May 18, 2020  |  Issue 4  |  Volume 5

 
Success Story


Report: Iowa's Money Follows the Person Program Ranks Third Nationally
According to a recently published research brief from the Community Living Policy Center at Brandeis University, Iowa's Money Follows the Person (MFP) program ranks third in the nation for transitioning people with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) from facilities into community settings.

H. Stephen Kay wrote the brief, titled, "Evidence for the Impact of the Money Follows the Person Program."  Kray's full report is available on the Community Living Policy Center website .

Iowa's No. 3 national ranking for I/DD transitions also was featured in the January 2020 issue of AUCD 360, a publication of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

Since 2008, Iowa has operated a federally funded MFP grant to assist members residing in qualifying facilities with moving to an integrated community setting of their choice.

To date, Iowa has transitioned 758 members from facilities into community based settings using MFP funding.

This equates to about 2 percent of the state's institutionalized I/DD population is transitioned into community based settings annually, which ranks Iowa in the top three nationally, according to Kay.

According to Kay, North Dakota and Arkansas ranked higher than Iowa with 2.16 and 2.04 average annual transitions per 100,000 population, respectively. States ranking in the bottom tier of the list average 0.10 or less transitions per 100,000 population annually, according to Kay.

In order to be placed on the referral list in Iowa, MFP applicants must have documentation that they will be eligible for either the Brain Injury (BI) or Intellectual Disability (ID) waivers upon completion of the MFP. This includes having a BI diagnosis or, for members that will access the ID Waiver, having a copy of a current psychological evaluation that includes a diagnosis of an ID.

In December 2019 federal legislation was passed that provided additional funding for the MFP to continue through December 31, 2021. With this news, Iowa is now accepting new referrals.

Referrals can be made via the MFP Referral Information form, which is posted on the Department of Human Services website.

News and Announcements
Latest MCO Quarterly Report Available
The latest quarterly report for the Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) is now available on the DHS website.

This report includes performance data from October through December 2019 for Amerigroup Iowa and Iowa Total Care.

COVID-19 Fraud Alert
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public about fraud schemes related to COVID-19.

Scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for personal details. However, the OIG warns that these tests are unapproved and illegitimate.

Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries in a number of ways, including telemarketing calls, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits.

More information and tips on how to protect yourself can be found on the OIG website.

Civil Money Penalties Grants During COVID-19
Due to the restrictions on visitors and nonessential personnel to nursing homes during COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is allowing nursing facilities to apply for civil money penalties reinvestment funds to provide residents with adaptive communicative technologies.

The IME has developed a process for nursing facilities to apply for CMP funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Complete details can be found in Informational Letter 2133-MC-FFS-CVD and on the DHS website.

Retainer Payments Available For Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Providers
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, DHS requested flexibility through federal authorities to make retainer payments for specific 1915(c) HCBS Waiver and 1915(i) State Plan HCBS habilitation services.

Retainer payments may be paid through claims for habilitation and HCBS providers to maintain capacity during the emergency.

Providers can bill for retainer payments only for services they were unable to render during the month of April 2020.

Informational Letter 2136-MC-CVD has full details about what services qualify and how to apply for a retainer payment.

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Stakeholder Meeting
EVV stakeholders are invited to learn more about the Managed Care Organization EVV solution, Carebridge, in a virtual stakeholder meeting on June 4, 2020, from 1:30-2:30 PM.

For more information on this stakeholder event, and to submit questions, please email evv@dhs.state.ia.us. Please submit questions by May 27, 2020, to be answered during the meeting.

Public Notice
The following public notice has recently been posted on the Department of Human Services (DHS) website:

IA Health Link Contacts
MEMBER SERVICES

1-800-600-4441

1-833-404-1061
PROVIDER SERVICES

1-800-454-3730

1-833-404-1061

Dental Wellness Plan Contacts
MEMBER SERVICES

1-888-472-2793

1-855-247-6262
PROVIDER SERVICES

1-888-472-1205

1-855-856-6262

Iowa Medicaid Contacts
1-800-338-8366

PROVIDER SERVICES

1-800-338-7909



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Iowa Medicaid Enterprise | IMECommunications@dhs.state.ia.us | dhs.iowa.gov
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