R539-2. Service Coordination, R539. Human Services, Services for People with Disabilities, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R539. Human Services, Services for People with Disabilities

R539-2-1. Purpose

Latest version.

(1) The purpose of this rule is to provide standards for the Division service system, including planning, developing and managing an array of services for Persons with disabilities and their families throughout the state as required by Subsection 62A-5-103(2)(a).

R539-2-2. Authority

Latest version.

(1) This rule establishes standards as required by Subsection 62A-5-103(2)(b).

R539-2-3. Definitions

Latest version.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 62A-5-101 and R539-1-3.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Quality Assurance" means the Family, Provider, and Division management's role to assure accountability in areas of fiscal operations, health, safety, and contract compliance.

(b) "Quality Improvement" means the Provider's role to evaluate and improve the internal delivery of services.

(c) "Quality Enhancement" means the Division and the Team members' role in supporting a Person to experience personal life satisfaction in accordance with the Person's preferences.

R539-2-4. Waiting List

Latest version.

(1) Pursuant to Subsection 62A-5-102(3), the Division shall determine a Person's eligibility for service, followed by a determination of that Person's priority relative to others who are also eligible. The Division shall use a standardized Needs Assessment to score and prioritize the Person's level of need. Persons with the highest scores shall receive support first. The Support Coordinator shall assess with the Person the array of services that may be needed. If funding is not immediately available, the Person shall be placed on a waiting list for support. Persons who have been determined eligible for the Division's Medicaid Waivers can choose to wait for Division Support services or seek services available through Medicaid in an approved facility.

(2) If the Person requires, and could use, support services on the day of intake, the Person has an immediate need; otherwise, the Person has a future need.

(3) A Needs Assessment Form shall be completed for all Persons with an immediate need for support services. The Needs Assessment calculates the score of each Person by using the following criteria:

(a) severity of the disabling condition;

(b) needs of the Person and/or family;

(d) appropriate alternatives available; and

(e) other factors determined by the Division to reflect accurately on the Person's need:

(i) household composition and size;

(ii) parental/caregiver ability;

(iii) finances and insurances;

(iv) unmet medical needs;

(v) problem behaviors;

(vi) protective service issues;

(vii) resources/supports needed;

(viii) time on immediate or future need waiting list.

(4) The Division determines the Person's score, rank orders the scores, and enters the Person's name and score on the statewide waiting list.

(5) A Person's ranking may change if the Person's needs change or as Needs Assessments are completed for new Applicants.

(6) No age limitations apply to a Person placed on the waiting list for community living support or family support.

(7) To preserve the Medicaid Waiver and state-wide service infrastructure, exceptions may be made to the person's ranking on the waiting list when authorized by the Division Director and the Department of Health.

R539-2-5. Person-Centered Process

Latest version.

(1) The Division supports Person-Centered Planning, which includes assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating. This process shall have an individualized focus and incorporate the principles of Person-Centered Planning, self-determination, informed choice, and equity. Input from the Person and the Person's Team should guide and direct this process.

(a) The Person's Team shall work with the Person to identify goals.

(i) The Person receiving supports determines the membership of the Team, which shall include the Support Coordinator.

(ii) The Team meets at least annually within the month in which the previous meeting occurred, or more often as the Person or other members of the Team determine necessary.

(b) The Person, Provider, and Family shall assess, plan, implement, and evaluate goals and supports for which they are responsible, as agreed upon and listed on Division Form 1-16 in the planning meeting.

(c) The Team shall decide the level of detail required to describe the actions involved in the assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating needs for the supports based on the experience and expertise of the staff providing the Person's supports. The use of the philosophical Person-Centered Planning approach shall be demonstrated and documented in the Person's file.

(d) Any interested party who believes that Person-Centered Planning is not being implemented as outlined or receives a request from the Person, should contact the Support Coordinator immediately to resolve the issue informally, and, if necessary, through the administrative hearing process outlined in R539-3-8 Notice of Agency Action and Administrative Hearings.

R539-2-6. Entry Into and Movement Within Service System

Latest version.

(1) The Division shall assure that an appropriate choice of supports and Providers exist for Persons entering or moving within the support system in accordance with Subsections 62A-5-103(1) and 62A-5-103(2). The Division shall coordinate, approve, and oversee all out-of-home placements.

(2) Entry into Division-funded supports:

(a) Once a Person's application for waiver services is processed by the Division, the Person is referred to the local financial eligibility office.

(b) Prior to the provision of community living supports, a Person may be required to complete a medical examination and, if under the age of 18, provide a current immunization record.

(c) Admission to Division programs from a nursing facility will be coordinated by the Division with the Person, the nursing facility social worker, the Support Coordinator, and the prospective Provider.

(d) The Division shall provide Persons with a choice of Providers by:

(i) sending Providers notice and invitation to submit offers to provide services via use of Division Form 1-6; and

(ii) assisting the Person to make an informed choice of Provider.

(e) Interested Providers may schedule and coordinate a service entry meeting that involves the Person, the Representative, Support Coordinator, and invited guests, (e.g., Developmental Center staff, school representative, and Division staff). The meeting should be held at the prospective site of placement whenever possible.

(f) The Provider shall submit an acceptance or denial letter within ten business days of the service entry meeting to the Support Coordinator and the Person. An acceptance letter shall include a written description of the following:

(i) services to be provided;

(ii) location of the service;

(iii) name and address of the primary care physician, or other medical specialists, including, for example, neurologist or dentist, if applicable;

(iv) a training and in-service schedule for the staff to meet with the Person;

(v) proposed date services will begin; and

(vi) agreed upon rate and level of support.

(g) The physical move of the Person shall be the responsibility of the Provider who is accepting the Person.

(h) The Division shall send the Person's information to the Provider five business days prior to the move.

(3) Any Team Member may initiate a request to change Provider or Developmental Center residence by asking the Support Coordinator to arrange a meeting.

(4) If a Person requests a change of Provider, the Support Coordinator shall arrange a discharge meeting that provides a ten-business-day written notice to the Person, present Provider, and Support Coordinator.

(a) The present Provider may request the opportunity to make changes in the existing relationship to address the concerns that initiated the discharge meeting.

(b) The Director shall make the final decision concerning the discharge if the parties cannot come to agreement.

(5) A Provider initiated request for discharge of a Person shall require 90 calendar days prior notification to the Person and the Division.

(6) Emergency Services Management Committee (ESMC):

(a) An Emergency Services Management Committee chairperson shall be appointed by the Division Director. Membership shall include:

(i) Division Specialists;

(ii) a representative from the Division who is skilled in crisis intervention and knowledgeable of local resources;

(iii) a representative from the Developmental Center; and

(iv) others as appointed by the Division Director.

(b) The Emergency Services Management Committee shall ensure that Persons are placed in the least restrictive most appropriate living situation as per Sections 62A-5-302 through 62A-5-312 and Subsection 62A-5-402(2)(a). Exceptions to the statute requiring children under age 11 to live only in family-like environments, as per Section 62A-5-403, require Emergency Services Management Committee review and recommendation to the Division Director for final written approval.

R539-2-7. Quality Management Procedures

Latest version.

(1) The Division will oversee the three distinct functional roles of quality management, which are Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Quality Enhancement.

(a) Necessary quality assurances are specified by contract with the Division. The Division may work with other offices and bureaus of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health to assure quality.

(b) Providers are responsible to develop and implement an internal quality management system, which shall:

(i) Evaluate the Provider's programs; and

(ii) Establish a system of self-correcting feedback.

(c) The implementation of the Person's Action Plan shall be designed to enhance the Person's life. The Person and Person's Team shall:

(i) Identify and document the Person's preferences;

(ii) Plan how to support the Person's life satisfaction; and

(iii) Implement the plan with supports from the Division, such as;

(A) Technical Assistance, which involves training, mentoring, consultation, and referral through Division staff.

(B) Quality Enhancement Resource Brokerage, which involves identification and compilation of community resources, including other consumers and families, and referral to and prior approval of payment for these supports.

(D) Team and System Process Enhancement, which involves facilitation and negotiation training, community education, and consumer satisfaction surveys.

(2) The Division shall evaluate the Person's satisfaction and statistical statewide system indicators of life enhancement.

(3) Division staff shall promote enhancement of the Person's life; support improvement efforts undertaken by Providers, Persons, and families; and assure accountability.

R539-2-8. Request for New Support Coordinator

Latest version.

(1) A Person may request a new Support Coordinator by submitting a written request to the Region Office Supervisor.