Quality

To assist states in developing and implementing home and community-based waiver programs, CMS has developed a Quality Framework. The purpose of this background memo is to help Cash and Counseling states apply the framework and incorporate the necessary waiver assurances as they develop their quality management plans for consumer directed programs. This paper offers examples that operationalize the quality framework and tables about participants: Access, Safeguards, Outcomes and Satisfaction.

Ohio has shared its Requirements Specification for the CART Test Plan (The Comprehensive Assessment and Review Tool project). The document relates to the development of web-based applications for quality data collection. This Test Plan document supports the following objectives: Perform system testing in a stable test environment; Recommended requirements are that functional business units; validate the application continues to meet stated requirements; usage of a testing matrix checklist

This paper synthesizes the ideas and practices of states as they seek to improve the quality of HCBS services. The purpose of this paper is: to promote the exchange of information among states regarding the use of discovery methods for HCBS services; to identify and share the various approaches that states are using to identify gaps, redundancies, strengths and weaknesses in their HCBS quality systems; to discuss ways to prioritize activities and select quality improvement activities.

The West Virginia QAI Project has produced two procedure handbooks for their program. The first is for the Aged/Disabled Waiver (ADW) Quality Assurance & Improvement (QAI) Advisory Council and the second is for the Medicaid MR/DD Waiver Quality Assurance & Improvement Advisory Council. The handbook describes the group purpose, role, membership, terms, responsibilities plus other responsibilities and expectations.

The State of South Carolina implemented a state-wide automated monitoring system whose real time data allows for monitoring & verification of the providers delivering services under the state's home and community-based services waivers. The toll-free number allows providers to check-in and check-out as they deliver services in a participant's home, while the database inferfaces with claims data to minimize fraudulent billing. The database has empowered waiver service recipients.

The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs has produced a flowchart for the Quality Assurance Review Process. The process is performed by First Health and relates to the overview of the contract.

The state of Wisconsin developed this piece in a continuing attempts to explain what is meant by \"quality management\" as separate from all the other things waiver staff do that promote quality. It's useful, for example, when interviewing local waiver staff about their QM practices, or give a report to different departments and management about the grant project. The Quality Cycle is also illustrated within the report.

This is the third in a series of newsletters produced at the Exchange to provide assistance to our CMS Real Systems Change grantees. This newsletter is produced biannually. Topics include: Physicians’ Role in Determining Level of Care, Nurse Practice Policies for Home and Community Living, ADRC Toolbox, Massachusetts Connecting the Dots, Making Medicaid Work in the 21st Century, Assessment Instruments, HCBS Quality Management Roles & Responsibilities, Family Caregiving, and Housing.

The Formative Evaluation of the Real Choice Systems Change Grants evaluates how the Systems Change grantees are progressing towards meeting their goals. The Formative Evaluation identifies problems faced by the grantees and ways that they deal with the problems. This document provides summary information about each of the FY2004 Grantees.

Consistency with the Quality Framework created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services<br>The Council on Quality and Leadership in Supports for People with Disabilities has an established protocol for collection of all data and information during accreditation reviews. The data and information content are described in Personal Outcome Measures (2002). This data and information are found in three sections:organizing principles, organizational assurances, personal outcome measures.