Technical Assistance for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) And Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR)
Client: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
As a continuation to Mission Analytics’ work with IBM (Truven) and New Editions Consulting, this combined project is now under subcontract to New Editions Consulting.
As part of our technical assistance for HCBS, uur team assists CMS in the national implementation of new regulations promulgated under Section 1915(c) and 1915(i) of the Act to ensure that beneficiaries receive services as described. In particular, individuals receiving HCBS must live and work in settings that are home and community-based and that are integrated into the community. We will develop and implement necessary tools, protocols and guidance materials to assist CMS and the states in the consistent and accurate implementation of these new requirements, including, but not limited to, home and community-based settings’ characteristics, person-centered planning, restrictive interventions, to ensure states are in compliance with the new regulations. We will provide both on-site and remote education and training to Central and Regional office staff and state agencies, to assist them in implementing these new rules. We will collect, compile, review and analyze information to support CMS’ review of waiver submissions to ensure that the waiver settings, the state’s environmental scans and transition plans all conform to CMS requirements, identify areas of concern with the states proposals and make recommendations to CMS on how to resolve problems identified. We will conduct on-site reviews of state home and community-based settings to ensure compliance with the new regulations and make recommendations to CMS. We will analyze and track the status of states’ progress in implementing the new regulations and shall compile and submit data reports to CMS verifying state statuses, best practices and lessons learned to assist CMS in the development of future policy decisions.
As part of our technical assistance for PASRR, our team provides states and CMS with technical assistance and information to improve the effectiveness of states’ Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) programs. PASRR has three main objectives: to see that individuals who apply to a Medicaid-certified nursing facility (NF) are evaluated for mental illness and/or intellectual disability and related conditions; to see that they are placed appropriately, whether in nursing homes or in the community; and to ensure that they receive the services they need, wherever they are placed. The PASRR programs in many states do not fully comply with federal regulations or could use assistance in implementing these programs more effectively. To help states improve their programs, the project team established the PASRR Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), which includes a group of expert consultants. Mission Analytics facilitates discussions and meetings between PTAC consultants, CMS staff, and state staff; facilitates CMS Regional PASRR calls and trainings; maintains a website; conducts a series of monthly webinars; and develops technical assistance materials both for states and for CMS. See the project website http://www.pasrrassist.org/.