DMHSAS Info Memo 2009-04

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State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Date: November 4, 2009

Index Title: Matching Funds to Federal Financial Participation for Medicaid Covered Services under DHS 34, 36 or 63.

To: Listserv

For:
Area Administrators / Human Service Area Coordinators
Bureau Directors / Section Chiefs
County Departments of Community Programs Directors
County Departments of Developmental Disabilities
Services Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
County Mental Health Coordinators
Tribal Chairpersons / Human Services Facilitators

From:
John Easterday Ph.D., Administrator
Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Subject: Matching Funds to Federal Financial Participation for Medicaid Covered Services under DHS 34, 36 or 63.

Document Summary

The legislature appropriated additional General Purpose Revenue in the amounts of $1,000,000 in SFY 2010 and $3,000,000 in SFY 2011. The purpose of these funds is to provide the matching funds to federal financial participation (FFP) for crisis intervention services, comprehensive community services (CCS), and community support program (CSP) services. This memo describes the conditions on the use of these funds, reporting requirements, and the allocation methodology.

Background

2009 Wisconsin Act 28 shifts the responsibility of providing the required match to federal financial participation (FFP) from the state to the counties for admission of children and elderly consumers to Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutes. The legislature, to partially offset this shifting of costs allocated additional General Purpose Revenue in the amounts of $1,000,000 in SFY 2010 and $3,000,000 in SFY 2011. The purpose of these funds is to provide the matching funds to federal financial participation (FFP) for crisis intervention services, comprehensive community services (CCS), and community support program (CSP) services.

It is the department’s understanding that the legislature will continue to allocate $3,000,000 per year in future budgets for this purpose.

Amount of Funding for Counties

Initially, the department discussed with the Wisconsin County Association (WCA) and Wisconsin County Human Services Association (WCHSA) distributing an even amount of $2,000,000 during CY 2010 and CY 2011. The formula for distributing the funds was to be based on:

1. Census data of the number of persons under age 22 and 65 years of age and older.
2. Existence of a certified program under DHS 34, Subchapter III; DHS 36; and DHS 63 (e.g., a county had a certified crisis program, CCS program and multiple CSPs received a score of three).
3. A minimum (floor) and maximum (ceiling) amount of funding criteria were established.

The allocation formula was set for the $2,000,000, but the calculation did not take into account the availability of $500,000 during the period of July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 that is available, but not obligated. So, the allocation formula was prorated to obligate $2,500,000 in CY 2010 and will be prorated for $3,000,000 in CY 2011.

Purpose and Service Conditions on the Use of the Additional Funds

1. These additional funds may be used by the County only for the purpose of matching funds to federal financial participation for Medicaid covered services provided by a program that is certified by the department under DHS 34, Subpart III; DHS 36; or DHS 63.
2. If a county does not have a certified program under DHS 34, Subchapter III; DHS 36; or DHS 63, then the county may use these funds in a subcontractual arrangement with another county that does have a certified program.

Reporting Requirements for the Additional Funds

Counties shall submit to the Contract Administrator no later than June 30th of each year the information to complete the table below exclusive to the use of the Matching Funds to Federal Financial Participation for Medicaid Covered Services under DHS 34, 36 or 63:

* Counties that are unable to provide the amount of the Matching Funds to Federal Financial Participation for Medicaid Covered Serices under DHS 34, 36 or 63 funds used for these clients’ services are to notify the Contract Administrator at the beginning of each calendar of their inability to provide the data.

It is expected that all counties should be able to report, at a minimum, the total number of unduplicated clients who were served with these funds during the year, as well as the total expenditures for the year.

Regional Office Contact:

Area Administrators

Central Office Contact:

Dan Zimmerman
Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
1 West Wilson Street, Room 851
P.O. Box 7851
Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7851
Telephone: (608) 266-7072
FAX: (608) 267-7793
Email: Daniel.Zimmerman@wisconsin.gov

MEMO WEBSITE:

DMHSAS Memo 2009-04
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dsl_info/InfoMemos/DMHSAS/CY2009/200904imemo.htm

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Attachments:

Attachment 1: CY 2010 and CY 2011 Distributions by County Agency.

Last Revised:  July 12, 2010