Deputy Secretary Year In Review Webinar

As a reminder, there will not be a Deputy Secretary DDA Updates webinar in the month of November. We are excited to invite you to a special Year in Review and Future View webinar on Thursday, December 5 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The DDA has invited special guests from the Maryland Department of Disabilities to discuss exciting current and future initiatives. We look forward to sharing some of the highlights and accomplishments of the year as well as laying out a vision to continue to build on our progress in addressing your needs into the new year! Please click below to register!

Operations Updates

Financial Management and Counseling Services (FMCS) Update

Effective November 15, 2023, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) will be able to take referrals again. 

If you are currently self-directing and wish to transition to PPL as your FMCS, we strongly encourage you to consider starting your services with PPL on the first day of a pay period. For example, if you would like to transition in December, the suggested start date would be December 24, 2023.

If you are new to Self-Direction, you should speak with your CCS to start the process of enrolling with PPL through an FMCS referral in LTSSMaryland. Please note referrals can take up to 30 calendar days.

If you have any additional questions regarding PPL, please contact: 

Email: PPLMDDDA-CS@pplfirst.com

Phone: (833) 660-2509

General Ledger Data Collection Template Updates

The Hilltop Institute’s DDA Rate Team continues to provide ongoing technical support to providers and stakeholders on the general ledger (GL) data collection template. All providers are required to submit GL data via the template for FY 2024 to ensure a data-driven rate review process. In response to dialogue with providers, the GL data collection template, accompanying instructions, and frequently asked questions were updated with clarifications to ensure that DDA’s expectations of providers are clear. All the updated documents can be found on DDA’s Rate Review Advisory webpage. For technical assistance, please contact dda_rate@hilltop.umbc.edu. The template will be due in September 2024.

DDA Waiver Programs — Annual Redeterminations

The services you receive through the DDA Waiver programs are important and help you to live your best life. Each year, if you want to keep getting these services, you must prove to Medicaid that you still qualify based on your health, finances and other technical requirements. This process is called a Redetermination. Your Coordinator of Community Services (CCS) will help you with this.

Technical eligibility means meeting certain requirements for each specific Waiver program. For the DDA Waiver programs in Maryland, this includes:

1. Living in Maryland

2. Being the right age or having specific service needs

3. Having an approved Person-Centered Plan (PCP)

Medical eligibility means that you need the same level of care that is given to someone in a special facility called an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ICF/IID). This means you need a lot of care, but you don't have to actually go to one of these facilities or even consider going there to get Waiver services. Holly and Potomac Centers are examples of ICF/IIDs.

Financial eligibility means you can't make more money or have more assets than the limits set by the Waiver programs. Your caregiver or parent's income doesn't count. The Maryland Department of Health’s Eligibility Determination Division (EDD) or Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) figures out if you are financially eligible. They look at records like bank statements, assets (some things you own), trusts and medical expenses.

For some people enrolled in a DDA Waiver program, the Maryland Medicaid Check-In includes the DDA Waiver Financial Eligibility Redetermination process. Over 4000 DDA waiver participants will need to complete this process.

Important Reminders:

• You'll get many letters or notifications about your redetermination.
• The first letter comes 90 days before your redetermination is due. This letter is like a heads-up to remind you that your redetermination is coming. It gives you time to start preparing and collecting the necessary information.
• It's crucial to wait for a letter from either the Department of Human Resources (DHS) or the Eligibility Determination Division (EDD) before you submit your redetermination information. If you send in your information before they ask for it, it won't be processed because it isn’t due yet.
• Keep an eye out for messages related to redeterminations, and make sure to respond to the DHS or EDD caseworker as instructed in the letter within the specified timeframe or deadline given.
• If you receive a letter about your financial redetermination, let your CCS know. They will help you.
• The DDA is sharing information with CCS about redeterminations that are due in the next 90 days for the people they support. If you have any questions, please reach out to your CCS. They are there to help you.

DDA Policy Input Reminder — Rent Subsidy Policy

The DDA is seeking public input on the following proposed policies posted to the DDA’s Policy Stakeholder Input webpage: 

• Rent Subsidy Policy

You can access the proposed policy here: DDA Policy Stakeholder Input Dedicated Webpage. 

The public is invited to provide comments from November 3 through November 17, 2023. Please submit comments electronically to wfb.dda@maryland.gov or mail them to the DDA Federal Program Unit at 201 West Preston Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. Please include in the subject line of your email, ‘Input on Rent Subsidy Policy.’

If you have questions or need any accommodations, please reach out to Danielle Coles, DDA Federal Programs, at Danielle.Coles1@maryland.gov.

DDA Policy Input :

Services Provided in an Acute Care Hospital Settings

Virtual Support Service Delivery Models

The DDA is seeking public input on the following proposed policies posted to the DDA’s Policy Stakeholder Input webpage: 

• Services Provided in an Acute Care Hospital Settings
• Virtual Support Service Delivery Models

You can access the proposed policy here: DDA Policy Stakeholder Input Dedicated Webpage. 

The public is invited to provide comments from November 20 through December 8, 2023. Please submit comments electronically to wfb.dda@maryland.gov or mail them to the DDA Federal Program Unit at 201 West Preston Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. Please include in the subject line of your email, ‘Input on Services Provided in an Acute Care Hospital Settings’ or ‘Input on Virtual Support Service Delivery Models.’

If you have questions or need any accommodations, please reach out to Danielle Coles, DDA Federal Programs, at Danielle.Coles1@maryland.gov.

Program Updates

ePREP Reminders

Are you preparing to transition to LTSSMaryland for billing? Have you already transitioned? No matter what group you belong to — this reminder is for you!

To avoid payment delays, providers should ensure any NEW ePREP application includes a pay-to address that matches EXACTLY with:

• Comptroller address on file
• W-9 submitted with the application

What does ‘EXACTLY’ mean? This includes all spelling (including agency name), abbreviations, and the +4 of your zip code (e.g., ‘rd’ vs. road, 99577 vs. 99577-0727).

For EXISTING ePREP accounts, providers should check the pay-to addresses for each account in ePREP and make any necessary updates using the supplemental application function. If your agency has moved or is planning to move to a new administrative site, please contact your Regional Office and supply them with an updated W-9 that reflects the new address. Remember to also complete an ePREP application for the move as well.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Leslie Thompson, DDA Assistant Director of Programs, at leslie.thompson@maryland.gov.

National Employment Opportunities Network Initiative The DDA is pleased to share that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has selected Maryland as one of this year’s CORE States for the National Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative. 

This initiative comes with 200 hours of technical assistance to focus on the following areas: 

• Ensuring that DDA’s employment policies are in alignment with our goals related to competitive integrated employment. 
• Ensuring that DDA’s employment policies are in alignment with the need to partner early and often with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to support transitioning youth. 
• Including benefits counseling as a part of our employment service options. 

We will partner with the Maryland Department of Disabilities and MSDE on this opportunity and look forward to engaging with our partners on this process. More to come soon.

Resources

Self-Directed Services Monthly Meeting

If you were unable to log into the last Self-Directed Services Monthly Meeting, you can view it on our YouTube channel or by clicking this link.

Upcoming Events

11/16/23 WMRO Monthly Provider Meeting

11/16/23 Trauma Informed Care for Trainers

11/16/23 DDA RN Case Manager/Delegating Nurse/MTTP Training Orientation

11/29/23 CMRO Monthly Provider Meeting

12/5/23 Deputy Secretary End of the Year Review and Future View

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DDA Vision

People with developmental disabilities will have full lives in the communities of their choice where they are included, participate and are active citizens.

DDA Mission

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

DDA Headquarters

201 W. Preston Street, 4th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: (410)767-5600

Fax: (410)767-5850

Toll Free: 1(844)253-8694