August  27, 2001

 

 

 

MB-AASA-AAA-HCS-DDD-RCS-01-32

MANAGEMENT BULLETIN

 

 

TO:                  Home and Community Services (HCS) Regional Administrators

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Directors

                                Division of Developmental Disabilities Regional Administrators

 

SUBJECT:       SSPS PAYMENT FOR NURSE DELEGATION SERVICES

EFFECTIVE 9-1-01

 

Effective 9-1-01, payment for Nurse Delegation (ND) which was previously billed through MMIS by the delegating nurse will be authorized by the Social Worker/Case Manager through SSPS.  Responsibilities for contract management, resource management and quality assurance of the program will remain with the Program Manager at the state level.  Social workers and case managers are responsible for making or facilitating referrals for Nurse Delegation, and continuing authorization of services via the SSPS system.  Roles and responsibilities are outlined below:

 

Social Worker/Case Manager

1.      Identify need for ND and refer for evaluation.

2.      Forward recent copy of CA and Service Plan to nurse to complete referral process.

3.      Authorize Nurse Delegation services via SSPS 14-154/159.

4.      Re-authorize continuation of ND services after consultation with delegating nurse as needed.

5.      Report to Nurse Delegation Program Manager concerns about contractor performance, lack of sufficient providers in a specific area.

 

Program Manager

1.      Train/technically assist contracted providers in program requirements.

2.      Establish /maintain provider contracts for Nurse Delegation with qualified providers.

3.      Monitor payment history for extraordinary expenses.

4.      Quality assurance monitoring for program integrity.

5.      Respond to/investigate concerns about contractor performance or availability.

6.      Authorize additional units of Nurse Delegation above and beyond the maximum of 13 hours (52 units) per calendar year per client upon request from delegating nurse.

 

This change is being implemented in order to facilitate reimbursement and enrich communication coordination among case managers and delegating nurses and health care providers caring for state clients.

 

Initial creation of authorizations for clients currently receiving Nurse Delegation:

Authorizations for all residents of Adult Family Homes who are currently receiving Nurse Delegation services have been created and forwarded to the appropriate field office by August 31, 2001. These authorizations have been created for those clients who have had Nurse Delegation services billed under the old billing system (MMIS) between 1-1-01 and 6-30-01.  The authorizations used SSPS data current as of 6-30-01.  Field staff need to review these authorizations to see that they are current and accurate, especially the eligibility end date, and the ACES number.  All clients have been assigned a reason code of A (administration of oral/topical medications) and this may need to be revised after consultation with the delegating nurse.  Not all of these clients will continue to receive Nurse Delegation after 9-1-01, when the SSPS payment system becomes effective.  The authorizations will be opened to the maximum number of units and usage will be monitored at the state level by the Program Manager. 

 

Residents requiring Nurse Delegation after 9-1-01 for the first time in 2001:

Follow the referral process as outlined in roles and responsibilities of social worker/case manager on previous page.  Consult the Service Code Data Sheet attached to this memo.

 

We will be forwarding the list of Nurse Delegation authorizations to the regional SSPS coordinators as requested by the Regional Administrators, but this information will not be available until after September 5, 2001. 

 

Please direct any further questions to:  Kay Kramer, Program Manager Nurse Delegation, 360/725-2563, or kramek@dshs.wa.gov.

 

 

 

 

                                               

Penny Black, Director

Home and Community Services Division

 

Enclosures