This free webinar is being sponsored by Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). Everyone has rights! And when it comes to the human services field, Human Rights Committees (HRC) play an integral role. These committees promote and protect the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities who are receiving services. So what are the roles and responsibilities of an HRC? Who should all be the members of it? How can you avoid common pitfalls in both establishing and maintaining the committee? In this presentation, you’ll receive answers to all these questions and many more! We share strategies you can use for creating your committee, ensuring it’s asking the right questions, and avoiding ‘danger signs’ that regularly occur in the disability services system. We’ll also share some eye-opening data about the relationship between fair treatment and overall quality of life. You’ll leave this presentation with specific action steps you can put in place “right” away!

* CQL will be using Zoom’s built-in live transcription (closed captioning) features during the webinar. If you need any additional reasonable accommodations, you can share those in the registration link below. Any requests need to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date of the webinar.

The training will be held on Jun 6, 2024, 1:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada).

Registration link for the training: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lAUjrK8eSi6F7zZqn_FPBA

The next cycle of Quality Assurance surveys will begin in July. As many are aware, the previous 18-month cycle was a pilot for the new aligned Quality Monitoring Process for 1915c, ECF CHOICES, and CHOICES CLS/CLS-FM services. In the next 18-month cycle, new scoring will be implemented now that providers are aware of new expectations. Scoring, however, will not be made public for this next cycle and a Survey Protocol will be available on the website in the next few weeks that outlines the process in detail. We are excited to see how the new survey tool and reports showcase the great things providers are doing for people receiving 1915c and 1115 waiver services in Tennessee! Several resources are also available on the DIDD website relative to some of the newer expectations in the tool. For any questions on Quality Topics or Indicators, or to request training, providers are encouraged to reach out to the Quality Management Resource Specialist, Ashley Riggleman at Ashley.M.Riggleman@tn.gov.  

The schedule for the next cycle is in its final stages of development, with each region working together and collaborating with other units to make the best attempt at avoiding any overlap; as such, the 2024-2025 QA survey schedule is anticipated to be released by May 15th. 

We had a successful open house at our East Tennessee Seating & Positioning Clinic!

Guests met with occupational therapists and medical equipment fabricators to learn how S&P solutions can improve quality of life for Tennesseans of all ages and abilities.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ab99Nd

Our Planning & Policy Councils collaborate and advise the Commissioner of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on issues affecting the department, providers, families, and advocates, and play an important role in the development and improvement of DIDD programs and policies.  If you are interested in joining one of the DIDD Planning & Policy Councils, please refer to the links below: 

West Planning and Policy Council (WPPC)

Statewide Planning and Policy Council (SPPC)

East Planning and Policy Council (EPPC)

Developmental Disabilities Planning and Policy Council (DDPPC)

What an honor it was to attend the historic bill signing that will create the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA)! DIDD and TCAD will become DDA effective July, 1st. We’re ready to hit the ground running as we tackle important issues about caregiver support, housing, transportation, and more. Let’s get to work elevating the voices of older adults and people with disabilities! To view the post on Instagram click here.

Reset, collaborate and connect! Our Middle Tennessee TEIS team had such an amazing Time for Teaming training last week. We’re so thankful for their dedication to the vital work of early intervention! 🙌  To view the post on Instagram click here.

New Employment Service Templates are Now Available! 

New templates are available for all employment services, including outcome-based and hourly (non-outcome-based) services. The same templates will be utilized across all HCBS programs, including ECF CHOICES, CHOICES*, and DIDD/1915© Waivers.

All employment services with a start date of May 1st, 2024, and after should be submitted on the new templates. Services initiated prior to May 1st, 2024, can still utilize the original templates; however, providers are encouraged to utilize the new templates as soon as possible.

Please note that if an original template is utilized for a service initiated after May 1st, 2024, the MCO/DIDD will be unable to approve the report and will ask the provider to resubmit using the new template.

To watch the recorded training for the new templates please click here.

To access and download the updated templates please click here.

*CHOICES employment services are still pending CMS approval and are not currently available to CHOICES members.

DIDD is seeking to fill 2 positions in the Appeals Unit:  IDD Program Specialist 2 and IDD Program Specialist 3.  These positions will be stationed in West and will be in Arlington.  

Job responsibilities include:  Review Person Centered Support Plan (PCSP), assessments, plans of care, and other supporting documentation to determine if adverse action is warranted.  Recognize differences of services provided versus services billed.  Verifies services and supports relative to compliance standards.  Review documentation to determine if requested services meet 1915c and KB waiver definitions and protocols.  Gather information from internal and external customers for review of denied plan for services needed.  Convey accurate information to stakeholders to comply with current departmental standards and practices in writing.  Performs day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining files and processing paperwork.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office products (such as Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
• Ability to make prompt decisions based on relevant facts.
• Detail-oriented, able to independently organize multiple tasks and priorities, and to effectively manage an assigned caseload under pressure of deadlines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, highly effective communication ability, and the propensity to make prompt independent decisions based upon relevant facts and established processes.

IDD 2 Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in special education, rehabilitation or therapeutic health, nursing, sociology, social work, or any behavioral science field and experience equivalent to two years of professional developmental disabilities and/or mental health work.

IDD 3 Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in special education, rehabilitation or therapeutic health, nursing, sociology, social work, or any behavioral science field and experience equivalent to three years of professional developmental disabilities and/or mental health work, of which one year must include professional developmental disabilities work.

The Family Support Program is in need of District Council members to volunteer in the following counties: Carter, Claiborne, Grainger, Green, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington.

Candidate requirements

Must live in the service areas noted above.

A majority of the District Council shall be consumers (i.e., an individual with a severe disability or member of a family containing a member with a severe disability).

Role of the District Council

The District Council is to provide oversight and make recommendations on funding needs and priorities of services.

The District Council shall provide oversight of the operation of Family Support Services within the area that the agency contracts for, including-

Overseeing priorities for selection of service recipients,

Reviewing agency quarterly reports

Reviewing the operation and effectiveness of service delivery and recommend any necessary changes in the services and

Reviewing the performance of the agencies and recommend continuation or changes where necessary.

The District Council shall review the expenditure of funds in the district and make recommendations to the State Council.

The District Council shall approve changes and recommendations such as funding and priorities for agencies in the district.

The District Council shall be represented on the State Family Support Council.

If you are interested in volunteering for this opportunity, please email julia.kiehna@tn.gov.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - Training Kick-Off - Office Hours 

• Billing Kick-Off recording here and slides here

Thursday, April 25, 2024 - Training Begins

• Topics Covered: Billing Introduction and Preparation: Provider Expectations, Billing training outline and timeline, EVV changes, Billing Workflow, Process (3P’s),User Roles and Privileges, Program Enrollment, Service Authorization Acknowledgment, Billing Timeline, EVV Staff Configuration
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Super Users, CFO’s
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Training Week 2

• Topics Covered: Deep Dive: EVV, Collect EVV Data, Check EVV Data, EVV Reports, Generate EVV Billing Data, Reports
• Target Audience: KBB, State Funded, 1915c 
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Super Users, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 9, 2024 - Training Week 3

• Topics Covered:  Deep Dive: Attendance (Time & Consensus & Unit), Collect Attendance Data, Check Attendance Data, Attendance Reports, Generate Billing Data, Reports
• Target Audience: ICF, KBB, State Funded, ISC/CM, 1915c
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 16, 2024 - Training Week 4

• Topics Covered: Billing Data Input & Follow up on Attendance and EVV, Enter Billing Data, Import Billing Data, Check Billing Data
• Target Audience: KBB, State Funded, ISC/CM, Health Reimbursement/Payflex, Fiscal Intermediary/CDTN, 1915c
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Training Week 5

• Topics Covered: Attendance (Time & Census & Unit), Collect Attendance Data, Check Attendance Data, Attendance Reports, Generate Billing Data, Reports
• Target Audience: ICF, KBB, State Funded, ISC/CM, 1915c
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Training Week 6

• Topics Covered: Deep Dive: Claims - Claims Generation for all MODC, CC Groups, Reports, Reconciliation, Resubmission
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Training Week 7

• Topics Covered: Claims Management in Therap: Claims Generation for all MODC, CC Groups, Reports, Reconciliation, Resubmission
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO’s
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Training Week 8 

• Topics Covered: Billing Preparation: User Roles and Privileges, Program Enrollment, Service Authorization Acknowledgment, Billing Timeline, EVV Staff Configuration
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - Training Week 9 

• Topics Covered: Review: Methods of Data Collection, EVV Data Collection and Generation, Attendance Data Collection and Generation, Billing Data Input
• Target Audience: All 
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 27, 2024 - Training Week 10

• Topics Covered: Get Ready for Go-Live: Acknowledge Service Authorizations, Enrollments, Billing Process and Workflow, Identify Resources, Q&A
• Target Audience: All
• Target User: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, July 11, 2024 - Training Week 11

• Topics Covered:  Pre-Billing: Generate Billing Data, Reports, Generate Claims, Q&A 
• Target Audience: All
• Target User: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, July 18, 2024 - Training Week 12

• Topics Covered: Claims Management: Reports, Reconciliation, Payments, Resubmission, Q&A
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, July 25, 2024 - Training Week 13

• Topics Covered: Claims Management: Reports, Reconciliation, Payments, Resubmission, Q&A
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

What an honor it was to attend the historic bill signing that will create the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA)! DIDD and TCAD will become DDA effective July, 1st. We’re ready to hit the ground running as we tackle important issues about caregiver support, housing, transportation, and more. Let’s get to work elevating the voices of older adults and people with disabilities!

To check out the post on Instagram click here.

🎧 Can we get a mic check 1,2? 🎙️ Go behind the scenes of the Waves of Awareness Podcast, as they sit down with State Director of Enabling Technology Milton Neuenschwander to talk all things technology, new innovation and the future of AI. Be sure to listen to the whole episode! To view the post on Instagram click here.

When Ollie gets in front of the camera, it’s clear he was meant to be there! The high school Junior has a passion for sports reporting and even leads a sports segment for Green Hill High School, Sports on the Hill with Ollie and Josh. He loves all sports, but especially reporting on basketball. He never misses a Vanderbilt or South Carolina women’s basketball game and can recite sports statistics for just about everything! He’s also an athlete and plays multiple sports in the Special Olympics. This year, he’s throwing shot put on his high school track team and he’s loved every minute of it! Join us in sharing his story this Autism Month featured in DIDD”s #IAmASDinTN campaign.

We were blown away by The Union University EDGE Program Cooking Lab last week! The school used their Tennessee Believes grant to create a hands-on program that teaches students everything from savvy grocery shopping to safety in the kitchen and food prep!

We were honored to taste their VERY impressive three-course meal and hear directly from the students about how this program has impacted their lives. They are doing such great work!”

The Statewide Planning & Policy Council (SPPC) collaborates and advises the Commissioner of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on issues affecting the department, providers, families, and advocates, and plays an important role in the development and improvement of DIDD programs and policies.  If you are interested in joining the DIDD Statewide Planning & Policy Council, please submit an application at this link.