Questions & Answers  

6/10/05-UPDATE ON UCS RFA
2004 Q & A

Message to UCS Applicants-June 30, 2005

Background: Today is the last day of the current UCS contracts. Tomorrow marks the start of the new UCS contract cycle. Applicants for UCS services are aware that contracts will not be in place by tomorrow, however, as VESID continues to implement new contracts, it has issued a number of written communications for the purpose of maintaining consumer services until contracts are actually in place. This message is to summarize and update the current status of all UCS services.

Services:
Not-For-Profit Providers

• Not-for-profit providers who have current (2004-2005) UCS contracts have received written directive letters and budget listings notifying them of approved 7/1/05 UCS services and rates. VESID offices now have the ability to issue authorizations against those contracts. Contracts will be mailed out to providers for signature over the next few days.
  Specialized Vocational Training Services (SVTs)- This is a special category of services. VESID will be continuing these services via off-contract authorizations at current rates until BPSS licensing is completed. VESID will utilize a new contracting mechanism for these services.

• Not-for-Profit providers who do not have current UCS contracts will be mailed written directive letters and budget listings within the next week. VESID offices will have the ability to issue authorizations for UCS services for this group of applicants effective 6/30/05.

Proprietary/Individual Providers- most proprietary providers are current vendors and none have current UCS contracts. Written directive letters will be sent to all who were UCS applicants by the end of next week. VESID offices will have the ability to issue authorizations for UCS services to this group of applicants effective 6/30/05.

All UCS Applicants- In instances where current and/or applied for services are not included in the written directive letter, and the applicant or VESID staff believe that the service was not included due to some error, VESID will review each of these issues individually to determine if the service can be continued. VESID cannot assure that all services will simply be continued in some fashion because some programs were failed for appropriate reasons. This must be completed on an individual services basis. Jack LaFrank and Bill Deschenes are collecting all such "missing services" and will address these issues. Providers and DOMs have been told to forward all such issues to them.

Authorizations: VESID has informed providers that not all authorizations will be in place by 7/1/05 but that authorizations will be adjusted in the future in order to assure that all appropriate services are reimbursed. Providers are aware of the reasons for the delay in the start of actual contracts and share our concern that services not be interrupted.

• For VESID consumers currently in authorized service- Services should be continued unless otherwise noted by the VESID counselor. VESID offices will be provided with instructions on the adjustments required for authorizations for such services. All current UCS services (2004-05 contracts) have authorization end-dates of no later than 6/30/05. New authorizations will need to be issued, at the new contract rates, for all services provided from 7/1/05 thereon. VESID Central Office is providing all VESID offices with lists of consumers who will require such re-authorization. It may be necessary for providers to inform the appropriate VESID office of the number of units, which will need to be, reauthorized at the new contract rates.

• For new referrals for start dates on or after 7/1/05- Providers must receive permission to provide this service from the VESID counselor. This could be the authorization, if completed in time, or a letter, fax or e-mail or documentation by the VESID counselor as a case note, which verifies that the provider has been asking to begin the service. Again, authorizations will be adjusted to reflect the actual service, as provided.

• Not-for-Profit and Proprietary Providers not currently under UCS contracts- Providers who are entering UCS contracts for the first time and who have current VESID consumers in service (authorizations which extend beyond 6/30/05), will continue to serve those consumers under those authorizations. They will not be cancelled and re-authorized. All new consumers referred for services, which begin 7/1/05 or later, will be authorized against the new UCS contracts and at contracted rates.

Contracts: Statewide and regional stakeholder organizations have been asked to encourage their members to sign and return UCS contracts as quickly as possible so that we can finalize those contracts. DOMs have been asked to contact their local proprietary providers for the same reason.

Reporting: Information on UCS reporting requirements will be sent to all UCS contract agencies very shortly. VESID will also be scheduling training in such reporting prior to the first reporting due-date.