STATE OF WASHINGTON



center31912900STATE OF WASHINGTONDEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICESAging and Long-Term Support AdministrationHome and Community Services Division18859501933575HCS MANAGEMENT BULLETIN00HCS MANAGEMENT BULLETINPO Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600H20-062 – InformationJuly 15, 2020TO:Home and Community Services (HCS) Division Regional AdministratorsArea Agency on Aging (AAA) DirectorsFROM:Bea Rector, Director, Home and Community Services DivisionSUBJECT:Resources to Access Tele-health and Receive Remote ServicesPURPOSE:To inform/remind HCS and AAA staff of resources available to clients to access tele-health and receive remote services.BACKGROUND:To reduce exposure risks during the COVID-19 state of emergency, many healthcare professionals have been conducting tele-health appointments and most insurances, including Medicare and Apple Health Medicaid, are now covering these visits during the public health emergency. In addition, HCS has issued policy around telehealth/remote service delivery by LTSS providers and field staff have been conducting visits with clients remotely using the telephone or other remote technology.WHAT’S NEW, CHANGED, OR CLARIFIED:The rise in tele-health has caused an increase in the need for technology to support these appointments. This MB is to inform and/or remind staff of the Assistive Technology (AT) available to clients on Community First Choice (CFC) which is a resource to assist them in being able to access and participate in telehealth and remote services. If clients need assistance with paying for monthly internet fees, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a program, Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications, which lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet services for eligible customers. Here is a link to Lifeline Support which has a short informational video. Attached below is a Consumer Guide that explains the program more in depth. Here is a link to the FCC Consumer Help Center.ACTION:When a CFC client has tele-health appointments, or their healthcare provider has suggested using tele-health, but the client does not have access to the technology to effectively conduct them (including a telephone with video capabilities), the client may use their $550 annual benefit to purchase technology (tablet or laptop) to meet this health need. Please see chapter 7b for full instructions on documenting and authorizing Assistive Technology. Below are instructions for authorizing AT for this purpose:When the need for AT is identified, and the client wants to use their annual benefit tor this purpose, document the need/want in CARE:Identify the client’s need/want for the tablet on the Vision/Communication screen.In the Equipment table, select the Type as “Assistive Technology” with Status “Needs, wants”. Add a comment that this AT is for a tablet to access and complete tele-health appointments or remote service delivery.Contact an AT contracted provider to request a quote for the most cost-effective tablet or laptop that meets the client’s needs. For your convenience, the following AT contracted providers have provided tablets or laptops recently:Boundless Assistive Technology – 1-866-606-8551 or 503-828-1221Assistive Technology Services – 615-562-0043Another option is to have a Community Choice Guide (CCG) purchase the tablet using SA266, service code for Shopping/Paying: Client Not Present. The CCG will provide you with a quote. Create an authorization in CARE to the AT contracted provider by using Service Code SA075-U1 for CFC AT. Add a comment on the authorization indicating the item being purchased. Place the authorization in “Reviewing” status;If using a CCG to make the purchase, create the authorization to the CCG by using Service Code SA075-U1 (CFC AT) to reimburse for the total cost paid for the tablet and SA266 (CCG Shopping/Paying: Client Not Present) for 4 units at $8 per unit for a total of $32.00.Contact client to confirm they received the tablet.After receiving the invoice/receipt from the AT contracted provider and/or CCG, update the P1 authorization to “Approved” status.Submit the invoice/receipt to DMS and, if a CCG was used, their Activity Tracking Form showing the Shopping/Paying without client.Add the CFC AT purchase to the CFC screen in CARE under the Client Details.A resource with tips to prepare for a tele-health visit is attached below. You can email or print it to share with clients. It is also available here. If additional languages are needed, please contact Debbie Blackner. Please note: If the cost is over the client’s CFC SFY annual limit of $550, or the client has already used some of their annual limit, and this purchase will take them over the $550 limit, you will need to submit an ETR.RELATED REFERENCES:Long-Term Care Manual Chapter 7b – Community First Choice (CFC)WAC 388-106-0270 What services are available under CFC?WAC 388-106-0274 Are there limits to the assistive technology I may receive?ATTACHMENT(S):FCC’s Lifeline Information Telemedicine: How Does it Work?CONTACT(S):Victoria Nuesca, CFC Program Manager360-725-2393victoria.nuesca@dshs.Debbie Blackner, COPES Ancillary Services Program Manager360-725-3231debbie.blackner@dshs. ................
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