MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Richland Newhope) Wednesday approved a series of benchmarks that, if achieved, will help the agency comply with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services “Conflict-Free Case Management” rule and the Ohio Administrative Code “Free Choice of Provider” rule.
Meeting these benchmarks will mean that the county board will have stopped providing adult day array and non-medical transportation services by the end of 2016. The plan is to transition those services to Richland Newhope Industries, Inc. (RNI), a non-profit agency.
Wednesday’s decision follows a motion passed by the RNI Board in July to pursue adult and transportation services. The approved benchmarks must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities by Oct. 1.
The county DD board has operated RNI’s sheltered adult workshop since 1967. The 96 Adult Services and Transportation personnel who are now employed by the county board will become employees of RNI once the transition is complete.
In 2014, Richland Newhope served 235 individuals in its adult day programming and there were 210 individuals who received non-medical transportation.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rule prohibits the county board from providing both adult Medicaid waiver services and case management. CMS considers this a conflict of interest which must be phased out by 2024 in order to insure an individual has free choice of provider.
“By becoming a private entity, RNI could continue providing adult Medicaid waiver services,” noted Richland Newhope Superintendent Liz Prather. “This would allow for the most seamless transition for individuals we support. Those who are enrolled at RNI should not notice any change in the services they now receive.”
Although the CMS deadline is 2024, as of July 1, Richland Newhope has no longer been able to enroll new waiver recipients into Adult Services unless there are no other willing and qualified providers in the community. As a result, it is best for those Richland Newhope supports to make the conversion sooner than 2024.
Prather pointed out the board’s decision does not mean services for adults are going away.
“Those services will just be provided by other entities in the community,” noted Prather. “New federal regulations have raised the bar regarding free choice of providers which do not allow us to do both case management and services. We currently have 170 providers serving more than 400 people.”
She said Richland Newhope will continue to connect people and families to providers and natural supports. The agency will also continue to use levy dollars to fund the local share for Medicaid waiver services regardless of provider. In addition, Richland Newhope will work to develop, support, and monitor providers who offer integrated day services and employment opportunities in Richland County.
For now, Richland Newhope will maintain a limited transportation program for preschool students enrolled at its Early Childhood Center and for its six residential facilities.
Residential, early intervention, preschool, and therapy services are not funded by waivers and will continue to be operated by the county board.
Those with questions about the benchmarks and transition of services are encouraged to contact Richland Newhope at 419-774-4200. Questions may also be submitted via the website www.rnewhope.org.
