DLTC INFO MEMO 2008-06
STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Health Services DLTC Info Memo Series 2008-06
Division of Long Term Care Date: July 3, 2008
Index Title: Implementation of IRIS program
To: Listserv
For: Area Administrators / Human Services Area Coordinators
Adult Day Care Programs
Adult Family Homes
Aging and Disability Resource Center Directors
County COP Coordinators
County COP-Waiver Contacts
County Department of Community Program Directors
County Departments of Developmental Disabilities Services Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
County Lead Agencies for Alzheimer's Family Caregiver Support Program
County Tribal Aging Directors
County Waiver Coordinators
County DD Coordinators
Family Care CMO Directors
Lead Elder Abuse Contacts
Tribal Chairpersons/Human Services Facilitators
From: Sinikka Santala
Administrator
Subject: Implementation of IRIS program
I am pleased to inform you that we are making good progress in
expanding Family Care statewide. On July 1, 2008, the Department of Health
Services (DHS) began offering a new home and community based program as an
alternative to managed long-term care. Consumers who are eligible for
publicly funded long-term care on or after July 1, 2008 in counties where
Family Care is operating will now have another choice when deciding which
program will best meet their needs.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) directed
DHS to develop an option to provide more choice to consumers eligible for
publicly funded long-term care. To comply with this federal directive, the
Department developed and received federal approval for a new Self-Directed
Supports Medicaid waiver program. This new program is called IRIS, which
stands for "Include, Respect, I Self-Direct."
IRIS is only available to consumers in counties where Family Care is
operating.
Under IRIS, consumers will have a budget based on their individual
needs and use this budget for their services and supports. They will work
with an independent consultant agency and a financial service agency to
develop a plan and purchase services and supports, such as hiring in-home
workers. Please see the attachments about the role and responsibilities of
these two agencies. The IRIS program covers only services available under
home and community-based waivers; clients receive their other services
through the Medicaid "card" fee-for-service system.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) will provide objective
information to consumers about all the available long-term care service
options in their area, which will now be IRIS, Family Care or Family Care
Partnership. Individuals now have the option to self direct all their
services through IRIS or self direct some or all of their services in
Family Care and Family Care Partnership. The ADRC will also determine
functional eligibility for IRIS as it does for Family Care and Family Care
Partnership by using the long-term care functional screen. ADRC staff has
received training on IRIS and enrollment counseling. We plan to provide
further training to ADRC staff during upcoming weeks. In addition,
our partners at Division of Health Care Access and Accountability have
sent procedural information to income maintenance staff regarding IRIS
implementation.
Because IRIS is starting in counties where Family Care or Family Care
Partnership is already in place, the Department wanted to be sure to
inform existing managed care enrollees of this new program choice.
Therefore, the Department sent a letter to all Family Care or Family Care
Partnership members to inform them about IRIS and how to get additional
information if interested.
To anticipate initial questions from current MCO members, the
Department has set up a toll-free IRIS information line at 1-866-807-6907.
Knowledgeable staff will be on call to answer questions consumers may have
after receiving the Department's letter introducing IRIS. After addressing
any questions, if the consumer expresses interest in pursuing IRIS, the
information line staff will direct the consumer to the appropriate ADRC
for additional information. In those counties undergoing transition to
managed care, new individuals coming to the ADRC will receive information
directly from the ADRC.
If you or your staff receives questions about IRIS directly from
consumers, please refer them to their local ADRC.
To find additional materials about IRIS or to view the Department's
Webcast on IRIS, please go to http://dhsmedia.wi.gov/main/Catalog/Front.aspx?cid=b9f62403-7b9c-434c-aef1-9f2c8fba6780
The title of the presentation is "Introduction to Implementing
IRIS."
Additionally, if you or your staff has any questions about this new
option for consumers, please send questions to:
CENTRAL OFFICE CONTACT:
John O'Keefe, Manager
Self Directed Supports Waiver (IRIS)
WI Dept. of Health & Family Services Bureau of Long Term Support
PO Box 7851
Madison, WI 53707-7851
Telephone: (608)261-6749
Facsimile: (608) 261-6752
John.Okeefe@dhs.wisconsin.gov
ATTACHMENTS
ICA Role
FSA Role
MEMO WEB SITE: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dsl_info/
Last Revised: July 12, 2010 |
