NYSACRA

October 25, 2005: Part VIX

NYS OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THROUGH SERVICES update as of October 25, 2005 NYS OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THROUGH SERVICES October 25, 2005 News from the OPTS Administration Unit (#10-2005) 1. OPTS Questions 2. Proposal Status Report as of 10/24/05 3. New URL for NYS-OPTS 4. NYS-OPTS Referral List of Non-profit Providers 5. OPTS Agreement – Important Points 6. Information Required – Execution of the OPTS Agreement 7. Additional Brief Descriptions of Approved Proposals 8. DDSO OPTS Liaison Contacts 9. Information Sharing 10. Why You May Receive Multiple Copies of this Message 1. OPTS Questions The phone number for the OPTS Admin Unit is (518) 408-2744. E-mail addresses are: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OPTS questions can be sent via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Questions of general interest will be included in a “Frequently Asked Questions” listing being compiled. OPTS proposals must be submitted electronically through the OMRDD Secure Message Center to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 2. Proposal Status Report as of October 24, 2005 Proposals Received 190 Proposals Complete 171 a Health Checks Complete 160 b Consumer Verifications Complete 129 c Team Review Meetings Held/Scheduled 134 d Awaiting Scheduling of Team Review Meeting 0 Proposals Approved 52 * Implemented 22 e * At least 1 proposal has now been approved in each OMRDD district. Number of Proposals “On Hold” 23 f Number of Proposals “Not OPTS” 21 g a – Contact telephone numbers required as part of the OPTS Application. View the OPTS Application, including the Budget and Roster (Microsoft Excel document) through the OMRDD Home Page (specifics given in #1 above). b – Two proposals have been unsuccessful in completing the Health Check. c – Several proposals have “completed” the consumer verification step, but have been put “on hold” due to insufficient participation by the consumers, families and/or advocates. Three proposals have been unsuccessful in completing the Consumer Verification but are expected to proceed once participation by the consumers, families and/or advocates is demonstrated. d – Several proposals have been reviewed twice, the initial review and then upon receipt of supplemental information from the not-for-profit provider. e – Payments continue to be processed on a monthly basis under the Interim Payment Process. f – A non-profit provider may be asked to prioritize their proposals when they have multiple proposals submitted, this category includes proposals non-profit providers designate as a low priority. g – Proposals determined “Not OPTS” are either services OMRDD is not authorized to provide, have already been approved for implementation outside of OPTS, or the non-profit provider has withdrawn. 3. New URL for NYS-OPTS A new URL has been obtained for quicker access to the NYS-OPTS information available through the OMRDD website. To go directly to the NYS-OPTS information available on the OMRDD website you can now enter www.nysopts.com 4. NYS-OPTS Referral List of Non-profit Providers In August 2005, Commissioner Maul invited non-profit providers who were willing to assist families and individuals with developmental disabilities in developing NYS-OPTS proposals to sign-up for the NYS-OPTS Referral List of Non-profit Providers. Over 100 responses were received in August and the initial listing of providers was made available to each DDSO Director in September. The listing will periodically be updated to reflect new applications received, with the updated listing sent to each DDSO Director until the listing is made available through the OMRDD website. For non-profit providers who have not yet submitted and application for inclusion on the NYS-OPTS Referral List of Non-profit Providers, but who are willing to assist families and individuals with developmental disabilities in developing NYS-OPTS proposals, the application is available through the OMRDD website. Using the new URL mentioned in item #3 will take you to the OPTS information page. The Application form for the Referral List is the last document listed. 5. OPTS Agreement – Important Points The OPTS Agreement is the contract that each OPTS Provider must execute with OMRDD to implement an OPTS pilot. Paragraph 5 of the OPTS Agreement addresses enrollment of consumers. First and foremost, individuals to be enrolled in an OPTS pilot must have a documented diagnosis of developmental disability. While Medicaid and HCBS enrollment are not required for participation in an OPTS Pilot, it is OMRDD’s expectation that the OPTS Provider will encourage and assist individuals in obtaining Medicaid and HCBS enrollment. For individuals who have Medicaid, the OPTS Provider is expected to work with the Medicaid Service Coordinator to complete all enrollment documents so that Medicaid is maintained. Paragraph 8 of the OPTS Agreement addresses insurance the OPTS Provider is required to maintain, the specific minimum coverage amounts and information regarding OMRDD appearing as an additional insured party. Along with evidence of Commercial General Liability Insurance and Directors and Officers Liability, an OPTS Provider must also provide evidence of Worker’s Compensation Insurance. 6. Information Required – Execution of the OPTS Agreement When a non-profit provider returns the executed OPTS Agreement to the OMRDD OPTS Administration Unit, the certificates showing evidence of the required insurance coverage should be provided along with the list of final members to participate on the provider’s Pilot Evaluation Committee and samples of the evaluation tools. When the list of final members to participate on the provider’s Pilot Evaluation Committee is provided, it is important to identify the “role” of each member. This helps OMRDD verify the required partners as specified in the NYS OPTS Pilot Proposal Evaluation criteria, available at www.nysopts.com under Pilot Proposal Evaluations. 7. Brief Description of Approved Proposals OPTS #150 -- 1 Individual Implementation – October 2005 OPTS Service(s) – Individual Day Habilitation and At-Home Residential Habilitation - This pilot provides day habilitation for an individual who resides at home but attends college and requires supports with daily living skills. In addition to the support she will be given that enable her continue her educational pursuit, she will also be given support in the home that will assist her in the evenings and on weekends to be out in the community. OPTS #59 -- 9 Individuals per session Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) - General Developmental Disability Services – Hourly (Trip Planning) - Nine trips will be planned throughout the year, eight that are weekend trips and one that is a week long trip. Nine individuals will have the opportunity to attend weekly sessions throughout a month where they will plan an upcoming trip by learning to use computer and internet skills to research destinations, available activities, where to stay and eat. The computer and internet skills as well as teamwork to plan each trip will be skills the individuals will be able to transfer over into other areas of their lives. OPTS #85 -- 14 Individuals Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) – Group Day Habilitation - The ability to move and sit with limited or no support is a desire of these individuals and their families/advocates. This program will provide the supports needed to assist the individuals in lessening their reliance on physical equipment so they can have some independence and dignity. Education and therapy will be combined to provide the individuals with opportunities to practice their motor skills while performing everyday tasks. OPTS #21 --12 Individuals Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) – Blended Prevocational and Supported Employment Services (Blended PS) - This proposal is for a group of individuals who have the potential to succeed in competitive employment but who require intensive and continued supports. Some of the individuals have proven unsuccessful in traditional supportive employment services, and others will be offered supported employment for the first time. All of the individuals and their families/advocates have expressed a desire to pursue employment, and will use this pilot to try to obtain this goal. OPTS #110 -- 5 Individuals Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) – Blended Day Habilitation, Prevocational and Supported Employment (Blended DPS) - This pilot will provide a group of individuals to continue the habilitation assistance they have been receiving, but to expand and receive vocational training and assistance in supported employment. OPTS #140 -- 5 Individuals Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) – Blended Day Habilitation, Prevocational and Supported Employment (Blended DPS) - This pilot is structured like OPTS #110 but for a different group of individuals in a different geographic area. The two groups of individuals have expressed the same desires, to continue receiving habilitation assistance, and to receive vocational training and assistance in supported employment. Implementing these two pilots will provide a unique opportunity to review similarities and differences when the variable is the individual participants. OPTS #95 -- 40 Individuals Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA Residential Habilitation - Four existing homes will be downsized by the creation of four new homes which are specialized to provide the staffing supports needed by the individuals who will reside in each home. One home will provide services to individuals who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and another home will assist individuals who require behavioral intervention. The individuals who will continue to live in the existing homes will have increased privacy and more opportunities to participate in activities of their choosing. OPTS #50 -- 54 Individuals plus 2 Respite Target Implementation – TO BE DETERMINED OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA Residential Habilitation and Hourly Respite - Five existing homes will be reconfigured and yield a total of nine homes that will serve the current individuals plus two NYS-CARES waitlist individuals and one individual who is aging out of school. In addition to the residential services, this pilot will also be able to provide respite services in two separate homes. Each home will address the desires of the individuals in different ways. For example, one home will have a transitional focus of support and instruction in learning and practicing skills needed for independent living. 8. DDSO OPTS Liaison Contacts Bernard Fineson - Ronald Kassover (718) 217-5894 Bernard Fineson - Sheila Green-Gholson (718) 217-6117 Bernard Fineson – Carolyn Adams (718) 217-5596 Brooklyn – Michael Gilbert (718) 642-8546 Brooklyn - Donna Limiti (718) 642-8584 Brooklyn – Janet Strauss (718) 642-8629 Broome - Sandra Beach (607) 770-0248 Broome – Kathleen Schyndler (607) 770-0232 Capital District - Donald Going (518) 370-7443 Central New York - Judith Luyben (315) 473-6654 Finger Lakes - Patricia Barry (585) 461-8826 Hudson Valley - Virginia Leone (845) 947-6333 Long Island - Lois Kilkenny (631) 493-1745 Long Island - Deborah Hammargren (631) 493-1812 Metro New York (Metro) – Lisa Persante (718) 430-0474 Metro New York (Bronx) - Karen Prestwidge (718) 430-0713 Metro New York (Manhattan) - Janet Zampella (212) 229-3215 Staten Island - Richard Monck (718) 983-5232 Staten Island - Barbara Schubert (718) 982-1904 Sunmount - Paul Chartier (518) 359-2962 Sunmount - Jacci Gardner (518) 359-2962 Taconic - Robert Slawinski (845) 473-5050 x 151 Taconic - Gabrielle Canino (845) 473-5050 x 129 Western New York - JoAnn Niebel (716) 517-3636 Western New York – Richard Mahaney (716) 517-2144 9. Information Sharing We encourage you to share the information in this message with individuals who are interested in knowing more about recent activities associated with the NYS OPTS initiative. 10. Why You May Receive Multiple Copies of this Message This message is being sent to individuals on several distribution lists. If you appear on more than one of the distribution lists being used, you will receive multiple copies of this message. This message is being distributed to: OPTS Steering Committee OPTS Consumer and Family Subcommittee OPTS Implementation Subcommittee OPTS Provider Subcommittee FSS Statewide Advisory Committee Provider Associations Provider Council Parent-to-Parent Liaison Self Advocate Liaison Multicultural Providers DDSO Directors Central Office Leadership Team DDSO and Central Office OPTS Point People/Liaisons