American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)
- ARPA provides Connecticut with timely access to funds to support the immediate stabilization of the HCBS workforce and to urgently expand needed growth in HCBS capacity given the shift in preference to HCBS in lieu of institutionalization that occurred during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- ARPA requires that states use the federal funds attributable to the increased FMAP to supplement, not supplant, existing state funds expended for Medicaid HCBS in effect as of April 1, 2021.
- Requires states to use state funds equivalent to the amount of federal funds attributable to the increased FMAP to implement or supplement the implementation of one or more activities to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS under the Medicaid program.
Contact Information: DDS.ARPA@ct.gov
DDS has established a dedicated email box for all interested parties to submit comments or questions. Emails will be read on a regular basis but, due to time constraints, it may take a few days to respond to comments or submitted questions.
Documents:
DDS ARPA Overview Presentation
Specific Components Related to DDS Initiatives
Enhance HCBS Workforce
DDS has begun to fund providers to temporarily help rebuild, improve, stabilize, and maintain the provider workforce from the unprecedented strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes additional funding for the provider community to create an incentive-based program to help with the recruitment and retention of staff.
Providers received their first payment in March 2022 and their second payment in October 2022. Providers are required to submit quarterly reports on how the funding was used and an attestation that funds were expended accordingly. The attestations and first ARPA – HCBS Expenditure Reports were due by September 7, 2022. The next ARPA – HCBS Expenditure Reports will be due November 30, 2022.
Expand and Integrate the Use of Assistive Technology
- DDS issued and awarded $600,000 of grant money to individuals and providers to assist with the purchase of assistive technology (AT) equipment. DDS is working to complete an additional Notice of Grant Opportunity for more individuals and providers to be able to purchase AT equipment to be used in their homes or programs.
- The DDS Respite Centers recently purchased additional AT equipment to help introduce the benefits of AT to individuals who respite at the centers.
- DDS will be developing an initiative to offer training to DDS and provider staff on the use of AT equipment in the programs they provide.
- DDS is working with our self-advocates to implement the AT and Me programs. The AT and Me programs are designed to help introduce technology to individuals supported by the department.
Enhance Self-Direction
DDS issued and awarded a contract to Rewarding Work to enhance the current employment recruiting network. This will be a short-term solution while DDS works with the Department of Social Services on a long-term solution. Both departments have agreed on the basic parameters and expectations for the new system. A draft of the request for proposal is going through the final edits. A target day to issue the RFP is early in 2023.
Enhance and Expand HCBS Delivery Transformation
| Committee Overview |
| ARPA Day Transformational Committee |
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ARPA Individual and Family Engagement Transformational Committee |
Enhance Provider Infrastructure
DDS has begun to provide funding to providers to assist with the development, purchase, and implementation of technology to streamline and modernize antiquated processes, improve billing accuracy, and increase overall efficiency in the DDS system.
Providers received their first payment in March 2022 and their second payment in October 2022. Providers are required to submit quarterly reports on how the funding was used and an attestation that funds were expended accordingly. The attestations and first ARPA – HCBS Expenditure Reports were due by September 7, 2022. The next ARPA – HCBS Expenditure Reports will be due November 30, 2022.
Strengthening Quality
- Universal Assessment - DDS continues to engage with DSS to discuss the universal assessment. DDS has completed sampling participants of DDS supports by implementing a universal assessment and comparing it to the current tool used for assessment. The sampling methodology included 61 samples for a confidence level between 80-95%. DDS and DSS are now working to review the results of the assessment.
- Participant Survey Improvement and Expansion- DDS and UConn Health have executed an MOA for UConn Health to implement the NCI survey for HCBS waiver participants served by DDS. The MOA start date was September 1, 2022.
- Research and install a new Case Management System- DDS requested and received funding approval from CMS to develop an integrated case management system and is working in collaboration with the Department of Social Services CT Medicaid Enterprise Technology System (CT METS) team to seek enhanced Federal funding participation. The planning and assessment process will begin in early 2023 and will result in a solution recommendation based on the results of a needs assessment. Funding needed for the procurement and development of a comprehensive system will require additional approvals from CMS and will take place once the assessment is completed and recommendations are accepted.
- Critical Incident upgrade - DDS is expanding the use of the Pulselight healthcare data analytic application, which helps identify potentially unreported incidents through Medicaid claims analysis. The project will enable the department to include the Level of Need data and Admit, Discharge and Transfer data as part of the incident analysis. The upgrade will improve the case status, tracking, and reporting capabilities of the system and improve filtering to reduce unnecessary reviews for routine medical care typically monitored by the individual’s team. DDS requested funding through the Advanced Planning Document (APD) process with DSS and received approval through CMS in October.
- Outcome-Based Payments – DDS has contracted with Deloitte Consulting LLC to research, develop, and recommend an outcome passed payment system for the DDS qualified providers. The consultants have begun researching other state agencies within CT and five other states. Recommendations are expected in early Spring.
Join an upcoming Fourth Tuesday Forum on Innovative Options, a monthly virtual forum on initiatives and DDS updates here: Fourth Tuesday Forums on Innovative Options