2ND ROUND TESTING FOR THOSE WHO MISSED OR DIDN’T PASS THE FIRST ROUND, NEW CDS PROVIDERS MARCH 2024 – CONSUMER DIRECTED SERVICES (CDS) MANAGER REQUIREMENT – PER 19 CSR 15-8.400(1)D

PLEASE READ TO THE END

 

Per the updated CDS regulation (19 CSR 15-8.400(1)(D), all CDS providers are required to have a Certified CDS Manager.  Please see the original FROM THE DIRECTOR notification https://mmac.mo.gov/cds-manager-testing/  posted to the MMAC website on March 8, 2024.

 

For those who did not attend or pass the first round of testing or newly enrolled in March 2024:

Providers are sorted by NPI The ONE person who will be the CDS Manager will be allowed to sign up to take the test Registration links will be emailed to the providers – DO NOT share the link with anyone else

 

DO NOT register for more than one test or register more than one-person, additional registrations will be rejected. The schedule below is based on currently enrolled CDS providers as of March 2024 who did not make it through the first round of testing.  Mark your calendars for the dates based on your NPI.

 

NPI-first 4 digits               Test Date

1003 – 1487                      May 21, 2024

1497 – 1992                      May 23, 2024

 

Emails with the link to register will go out to those CDS providers not compliant or newly enrolled on Monday, April 29, 2024.  For those with scheduling conflicts – please reach out to MMAC to be added to one of the backup dates and to receive the link to register.

Backup Dates:                  May 29 & 30, 2024 – not NPI specific, first come, first serve

 

First round had some issues with registration and emails, please refer to the WebEx Instruction link for tips and tricks regarding registration and confirmation emails.  Registration Instructions: Instructions to Register and JOIN with WebEx for CDS Manager Testing

 

The virtual testing sessions will start at 9:00 am, please allow 4 hours (reason for testing, current trends, quick break, overview of how the test will look, open book material and 3 hours for the test).

 

Open Book Materials for test: https://mmac.mo.gov/providers/provider-enrollment/home-and-community-based-services/open-book-dm-testing-materials/

 

No GRANDFATHERING – ALL CDS providers MUST HAVE a Certified CDS MANAGER who has passed this test.  If you or one of your employees has attended the CDS Orientation or passed and/or is currently an In-Home Services Designated Manager – neither of these will apply nor be used for passing the Certified CDS Manager testANY PAST TRAINING WILL NOT APPLY TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.

 

Questions regarding the CDS Manager Test can be sent to MMAC.IHSCONTRACTS@DSS.MO.GOV

Based on the actions of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, notice is hereby given that the agreement between the Missouri Department of Social Services and Timberlake Care Center as a provider of services in the MO HealthNet (Medicaid) program, will be terminated at the close of business April 11, 2024.

 

To facilitate the orderly relocation of MO HealthNet beneficiaries, for residents admitted March 22, 2024 or earlier, payment may continue for up to 30 days for services furnished after April 11, 2024.

 

Todd Richardson, Director

MO HealthNet Division

Department of Social Services

 

Tracy Niekamp, Administrator

Section for Long-Term Care Regulation

Department of Health and Senior Services

Based on the actions of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, notice is hereby given that the agreement between the Missouri Department of Social Services and Hidden Lake Care Center as a provider of services in the MO HealthNet (Medicaid) program, will be terminated at the close of business March 31, 2024.

 

To facilitate the orderly relocation of MO HealthNet beneficiaries, for residents admitted March 12, 2024 or earlier, payment may continue for up to 30 days for services furnished after March 31, 2024.

 

Todd Richardson, Director

MO HealthNet Division

Department of Social Services

 

Tracy Niekamp, Administrator

Section for Long-Term Care Regulation

Department of Health and Senior Services

The registration links for the April 17 & 18, 2024 HCBS Provider Update Meetings have been added to the MMAC website – Update Meeting webpage Provider Update Meetings.

 

If you are a designated manager for an in-home services provider, you are required to attend one of these sessions each year in order to maintain your designated manager certification.  The registration form has been updated due to MMAC having over 20,000+ DMs, please indicate on the form if you are DM and the last four digits of SSN to make sure credit of attendance is indicated to the correct person.

CONSUMER DIRECTED SERVICES (CDS) MANAGER REQUIREMENT – PER 19 CSR 15-8.400(1)D

PLEASE READ TO THE END

Per the updated CDS regulation (19 CSR 15-8.400(1)(D), all CDS providers are required to have a Certified CDS Manager.  This manager will be required to pass the Certified CDS Manager Test administered by MMAC.  All currently enrolled CDS providers will be required to be compliant by December 31, 2024.

 

To accomplish this, MMAC will do the following:

Sort providers by NPI Provider weekly or bi-weekly testing – depending on MMAC staff availability (see schedule below) The ONE person who will be the CDS Manager will be allowed to sign up to take the test Registration links will be emailed to the providers – DO NOT share the link with anyone else

 

If the chosen CDS Manager does not pass, do not worry; we will have a second and third round of testing so that all currently enrolled CDS providers have a Certified CDS Manager on file.  Those who are not compliant after the third round of testing will be addressed.

 

No GRANDFATHERING – ALL CDS providers MUST HAVE a Certified CDS MANAGER who has passed this test.  If you or one of your employees has attended the CDS Orientation or passed and/or is currently an In-Home Services Designated Manager – neither of these will apply nor be used for passing the Certified CDS Manager test.

 

DO NOT try to skip ahead or register more than one person, additional registrations will be rejected. The schedule below is based on currently enrolled CDS providers as of February 2024.  Mark your calendars for the dates based on your NPI.

NPI-first 4 digits               Test Date

1003 – 1164                       March 26, 2024

1174 – 1366                      March 28, 2024

1376 – 1568                      April 2, 2024

1578 – 1740                      April 3, 2024

1750 – 1932                      April 9, 2024

1942 – 1992                      April 11, 2024

 

The virtual testing sessions will start at 9:00 am, please allow 4 hours (overview of how the test will look, open book material, quick break and 3 hours for the test).  An email with the registration link will be sent to the business email on file with MMAC/MO HealthNet the week before the scheduled test date.

 

MMAC is aware that not every provider has the same days and hours as above; please do your best to schedule time.  If you cannot, you will be added to the second round of testing.  Please note that MMAC will not schedule separate tests to accommodate individual providers.  There are over 1,100 CDS providers; MMAC will need your cooperation to get everyone compliant by the end of this year.

 

MMAC will continue with the CDS Orientation training until July as a requirement to submit proposals.  MMAC will then transition to testing requirements for all new CDS proposals submitted after September 1, 2024.

 

REMINDER – CDS Managers will be REQUIRED to attend yearly MMAC sponsored trainings (19 CSR 15-8.400(1)(E)(2).  To maintain certification, CDS Managers must attend one of the Annual Update Meetings (held April and October).  It is the responsibility of the manager and Vendor agency to maintain copies of certification and proof of attendance to yearly trainings to show compliance with the regulation.

 

Questions regarding the CDS Manager Test can be sent to MMAC.IHSCONTRACTS@DSS.MO.GOV

 

The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) has posted an updated resource regarding Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). This Missouri EVV Aggregator Solution Provider Training provides a brief overview of EVV and offers instruction regarding accessing the EVV Aggregator Solution (EAS).

 

This resource is specific to Missouri EVV requirements and is recommended for new EAS users as well as existing users who wish to expand their knowledge of the system.

 

Refer to the MHD EVV program page for additional information.

 

If you have questions regarding EVV or the new resource, contact Ask.EVV@dss.mo.gov.

 

For additional information on claims, resources, and more, register for an Education and Training provider webinar

The Consumer Directed Services (CDS) regulation 19 CSR 15-8, chapters 2 & 4 have been updated.

The new regulation goes into effect February 29, 2024.  CDS providers are required to read through and educate themselves on the updated chapters.

MMAC will update the CDS Proposal for Contract once the new regulation goes into effect.

Please stay tuned for upcoming information regarding the new Certified CDS Manager training and testing process.

State and federal regulations (13 CSR 65-2 and 42 CFR 455.460) require Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) to collect an application fee from all new and revalidating “Institutional” Medicaid providers. “Individual” providers such as physicians, dentists and other individual non-physician practitioners are not required to pay the application fee.


The application fee increased to $709.00 on January 1, 2024.



Read more about the application fee and hardship waivers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with the States, is measuring improper payments in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs under their Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) process.

 

CMS and its PERM contractors will be sending records requests directly to Missouri Medicaid/CHIP providers for claims billed during state fiscal year 2024. Additional information about the PERM program is addressed on the CMS PERM website (https://www.cms.gov/PERM). Refer to the “Providers” link on the website.

 

Federal regulations require that Medicaid/CHIP providers submit the medical record documentation to support claims for Medicaid/CHIP services to CMS upon request. Providing medical records for Medicaid/CHIP patients does not violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Patient authorization is not required to respond to this request. CMS and its contractors will comply with the Privacy Act federal regulations governing the sharing and transmission of Protected Health Information (PHI).

 

Questions regarding the PERM audit may also be directed to the State PERM representative Joyce Chandler at 573-751-7993 or please email MMAC.PERMAUDITS@DSS.MO.GOV.

 

Currently enrolled Adult Day Care providers and Doorways (AIDS Waiver) are REQUIRED to attend a one-hour training session hosted by MMAC at 9:00 am on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The training will be held virtually via WebEx and registration is required prior to joining the session.

 

HCBS Settings Requirement Nov 1, 2023 – Link to Register WebEx


The training will cover updates to the HCBS Settings Requirements, survey forms, training of employees, a new provider assurance form and how to properly fill them out. At least one person (Director, owner, or a managing employee) from each provider must attend the session to stay in compliance with enrollment.

 

Information on the HCBS Setting Requirements , initial findings and assessment/survey can be found on the MMAC website, HCBS provider main page.

 

https://mmac.mo.gov/providers/provider-enrollment/home-and-community-based-services/