Family Voices Indiana

The Indiana First Steps Unified Training Systems (UTS) training contractor (ProKids) is currently collecting input about Training and Technical Assistance needs within the First Steps system. Family Voices Indiana encourages current and former First Steps Families to share their thoughts on needs. You can share your thoughts on the types of trainings you would like the providers serving your family to have by sending an email to training@utsprokids.org. As you compose your input it might be helpful for you to know that providers are being asked about their interest/need in the following topics for further training:
• First Steps system (billing, rates, caseload, etc)
• Legal requirements of Part C and Part B
• Understand IDEA Part C and Part B
• Interviewing and listening to families
• Families in emotional distress, crisis
• Best practice in Early Intervention
• Communication/working with families who are different from my own (culture,socio-economic, values, single-parent, age difference, …

Please note that ANYONE can make a referral for an individual to be considered for the high risk list.

from DDRS:

Across the United States, the number of people with disabilities being served in the community who have been identified to have significant health issues is growing. Through Health Assurance, an exciting new initiative, the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) will be able to better support the staff who care for at-risk individuals by providing them with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to promote the best possible outcomes.

Soon to be included as a regular part of the Indiana Outreach Services training schedule, Health Assurance has developed a set of educational courses customized to specific disciplines. Much of the information in the program came from material provided by Victoria Lund PhD, an expert consultant with the DOJ. Dr. Lund's material is being integrated into the training curriculum and adapted for direct support professionals…

The Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) has determined that auto-assigning wards of the court and foster children into the Indiana Care Select program will begin statewide in January 2009 with an effective date of January 15, 2009. Wards and foster children who have not selected primary medical providers (PMPs) prior to January 5, 2009, will be auto-assigned to Care Select PMPs.
During the transition, these members may already be receiving specialty care from an Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP)-enrolled specialist, hospital, or ancillary provider. The physicians who ordered the services PRIOR to the January 15, 2009, auto-assignment effective date may not be the same physicians the members are assigned to AFTER January 15, 2009. The Care Select Program asks the new PMPs to work with specialists, hospitals, or ancillary providers that have already initiated care for these members by reviewing members’ care plans and authorizing the continuation of that care until the ne…

DDRS has released another OASIS bulletin. The document is 11 pages and will be available in the yahoogroups files section. We are highlighting the FAQ and encourage families to read the entire bulletin, and email the OASIS Help Line at OASIS-ICAPHelp@fssa.IN.gov or call (317) 234-5222 with any questions/concerns.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following questions are based on feedback from consumers, providers and families since the release of the previous OASIS bulletin:

Question: Because Service Definitions go into effect at the same time a person goes onto a new plan, persons in the same household will work under different requirements. How do we address recordkeeping for staff and keep accurate records for an audit during this time?

Answer: The Service Definitions have not changed for RHS. Only the rate and manner of reimbursement have changed. Therefore, one method of record keeping should work for all consumers within a household.

Question: May a provider use an existing day service …