Letter from Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration will
soon be making the transition in management of its PASRR Level II - Mental Illness (MI)
evaluations to our current Level I and Level II Intellectual Developmental
Disabilities (IDD) partner, Ascend,
a MAXIMUS Company. Recognized for their proven record in
partnering with states across the country to provide management of a variety
of complex government service programs, Ascend has also brought their
expertise and commitment to serving individuals across Indiana through their
current management of the State's PASRR Level I screening and Level II -IDD
evaluations, as well as Level of Care evaluations. Starting July 1, 2019, Ascend
will take over Level II MI assessments and will have five days to complete
them. |
This upcoming change, which will happen on Monday, July
1st, was made for several critical reasons. The decision to bring both
MI and IDD evaluations under one entity will bring more consistency in
process, as well as greater
simplicity and modernization for submitters. Though
individual cases may vary, as a whole across the state, we expect submitters
will see faster response
for referrals submitted. The state of Indiana will have the ability to gather and track valuable data
about individuals in the PASRR population, which has not previously been
available in a usable format. Most importantly, we believe this transition
will positively impact the individuals seeking nursing facility care, with streamlined service and high-quality
assessments they have come to rely on with our Community
Mental Health Center partners. |
FSSA recognizes there are some areas of the state in which this change may cause delays
for completion of the Level II MI assessments compared to current workflows.
We are sensitive to concerns about the potential for increased lengths of stay
and the associated fiscal impact. Be assured residents transitioning from the
emergency department into a nursing facility are currently prioritized above all other placements,
for Level I and Level of Care, and now for Level II, better ensuring this
population is reached efficiently. Of note, Ascend's contractually-mandated
average time of completion - within
five days - is below the federal requirement, which dictates
PASRR determinations must be made within an annual average of 7 to 9 working
days of referral (see § 483.112). |
Additionally, submitters can take some tangible steps to
ensure evaluations are completed as quickly as possible. First, upload - please do not fax - all
required information into AssessmentPro. Having required
information prevents Ascend from having to put the referral on hold while
requesting additional information or tracking down the record to upload it
manually. If any additional information is requested, please be sure to
respond promptly. Second, start
the PASRR process as soon as the patient is admitted rather
than waiting until they are ready for discharge. Performing the Level I as
soon as possible after admission allows an assessor to be dispatched before
the individual is ready for discharge if a Level II is required. We strongly urge all submitters to take advantage of webinar training opportunities
being provided by FSSA and Ascend. We are committed to ensuring a smooth, successful transition
for all involved stakeholders and invite your comments and questions along
the way. |
Questions regarding the
PASRR process as a whole can be directed to Vanessa Convard, Director of Community
Initiatives & Long-Term Care Transition with the Division
of Aging at vanessa.convard@fssa.in.gov or
317.232.4355. Questions regarding Level
II MI can be directed to Kelsi Linville, Bureau Chief, Adults with Mental Illness
and Co-occurring Disorders with the Division of Mental Health
and Addiction at kelsi.linville@fssa.in.gov or
317.234.6795. Questions regarding Level
II ID/RC can be directed to Holly Wimsatt, Director of Client Services
with the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services at holly.wimsatt@fssa.in.gov or
317.232.3162. |