being served be from Fulton.
There was discussion on mileage and time reimbursement for employers who are
paying staff to travel to Fulton County. If providers are agreeing to serve 10% of their
contract it needs to be beneficial to the provider too. Trish provided an example for
Fulton County & Speech Therapy. It is the EI program’s responsibility to have the
IFSP fulfilled.
Additional Services
Looking forward, Holly and Trish have talked about adding additional services in
Franklin and Fulton. There is collaboration to get those services in our budget. We
are still waiting on approval of the project request. Additional services could include
a nutritionist, social worker, and some testing for Autism for infants and toddlers.
Currently, Keystone does not have a Clinical Psychologist who needs to be on the
team to do the autism testing/screening. There needs to be someone who is certified
to do the ADOS. The test requires a high level of funding. Provisions will be made to
test a few infants/ toddlers, if the SCs feel that it could potentially be of benefit.
Projects that are approved would not begin until January 1st 2015, so they would
only be available for 6 months in this FY.
Updates or Concerns
Ages and Stages are still being completed and there is hope that it will continue.
Early Childhood Partnership is pushing for Mental Health services for infants and
toddlers. Currently, we are at the starting level. Therapists and school districts are
saying that the kids have behavior issues. There are 3 to 5 year olds who have IEP’s
around behavior issues. Infants and toddlers need supports now to impact their
future.
UCP sent an email out about their home based coaching grant. There were also
handouts provided at the meeting. They have three new participants who will be
joining; coaches from last year’s trainings will be considered external coaches and
will be assigned to the new participants. Participants are learning the coaching
model. UCP has been offered more funding because there are not as many counties
participating so there is more funding to support our County. Training hours are
provided for attending the meetings. Anybody can come to the meetings. Service
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Friday, October 17, 2014
coordinators, interpreters, other therapists attend. It provides a learning opportunity
for everybody.
A request was made that SC’s provide more information when they are sending
referrals. More clarification upfront would be helpful, as therapists are experiencing
full schedules on certain days. Additionally, it would be beneficial to know where
the treatment is going to be provided, whether it is in the home, community or early
learning center; the address should indicate where the treatment is going to be
provided. It would also be beneficial to know if it is a behavioral issue, sensory issue,
etc. When the provider knows that information upfront then the provider can get the
referral moving quickly. SCs are great responding to questions but it would be
easier/more time effective if the providers get that information upfront with the
referral.
2015 Provider Meeting Dates
All provider meetings are on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. in the Human Services Building
located at 425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg.
January 16th April 17th July 17th October 16th
The meeting was adjourned.
Minutes by Jen Johnson