MaineCare Section 17: Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment, Community Integration Services - September 23,2016

RE: Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment for Community Integration Services

Dear Section 17 Providers:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), including the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) in coordination with the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) and the Office of Continuous Quality Improvement (OCQI), would like to announce a change in procedures for providers of Section 17, Community Integration Services.  On September 14^th 2016, a rule change was proposed to add an assessment instrument that will be required to be completed as part of the regular assessment process for Community Integration Service providers. The Department would like to communicate information about the assessment instrument, the enhanced service process to utilize the instrument, the Department’s plan to coordinate education of and training in utilizing the instrument, and request provider participation in these events.

The Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment (ANSA) is a multipurpose tool that assesses the needs and strengths of adults seeking behavioral health services.  The ANSA may be used to support providers in determining the appropriate level of care, to assist in individualized treatment planning, to facilitate quality improvement initiatives, and to promote proper monitoring of service outcomes. The ANSA is used in a number of states, as well as in Canada, and is based on considerable research supporting its reliability, ability to enhance service planning, and capacity to increase communication and consensus with treatment teams. 

Providers will complete this tool at the initial assessment and the treatment team will review the ANSA every ninety (90) days.  The ANSA will be updated annually at minimum, or when other significant life changes occur.  The ANSA will be completed by the Community Integration Services provider and entered into the Department’s Enterprise Information System (EIS) for data tracking and reporting. 

During the first two weeks of October, the Department will host information sessions via webinar and live meetings at up to five locations across the state. The information sessions will provide an overview of the ANSA tool and its expected implementation for Community Integration Service providers. 

The regulatory expectation is that Community Integration Service providers are to be trained in the ANSA multipurpose tool. The Department will support provider training in two formats. Self-guided  ANSA certification is available and can be found here: http://praedfoundation.org/training-and-certification/ In addition, the Department will host live training sessions October 31^st - November 3^rd to supplement the online training in order to best support the service provider’s education, as well as specific training for supervisors.  More information will follow shortly regarding registration. Additionally, SAMHS and the OCQI, in coordination with OMS and the Office of Information Technology (OIT), will work with Section 17 providers on enrollment and training in EIS, so that data entry and reporting can begin once the proposed rule is adopted.   

The locations and schedule for the live information sessions and webinars are below.  Please RSVP to Lisa Weaver, 624-4050, or lisa.weaver@maine.gov, by close of business on Friday September 30^th, so we may plan for attendance accordingly.

Live Information Sessions:

Augusta, October 3, 11am-12pm – Augusta Civic Center - Penobscot Room

Portland, October 4, 11am-12pm – 151 Jetport Blvd - Stroudwater Room

Lewiston, October 7, 11am-12pm – 200 Main St. – Conference Room A&B

Bangor, TBD, 11am-12pm – Bangor DHHS Office – Client Activity Room

Caribou, TBD, 11am-12pm – Caribou DHHS Office

Webinars:

September 28^th 12pm-1:30pm

October 12^th 12pm-1:30pm

(Webinar details to follow in a separate notice)

For any questions regarding this notice, contact Lisa Weaver at (207) 624-4050.