DADS Provider News, Alerts & Bulletins —
Home-Delivered Meals (HDM)

To: DADS Providers Identified in Information Letter 11-119, Affected by the March 1, 2012 STAR+PLUS Expansion into the Lubbock, El Paso and Hidalgo Service Areas

This alert provides a link to the current Medicaid event calendar for consumer outreach events. These outreach events are held for consumers affected by the March 1, 2012 STAR+PLUS expansion into the Lubbock, El Paso and Hidalgo service areas. Outreach events provide opportunities for the enrollment broker, MAXIMUS, to educate individuals who will be enrolled in STAR+PLUS, and their families, about the services and benefits available through the various managed care organizations.

Following is the link to the Community Outreach Meeting calendar: http://www.txmedicaidevents.com

The calendar of events is updated regularly. Consumers can select any event they want to attend by following the instructions provided on the events link.

Consumers should have received a STAR+PLUS introductory letter in the mail. Consumers should also have received their STAR+PLUS enrollment packet by the end of December, 2011. If they do not receive either document, please have them call 1-800-964-2777 (TTY 1-800-267-5008). Following is the link for the Lubbock and El Paso service areas for the community outreach calendar, consumer introduction letters, and frequently asked questions (FAQs): http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/medicaid/MMC/El-Paso-Lubbock.shtml.

Following is the link to the Hidalgo service area community outreach calendar, consumer introduction letters, and FAQs: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/medicaid/MMC/Hidalgo.shtml.

Any long-term services and supports (LTSS) provider/organization interested in hosting one or more consumer outreach events, which are open to the public, should contact the MAXIMUS Outreach Supervisor listed in the table below. Once an event is scheduled, the calendar will reflect the event.

The hosting LTSS provider/organization will need to provide the following information:

• Name of provider/organization
• Contact name and telephone number
• Address of proposed meeting location
• Seating capacity of proposed meeting location (should be seating for at least 30 individuals)
• Dates the meeting location is available (December 2011–February 2012)
• Times the meeting location would be available for use

Note: These events are specifically provided for mandatory enrollees and their families.

MAXIMUS Service Area Contacts for Scheduling Consumer Outreach Events

Lubbock Service Area
4601 South Loop 289 #16
Lubbock, Texas 79424-2206

Contact	Main Number	Cell
Connie Jimenez, Regional Mgr conniejimenez@maximus.com	(806) 784-0716	Not available
Dora Rodriguez, Outreach Supervisor dorarodriguez@maximus.com	(806) 784-0716	Not available
Camelia Reyes, Administrative Specialist cameliareyes@maximus.com	(806) 784-0716	Not available

El Paso Service Area
221 N. Kansas #600
El Paso, Texas 79901-1441

Contact	Main Number	Cell
Linda Hendry, Regional Mgr lindamhendry@maximus.com		(915) 241-6720
Marco A Gomez, Outreach Supervisor marcoagomez@maximus.com	(915) 544-1975	(915) 345-4182
Veronica Castro Administrative Specialist veronicacastro@maximus.com	(915) 544-1962	Not available

Hidalgo Service Area
1925 E. Iowa Road
Edinburg, Texas 78542

Contact	Main Number	Cell
Peggy Gulledge, Acting Regional Manager peggygulledge@maximus.com	(512) 533-3441	(512) 426-8816
Lynda Diaz, Outreach Supervisor lyndadiaz@maximus.com	(956) 388-8141	(956) 624-0341
Natalia Leon Administrative Specialist natalialeon@maximus.com	(956) 388-8140	Not available

Attention:

• Adult Foster Care (AFC) Providers
• Assisted Living/Residential Care (AL/RC) Providers
• Community Attendant Services (CAS) Providers
• Community Based Alternatives (CBA) Providers
• Consumer Directed Services Agencies (CDSAs)
• Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) Providers
• Emergency Response Services (ERS) Providers
• Family Care (FC) Providers
• Home Delivered Meals (HDM) Providers
• Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) Providers
• Primary Home Care (PHC) Providers
• Transition Assistance Services (TAS) Providers

Effective December 2011, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) will implement a pilot project allowing the above referenced providers and Consumer Directed Services Agencies (CDSAs) to transmit and receive forms and documentation electronically from DADS regional offices specified below:

Houston office - 1332 E. 40th location

• Harris County
  • CDSAs

• McLennan  County
• CDSAs

• Community Service Providers: 
  • Midland, Ector, and Martin Counties
• CBA Providers only:
  • Andrews, Borden, Gaines, Glasscock, Martin, Midland and Upton Counties
• MDCP Providers only: 
• Andrews, Borden, Crane, Crockett, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Scurry, Terrell, Upton, Ward, and Winkler Counties
• CDSAs

• Ector County
• CDSAs

• CCAD Providers
  • Loving, Reeves, and Ward Counties
• CBA Providers:
  • Loving and Reeves Counties
• CDSAs

The current policies for submitting forms related to initial assessments, reassessments, changes, agency transfers, and other information to DADS remains the same. The pilot only changes the way in which these forms and documents are sent to and from providers and DADS regional staff.

The pilot is expected to last six months. DADS will notify providers if the duration of the pilot changes. If providers participate in this pilot and then decide they no longer wish to participate, they must send an email to DADS at PDO@dads.state.tx.us anytime during the pilot.

DADS requires providers interested in participating in this pilot to:

• have Internet service;
• establish and maintain at least one email address to which DADS will transmit electronic forms and documents;
• have a back-up email address;
• be able to submit and receive all forms and documents electronically;
• send documents electronically using encryption software;
• scan and upload forms that require signatures;
• use Form 2067, Case Information, when submitting forms and documents to DADS;
• participate in an evaluation at the conclusion of the pilot;
• participate in conference calls, which may be held during the pilot; and
• follow DADS policy regarding submitting forms and documents electronically.

If you are a provider of one of the above DADS programs that serves individuals in one of the selected counties in the pilot and would like to participate in the pilot, please complete the EDS Pilot Participation Request Form and return it to PDO@dads.state.tx.us by close of business on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

For questions regarding the content of this notice, please contact DADS Policy Development and Oversight at PDO@dads.state.tx.us.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)  has decided to implement a pilot project that would allow providers of the above DADS programs to transmit and receive forms electronically to and from DADS regional staff. DADS will notify affected providers once it has selected the pilot project area(s).

The goal of the pilot project is to ease administrative requirements for providers by enabling faster and more accurate communication utilizing electronic communication methods. The pilot project is tentatively scheduled to begin on December 1, 2011.

If you have questions regarding this information or need additional information regarding this alert, please contact the Policy Development and Oversight line at 512-438-3015.

Attention individuals who receive services from DADS and families, providers, consumer advocacy groups, provider associations and other agency stakeholders.

This alert is a gentle reminder that DADS is interested in maximizing the agency's ability to communicate with its constituents and would like to hear from you! We are committed to supporting a broad cross-section of agency stakeholders to have an effective voice in agency matters. Our goal is to create an environment of continuous, balanced input to inform DADS policy and operational decisions. Specifically, DADS would like to gather information concerning the kinds of agency communication forums you participate in and find helpful, and what needs you may have that are not currently being met by our agency. We would also be interested in receiving your ideas regarding how DADS can best meet the needs of our stakeholder community in an efficient and productive manner for all.

We are conducting a brief survey using Survey Monkey to collect this information in a format DADS can use to evaluate our current efforts and to prioritize focal areas in which survey results indicate an opportunity for the agency to address unmet needs. The survey is available online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CSBWPJ8.

This survey will remain available through Aug. 31, 2011; it should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. DADS would greatly appreciate your participation in this survey and looks forward to partnering with constituents toward the goal of continuous quality improvement in DADS communications with our stakeholder community.

For questions regarding this survey or the DADS initiative, please contact Cheryl Craddock-Melchor, CLASS Operations manager, at cheryl.craddockmelchor@dads.state.tx.us or Misti Ackermann, Billing and Payment manager, at misti.ackermann@dads.state.tx.us.

Attention:

• Community Attendant Services Providers
• Community Based Alternatives Providers
• Consolidated Waiver Program Providers
• Consumer Directed Services Agencies
• Day Activity and Health Services Providers
• Emergency Response Services Providers
• Family Care Providers
• Home Delivered Meals Providers
• Medically Dependent Children Program Providers
• Primary Home Care Providers

DADS is considering allowing providers of the above DADS programs to transmit and receive forms electronically to and from DADS regional staff and your input is needed.

DADS will be hosting a conference call on Friday, August 19, 2011 from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. to discuss the process for transmitting and receiving forms electronically.

The conference call number is 1-877-226-9790 and the access code is 3104516.

If you have questions regarding this information or need additional information regarding this alert, please contact the Policy Development and Oversight line at 512-438-3015.