While the DDD used to do NJCAT reassessments of Tiers every 5 years, this practice just stopped on November 1, 2020. A reassessment can be requested at any time if it is needed. The reason why reassessments every 5 years have stopped is because a review of an individual’s needs occurs during the annual Individualized Service Plan (ISP). Your Support Coordinator will help you guide the annual ISP meeting into a comprehensive review that goes over all aspects of the ISP(Individualized Service Plan) and PCPT (Person Centered Planning Tool) to determine if there have been significant changes that warrant a reassessment. If you do need a reassessment, speak to your Support Coordinator and he/she will guide you through the process. Some families who are new to the DDD have concerns that the Tier will not cover needs, however, most of the time the tiers do cover needs. Providers will usually request an IDT (Interdisciplinary Team Meeting) if they feel the tier is not indicative of the person’s needs. After the review at the IDT meeting, the Support Coordinator will help guide the family in requesting the reassessment.

Results of the NJ CAT ( New Jersey Comprehensive assessment tool) are calculated and summarized into a score based on the following main areas: self-care, behavior, and medical. This resulting score establishes the “tier” in which each individual has been assigned based on his/her support needs. The acuity factor is a modifier added to the tier for individuals with high clinical support needs based on medical and/or behavioral concerns, notated by “a” next to the tier assignment. The acuity factor can also impact the rate and/or unit of a service base rate for services where that may be applicable.

Bump Up- If the individual experiences changes in life circumstances that result in a need for additional temporary services (an injury that requires additional supports to provide assistance during the day or hospitalization of the individual’s caregiver, for example) that exceed his/her individual budget, a short-term increase in the budget, known as a “bump up,” may be available to improve the situation. This bump-up is capped at $5,000 per individual, will be effective for up to one year, and can only be provided once every three years. If this situation occurs, the support Coordinator will guide you in requesting additional funds.