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2017 Session

Budget Amendments - SB900 (Floor Approved)

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Supports Intensity Scale Workgroup (language only)

Item 313 #7s

Item 313 #7s

Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Language

Page 321, after line 22, insert:

"U.1. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in collaboration with the Department of Medical Assistance Services, shall convene a stakeholder workgroup, to meet at least once annually, with representatives of VACSB, VNPP, VaCIL, VaACCSES, dLCV, and other stakeholders including representative family members, as appropriate. The workgroup shall: (i) review data from the previous year on the distribution of the SIS levels and tiers by region and by waiver; (ii) review the communication which informs individuals, families, providers, case managers and other responders or interested parties about the tool, the administration, and the opportunities for review to ensure transparency; (iii) review changes in the instrument, the additional supplemental questions, the process for administration and/or the scoring and the data which either supported the recommended change and/or the impact of the change; (iv) review any use of the SIS as the tool to influence the services or amount of services available to an individual; (v) review other information as may be requested by any member of the group to better enable a comprehensive assessment of the use of the SIS as the tool to inform the system of care; (vi) review the methods for disseminating the data, and comprehensive assessment of the use of the SIS to the public through a variety of channels.

2. The workgroup shall convene in 2017 and shall consider criteria for allowing additional information beyond the SIS and Virginia Supplemental Questions that may be necessary to determine high levels of support needs for individuals in order to ensure the level of support is properly assessed. The department shall report on the results and recommendations of the workgroup to the General Assembly by October 1, 2017."



Explanation

(This amendment adds language directing the Department of Behavioral Health Developmental Services in cooperation with the Department of Medical Assistance Services to convene an annual stakeholders workgroup to oversee and gather feedback on the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) which is used to assess the level of support needs of individuals in the developmental disability waivers. The language requires the workgroup in 2017 to consider additional information beyond the SIS and supplemental questions that should be considered in certain cases for individuals with very high levels of support needs.)