CMS

The HCBS Work Book is a technical assistance guide to assist state agencies with their HCBS quality improvement efforts. It provides step-by-step guidance on how to conduct quality improvement projects within the HCBS waiver program, and illustrates the principles of quality improvement in an easy to use format. The Work Book was developed for CMS by the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.

The Participant Experience Surveys (PES) is an interview tool developed by MEDSTAT under a contract from CMS. The surveys capture data that can be used to calculate indicators for monitoring quality within the waiver prograns. Two versions of the PES are included, one for frail elderly and adults with physical disabilities and another for adults with MR/DD. A Users' Guide accompanies each PES. Each survey can be conducted in a face-to-face interview in 30 minutes or less.

In his letter to State Medicaid Directors dated February 17, 2004, Glenn Stanton (Acting Director, DEHPG, CMS) introduces the Quality Inventory Report. The Report summarizes and discusses the results of this first-time nationwide systematic survey of state waiver QA/QI systems. The report also includes recommendations for CMS follow-up. This letter is also referred to as CMS Quality Communication #4.

In this letter to State Medicaid Directors, Glenn Stanton (Acting Director, DEHPG, CMS) describes the modifications made to the HCBS Quality Framework. The modifications emphasize the importance of building quality into the design of HCBS programs. Included here are Mr. Stanton's letter, the final Quality Framework, and a working draft of \"sub-domains\" which provide specificity within each focus area. This letter is also referred to as CMS Quality Communication #3.

This report describes a recruitment effort lead by the Metro Region of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation (DMR). DMR and provider agencies, in collaboration with a communications company, conducted a marketing campaign to recruit direct support professionals. The report highlights the implementation and impact of the project.

This report documents the state of Massachusetts’ attempt to develop a central registry for accessible housing that includes public housing, privately operated subsidized housing, and private market-rate developments. People with disabilities can access the registry on the Internet and by contacting the state’s Centers for Independent Living. This report provides a description of the program.

This report describes the Cooperative Healthcare Network. This national group of affiliated long-term care providers and training organizations, uses a standardized recruitment approach to attract and retain high quality direct service professionals through a targeted outreach and rigorous application process.

During this teleconference on 11/10/2003, Mary Jean Duckett from CMS presented answers to the grantee question: \"How do we continue working with people in nursing homes after our grant ends.\" Three options were discussed: Transition can be covered as a service under the Home and Community-based waivers; as a targeted case management service under the state plan or reimbursed as an administrative activity.

This document describes Legacy Express, a program in Georgia which attempts to improve the quality of services provided to older Americans and their caregivers. Legacy Express provides vouchers to caregivers which may be spent on service options. The objective is to give caregivers the authority and flexibility to select those service options that work best for them. This program’s implementation and impact is explained in the document.

A home and community-based services program in Ohio is using electronic communication between case managers and providers to streamline identification of service providers for program participants. Program staff have found electronic communication greatly reduces the time required to find available providers when compared with telephone or fax communication. This report explores the interventions, implications, and impact of using electronic communication.