HCBS Statewide Transition Plan Online Training

Provides an overview of the milestone process and how the HCBS STP website helps states manage tracking STP data. The intent of having the milestones in the website is for states to use the milestones charting as a tool to assist in the implementation process and report progress and changes to CMS. This training will walk you through how to use the milestones in the HCBS STP website.

Explores the 6 Key Components outlined by CMS in order to assess all home and community-based settings for compliance with the Settings Rule, ensure the assessment is valid and objective and to clearly report the assessment outcomes. These components include: clearly identifying all settings subject to the to the rule; ensuring the site-specific assessment evaluates all elements of the rule; valid and objective assessment methodologies; evaluating assessment results to develop remediation strategies; and, reporting aggregate results of settings compliance. Review questions and tools will also be discussed that a state can voluntarily choose to use to evaluate its own strategies and manage the site-specific assessment and validation process.

Discusses the agenda for this session and provides an overview of the 6 Key Components for Final Approval of Site-specific Assessment and Validation.

Reviews how to identify all settings operating under each home and community-based services (HCBS) authority in the state, ensuring all settings are assessed for compliance and which settings may be presumed compliant with the Settings Rule.

Discusses the site-specific assessment process and methodology strategies including the use of provider self-surveys, participant surveys and on-site assessments.

Reviews the importance of validation strategies to ensure the site-specific assessment is valid and the process is objective and discusses strategies employed to maximize existing state resources to evaluate all settings. Outlines the reporting requirements of assessment outcomes by compliance categories, and reviews questions and tools that that may serve as a guide to assess the adequacy of the state’s STP responses and information.

Explores the 5 Key Components outlined by CMS in order to design and implement system or program-wide remediation strategies, increase access to non-disability settings as a meaningful choice for participants, implement and monitor site-specific remediation strategies, and develop corresponding milestones and timelines for each step in the remediation process to ensure compliance by the conclusion of the transition period. Review questions and tools will also be discussed that a state can voluntarily choose to use to evaluate its own strategies and manage the site-specific remediation process.

Discusses the agenda for this session and provides an overview of the 5 Key Components for Final Approval of Remediation Strategies.

Reviews examples of system and program-wide remediation strategies a state may employ to achieve compliance including person-centered planning tools, training and technical assistance, using service definitions, benefits and limitations to advance specific goals and program development to increase access to non-disability settings as a meaningful choice for participants.

Discusses strategies for implementing and monitoring site-specific remediation strategies, and developing corresponding milestones and timelines for each step in the remediation process to ensure compliance by the conclusion of the transition period. Review questions and tools will also be discussed that a state can voluntarily choose to use to evaluate its own strategies and manage the site-specific remediation process.

We will explore the 6 Key Components outlined by CMS in order to communicate with beneficiaries and to resolve their concerns when individuals are currently in a setting that cannot or will not come into compliance by the end of the transition period. These components include: establishing a communication strategy with beneficiaries that includes reasonable notice and due process; uses the person-centered service planning process to provide a timeline and description of how individuals will be given the opportunity, information and supports to make an informed choice; explains how critical services and supports are in place prior to any change in provider; provides and estimate of the number of individuals who may need assistance and ensures that the process adheres to the timelines specified in the STP.

Provides an overview of the 6 Key Components for Final Approval of Communication with Beneficiaries and Resolution of Beneficiary Concerns that a state should include in its STP.

Focus in Part 2 is on the first two components that a state should include in its STP: Establishing a Communication Strategy and Providing Reasonable Notice.

Reviews the timeline and process description to assist beneficiaries in making informed choices, the importance of informed choice, discuss the person-centered service planning process and the role Case Managers play in assisting individuals in making those choices. In addition, reviews the state and providers’ roles in the continuity of critical supports and services with individuals to help ensure successful placements.

Discusses the state’s estimate of individuals who may need assistance and the importance of assuring that the entire process adheres to STP timelines. In addition, reviews questions that may serve as a guide to assess the adequacy of the state’s STP responses and information and identifies lessons learned.

Provides a brief overview of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Guidance on Heightened Scrutiny (HS) issued on March 22, 2019, including a summary of what the guidance has accomplished and the characteristics of a setting that isolates; identifies the process for the review of HS packages that has evolved from CMS’ work with the HS pilot states; provides clarifying guidance on specific issues where the HS FAQs were not clear; and shares promising practices initiated by states as they work through the HS process.

Explores the 5 Key Components that the state should include in its STP to ensure ongoing monitoring: the state uses CMS’ List of Standard Milestones and identifies reasonable timelines to implement and track progress; designs strategies for monitoring remedial actions at the state and provider levels, including methods to verify provider compliance; identifies action steps needed to monitor ongoing compliance; and develops methods to implement the monitoring process.

Provides an overview of the 5 Key Components that the state should include in its STP to ensure ongoing monitoring.

Reviews two key areas of monitoring that the state should have in place and discusses Component 1: Using Milestones/Timelines to Track Progress Toward Compliance.

Discusses Component 2: Strategies for Monitoring State-Level Remedial Actions and Component 3: Strategies for Monitoring Provider-Level Remedial Actions, including verification of provider compliance. In addition, takes a look at Component 4: Action Steps to Monitor Ongoing Compliance.

Reviews Component 5: Methods to Accomplish the Monitoring Process. In addition, reviews questions that may serve as a guide to assess the adequacy of the state’s STP responses and information.