CCSI News and Updates
Anne L. Wilder
President
Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Here’s the topline for this month’s news:
  • Jason Helgerson’s “Top 10” Tips for Successful Transition to VBR - Link to VBP Conference materials is now available below.
  • Report from the Open Minds Performance Institute
  • Gaps in Care Closure Training for Care Management Agencies
  • Welcome CiTi Boces!
  • Positive School Climate Report Shows Progress at School 17
  • Huntsville, Alabama Law Enforcement Participates in CIT Training Program
  • Financial Services Update with Jim Monfort
  • CCSI Facilitated Poverty Simulation Gives Democrat & Chronicle Editor a Priceless Lesson
Jason Helgeron's "Top 10" Tips for a Successful Transition to Value-Based Reimbursement
Several CCSI staff members had the chance to participate in last week’s inaugural VBP Forward Conference in Buffalo. The event offered a terrific opportunity for behavioral health providers and community-based organizations to learn and talk with colleagues about important topics like “Maximizing Impact through Data Analytics” and “Establishing Credible Value Propositions.” Jason Helgerson, former NYS Medicaid Director now with Helgerson Solutions Group really set the tone for the event with his opening keynote, which featured his “Top 10” tips to participants for a successful transition to value-based reimbursement:

#10.     Low Tech before High Tech – Collaboration can accomplish more than technology alone.

#9.       Engage Your Front Line – Look for opportunities to reduce burdens and remove “low value” activities.

#8.       Conduct a Readiness Audit – Seek outside help if needed and take an honest look to identify gaps.

#7.       If Small, Aggregate – Size matters, so look for opportunities to collaborate and partner.

#6.       Don’t Limit Yourself to Medicaid – Engage all payors as everyone is working to achieve the same goals.

#5.       Go All In!  – This will continue to move forward.

#4.       Consider Multi-Year Contracts – This may allow for increased risk / reward as you prove yourself.

#3.       Develop a Growth Strategy – Look for opportunities to serve more people (which can be through partnerships or acquisition).  Patient choice and the user experience you create really matter, so offer something better.

#2.       Healthier People, Healthier Communities – That’s the real goal. Make sure to stay connected to the “why” your organization exists.

#1.       Make Practicing Empathy Your Prime Directive – When we do this successfully, we can change the trajectories for individuals and families.

Materials from the event were just posted! Click here to view.
Report from the Open Minds Performance Institute
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Open Minds Performance Institute in Clearwater Florida. This year’s focus was on Value Based Reimbursement (VBR) and the structural and cultural changes organizations must make to thrive in this new environment. I was surprised to find that 58% of provider organizations responding to the Open Minds Executive Survey reported that they already receive some revenue from value-based reimbursement agreements. Of that group, 9.3% have 20% or more of their revenue coming from VBR arrangements. We sometimes see VBR as an issue unique to New York, but it’s clear from the results of this survey – and from the speakers at the Institute, that this is national trend that is speeding forward.

In reflecting on the messages from the key note speakers and the content of the breakout sessions, I identified some common themes that are important for each of us to consider.

Partnerships: Many VBR contacts will require organizations to work more closely with physical health providers, community-based organizations (CBOs) and other clinical services providers. Meaningful partnerships with organizations that share your vision and commitment to providing quality care will be critical.

David Wawrzynek, MS, MBA 
Senior Consultant 
Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Gaps in Care Closure Training for Care Management Agencies Has Been Well-Received


In last month’s CCSI News and Updates , we featured an article Closing Gaps to Improve Health and Wellness , where we had a Q&A with Christine Mangione, Director, Clinical Operations for Health Homes of Upstate New York (HHUNY), and learned more about how HHUNY is giving care managers the support they need to facilitate closing ‘gaps in care’ for individuals with chronic physical and behavioral health conditions. Part of that support includes training for care management agencies in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and Gaps in Care (GIC)/Chronic Conditions. Engagement with members is critical to improving member follow-through, and trainings like Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care are evidenced-based and person-centered to support both member engagement and change.

Training is underway, and has been well-received. Check out the great feedback from a Care Manager Supervisor who recently attended HHUNY’s Gaps in Care Closure training by Cheryl Martin,  Integrated Health Trainer and Clinical Consultant, CCSI.

“I just wanted to let you know that I attended this training with Cheryl on 2/13/19 and I thought it was excellent! It was very impactful, and I took more from this training than I have taken from one in years! I have been a social worker for 20 years now, and this was definitely one of the best trainings I have ever attended. You are very lucky to have Cheryl on your team! Thank you for the opportunity!”

Michelle Tartaglia
Care Manager Supervisor
Hillside Adult Health Homes
Welcome CiTi Boces
As an administrator in a Monroe County school district, Sean Bruno came to value the expertise and resources shared by TIG Trained Staff. When he accepted a new role as Superintendent of Mexico School District, and his community experienced loss shortly after, he made a commitment to bring The Consortium on Trauma, Illness, and Grief in Schools (TIG) to his region.

CCSI is pleased to partner with CiTi BOCES , Mexico School District and its other eight component districts to bring a pilot TIG training series to the region.  Senior Consultant, Amy Scheel-Jones delivered Day 1 of the five-day training series on February 5 th and found the content well-received. 
Amy Scheel-Jones, Senior Consultant, CCSI, and Sean Bruno, Superintendent of Mexico School District
Amy comments, “TIG offers a unique experience to school districts in allowing any school staff to deepen their knowledge on the impact of trauma, illness, grief, and suicide on education and learning, as well as learn evidence-based skills for crisis response.” In times of biggest crisis, this shared training provides a common approach for TIG Teams from partner school districts to support one another in a seamless, sustainable back-up support network. As a former School Counselor and TIG Responder, Amy recognizes this value from all angles. “It is always a privilege to work with new districts and regions to support their efforts to do the best for students, colleagues, and staff in daily work, and in times of significant incidents. I thank Mr. Bruno for sharing his expertise with his neighboring districts, CiTi BOCES for engaging as a collaborative partner, and look forward to continued work together.”

For more information on TIG as well as how to bring TIG to your region, please contact Amy Scheel-Jones [email protected] | 585-749-0336 | 920-246-0061
Positive School Climate Report Shows Progress has Been Made at School 17
Citizen Action of New York, Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), The Children’s Agenda, and Teen Empowerment held a press conference at Enrico Fermi School 17 this month where they released a new report on the state of school climate at Rochester City School District (RCSD). The report covered what progress has been made and what work remains to be done. They found that disciplinary reforms in RCSD are making a difference as suspensions have dropped dramatically over the past five years because of support services like those offered at School 17. 
School 17 is a Community School, where they partner with community organizations to implement the restorative practices embedded within in the school. For example, younger children are given access to a reflection room where they can share their emotions in healthy ways. Older students can access support in a help zone and mediation room. The culture in the school gives students the opportunity to figure out what’s sparking the behavior that may be leading to conflict with others and then be able to resolve conflict adaptively.

As lead agency for their community school initiative, we are proud to be one of those partners with School 17.  Click here to watch a video to hear directly from students at the press conference about how restorative practices help them in school and how the number of suspensions has been reduced.  Read the full report here.
Huntsville, Alabama Law Enforcement Participates in Crisis Intervention Team Training Program
Don Kamin , Director for the Institute for Police, Mental Health & Community Collaboration was in Alabama this month working on behalf of CIT International to conduct CIT Training for the Huntsville Police Department.  Click here to see a two-minute news story that includes part of a mock scenario that officers responded to as part of their training
Financial Services Update
Consolidated Fiscal Report (CFR)

The Consolidated Fiscal Report (CFR) is required to be completed by service providers receiving funding from or operating certified programs for any or all of the NYS State Agencies (OASAS, OMH, OPWDD, & SED). A single CFR is required from a service provider for each reporting period for which they are required to file and includes all expense and revenue of the service provider.
James Monfort
Manager of Financial Services, Senior Consultant
Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Every year, NYS issues a Transmittal Letter detailing the changes in the CFR guidance, codes, definitions, and its software. There are changes for the 2018 calendar year CFR cycle that providers should be aware of including a new certification schedule. See NYS Transmittal Letter link .

CFR Software:  Not currently available, expected by early to mid-March based on prior years.

30-Day CFR Extensions:  For OMH and SED only. They are no longer needed for OASAS and OPWDD providers as they have set the CFR due date June 1 st .

NYS late submission sanctions & penalties:  It is critical that service providers meet the CFR filing deadline. NYS Disabilities are pressing for full compliance with their due dates. Sanctions/penalties for late submissions can include significant withholding of state aid and potentially permanent reductions to state aid.

Poverty Simulation Gives Democrat & Chronicle Editor Priceless Lessons
Democrat and Chronicle Executive Editor, Mike Kilian, participated in the poverty simulation CCSI facilitated on behalf of ACT Rochester this month. (Click here to see photos of the event.) The poverty simulation is a highly interactive experience designed to help participants begin to understand what a typical low-income family experiences trying to survive from month to month. In the simulation, participants assume the roles of family members in poverty. Volunteers play the roles of service providers and other community resources (e.g., bank, employer, grocery, Department of Social Services, landlord, school, child care, and law enforcement, etc.). 
Mike Kilian shared his experience, and how it reinforced his commitment to guiding insightful journalism, that points out needs and offers solutions in a perceptive and compassionate manner for the greater good of all.  Read his article here.  For more information or to learn how you can host this type of event for your organization or stakeholders, check out our website and contact Nancy Sung Shelton at [email protected] .
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