Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council
Provider Advisory Subcommittee
Legislative Office Building Room 3000, Hartford CT 06106
(860) 240-0321 Info Line (860) 240-8329 FAX (860) 240-5306
www.cga.ct.gov/ph/medicaid
Meeting Summary: November 1, 2006
Co-Chairs: Susan Walkama & Dana Marie Salvatore
Next meeting: Wednesday December 6, 2006, 1-2:30 PM in LOB RM. 2600)
DCF: Residential Care Team (RCT-formerly the CPT): Dr. Karen Andersson (DCF)
(Click on icons below to view meeting handouts)
The goal of the CPT transition is to integrate the current CPT process within the CT BHP Administrative Service Organization (ASO) structure, combining ASO technology and management tools with the expertise of the CPT staff that will remain part of the Residential Care Team (RCT). As noted in the September SC meeting, DCF stated the existing CPT process did not have the capacity to deal with the 2000 or more annual referrals nor the technology to track the referred children/youth to ensure they receive the appropriate services including residential and group homes level 1 & 11 and other non-institutional care alternatives.
• The new system phase-in will begin by the end of November and be completed in December 2006.
• DCF area Office/Juvenile Services will fax a registration form to CTBHP (see draft forms above) and the Child Adolescent Needs & Strengths (CANS) packet. These will be available on the CTBHP web site: www.ctbhp.com
• DCF will conduct rounds 2x/week with CTBHP/VOI (providers are encouraged to attend) to review referrals, prioritize cases and make treatment decisions. The RCT, system managers and community collaboratives will have met prior to the referral to CTBHP.
Questions/comments from Subcommittee:
ü There is five full time RCT staff on the team. There are about 15-20 referrals weekly, totaling about 2000 referrals per year. There are 350 residential beds in the state.
ü There is a parent appeal process regarding the level of care authorized for the child. The provider would work with the family on the appeal process if he/she has concerns about the decision.
ü Providers currently are feeling the pressure to treat clients with intensive needs in the community and are concerned about the RCT changes and the impact on community-based services. DCF is working with the Office of Policy & Management regarding access to community-based intensive services. DCF stated the new RCT process will give the referring office a greater role in coordinating care with providers and DCF will work with providers to identify referral incompatibility. The level of care determinations will be a VOI/team decision.
ü There are 5 VOI care managers doing concurrent reviews; how will DCF & VOI ensure timely access to care managers? Dr. Andersson replied that DCF and VOI are assessing staffing levels adequacy to meet the needs of the RCT. Staffing increases may be needed.
ü It is important for CTBHP/VOI to receive the provider data verification form: referrals & payments flow from this provider (in-state and out-of-state) form. See www.ctbhp.com site, click on provider to access the form.
ü Data collection was discussed. VOI is building a data base for RCT; the 1st Quarter data may be available in spring 2007. Regular VOI reporting will include client placement, gender/age variances, non-residential needs. As the data base builds, a longitudinal assess of 'what is working and for whom' will influence future program planning.
Other
The BHP was asked the status of the Medicaid state plan amendment to allow more than diagnostic evaluation (90801) in a year. Clients receive an initial intake evaluation; however there currently is no way to bill a subsequent psychiatric evaluation for medication, etc. The status of the state plan amendment will be referred to DSS.