Department Of Health And Human Services Contracted Provider Call
The quarterly call for contracted providers included general housekeeping items and updates from various operational units within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Key discussion points included the announcement of a public fee hearing scheduled for October 16th to address agency fees, and updates on upcoming quarterly new provider virtual meetings scheduled for December 2nd. Updates from the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health noted the retirement of its director and the interim appointment. The Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) reported on the initiation of a change management contract focused on mitigating abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and highlighted a collaborative safety webinar. The Division of Licensing and Background Checks discussed a proposal to raise 13 licensing fees to meet statutory requirements for covering licensing activity costs and detailed the implementation of a formal Technical Assistance (TA) process for low or moderate-risk, first-time non-compliances. Pre-submitted questions addressed the need for better guidance and a designated contact for new providers, and DHHS affirmed the continued use of encrypted email for client information due to numerous applicable privacy laws. DSPD addressed provider concerns regarding the lack of Invitation to Submit Offers (ISOs) for specific counties and the quality of ISO formatting.