Reviewed bylaws and membership of Management Steering and the /DD Coordinating Subcommittee membership:
3 persons representing ADMH: Grayson Chemer, Jacon Harrison, & Amy Waren
2 persons representing AL Council of Community MH Boards: Ken Oliver & Kathy West
2 persons representing 310 Boards (ID services): Jo Poates & Jana Haggard (to be replaced by Dawn Lindsey next fiscal year)
2 persons representing Advocacy Orgs: Greg Mitchell & Tim Cooper
1 person representing ACDD: Darryle Powell
2 persons representing People First of AL: Susan Ellis & David Rissling
1 person representing ACE-Arc: Jessica Odom
1 person representing Other Provider Organizations appointed by Commissioner: DeAnna Ferguson
Management Steering Committee membership:
1 person representing Act 310: Jana Haggard
1 person representing the Arc of Alabama: Tim Cooper
1 person representing People First of AL: David Rissling
Rate Study Update
Wage reporting requirements and specialized staffing request process have been sent out. Questions should be sent to the regional fiscal managers.
ADMH Regional Directors are scheduling monthly provider meetings (week of the 21st) and the fiscal managers will be attending to review and answer provider questions.
Baseline wage report for July 1 - Sept 30, 2023 is due by the end of October. To be submitted to the ADMH regional fiscal manager.
Definition of Direct Support Personnel - anyone who is providing direct support care to the person.
ID/LAH Waiver amendment and new rates were submitted to Alabama Medicaid Monday. Medicaid committee to expeditiiir to CMS for final approval.
HCBS Update
All settings that were deemed noncompliant in March - stopped receiving federal funds in June. CMS has indicated that they will recoup federal dollars that were billed from ADMH. ADMH set aside $2.5 million in anticipation for recoupment.
ADMH continues to conduct compliance reviews. 271 of the 726 sites (669 Residential & 57 non-residential sites) have been completed.
CWP Update
Goal was 500 by end of fiscal year-- 336 individuals enrolled to date; another 50 are in process of enrollment.
CWP Support Coordination will be transitioning to 310 agencies.
FY25 Community Budget Priorities for the Management Steering Committee
Associate Commissioner presented her recommendations for budget priorities in no particular order:
Crisis Residential Services and Supports: ADMH has been tracking crisis situations working with DHR, hospitals, jails, individuals that are inappropriately placed in community settings (ie. when providers give a 30 day notice because they are not able to meet the person's needs, but no response to RFPs).
Specialized Behavioral Supports: Building capacity to serve this population.
Housing Assistance: To transition from group settings to apartments/own homes
Remote Supports/Assistive Technology: Workgroup has made recommendations - to include an experienced consultant as well as funding for pilot programs.
Provider Mandated Training: Reviewing unfunded mandated training requirements to see how ADMH can offset the costs by providing resources or decreasing requirements.
DD Sub Committee members recommended the following priorities be added:
Funding for the current unfunded mandate of the Nurse Delegation Program until ADMH/BON can reevaluate NDP to reduce unnecessary requirements/regulations. This is extremely costly to ID providers, and often a barrier to service provision due to nursing shortages and unreimbursed costs.
Discussed funding placeholder to offset the proposed DOL Overtime Rule of increasing exempt salary threshold from $35,568 to $55,068 annually.