Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration

Creating a flexible, person-centered, family-oriented system of supports so people can have full lives. 

As part of the DDA’s commitment to doing business efficiently, effectively, and professionally, the DDA’s transformation involves the reshaping of waiver programs, policies, processes and Information Technology (IT) systems to better serve Marylanders with developmental disabilities and support person centered practices. Over the last several years, the DDA has been working with an external system vendor to develop a DDA-specific system in the statewide LTSS IT platform.

LTSS is currently being used by other Maryland Department of Health (MDH) programs including Community First Choice, Community Options Waiver, Community Personal Assistance Services, the Brain Injury Waiver, and the Medical Day Care Waiver. For the DDA, the system will provide functionality to support DDA eligibility, waiting list tracking, waiver enrollment, case management, person-centered planning, and service authorization. LTSS will also facilitate information sharing across MDH programs to better coordinate care to individuals.

What does LTSS mean for me?

Individuals and Families

LTSS will help to enable DDA’s transition to person-centered planning helping individuals achieve their definition of a meaningful life. LTSS will facilitate increased transparency in the planning process through plans of service, measurable outcomes and support for the authorization of new services under the waivers. 

Coordinators of Community Services (CCS)

LTSS will streamline current processes and support better coordination with the DDA. 

Providers

LTSS will increase visibility into service authorization and offer streamlined and timely billing entry, claim resolution and payment.

 

LTSS functionality for the DDA will be released incrementally as it is developed. The first major release of DDA functionality is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2018, and includes significant functionality for DDA eligibility, waiting list tracking, waiver enrollment, case management, and person-centered planning. Future releases are expected through the end of calendar year 2019.

In future newsletter updates, please be on the lookout for key functionality spotlights that illustrate how LTSS will support person-centered planning and streamline existing processes. 

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Presentation

The DDA’s Deputy Secretary Bernard Simons and Director of Family Supports Mary Anne Kane Breschi presented at the MSDE, Division of Special Education, for the Early Intervention Services Family Support State Professional Development Conference on Maryland’s Community of Practice (CoP) and Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Framework May 8, 2018. 

Deputy Secretary Simons provided the history, overview, and significance of the National CoP for Supporting Families across the lifespan. He described how the principles of CtLC Framework inform the work of the DDA and are embedded throughout its programs. 

Mary Anne outlined the structure of the MD CoP, its partners, goals and accomplishments, such as the development of a CoP Resource Folder, the inception of its website ( supportingfamiliesmd.com ) and the launch of seven communities of practices in Baltimore, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Montgomery and Washington Counties and the Lower Eastern Shore Region. 

The MSDE Family Support Services Specialists attending the conference were invited to join their local CoP and to assist the MD CoP Statewide Leadership Team to establish new CoPs in counties where there are none. She introduced the principles and tools of the CtLC framework and its capacity to empower systems with policies, regulations, programs and practices to better serve and support people with developmental disabilities and their families. 

The conference culminated with Jamie Stoner and Kelly Meissner sharing how their organizations are successfully implementing CtLC to better support families and their family members with developmental disabilities across the lifespan.

For more information, you can view the presentation HERE .

The DDA briefed the proposed new General & Administrative Cost Components to the MACS May 10, 2018. Above is an example of what is proposed for Community Living for Group Homes. More information is available in the full presentation, HERE.

Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS) Presentation

The DDA leadership presented information to the MACS at the May 10, 2018 General Membership meeting.

The presentation provided updates on the rate setting geographic differentials General and Administrative cost components details about the LTSS, the provider application process, the status of the Community Pathways Waiver renewal, the transition for Behavior Principles & Strategies (BPS) to Mandt.

There was an introduction to how the DDA will use the Department’s current electronic visit verification (EVV) which is part of LTSS, in accordance with the mandate included in the 21st Century Cures Act. Additionally, the DDA responded in writing to questions that were submitted by MACS members. 

For more information, please view the presentation HERE .

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