Information on the IHSS payroll purging: DSS has two new reports created relating to the automatic termination of providers with no payroll activity statewide for one year.  All relates back to notifying people of subsequent arrests that may disqualify providers from IHSS employment. [Download]

This year’s budget trailer bill continues the 3.6% IHSS hours reduction from the prior year.  This letter implements that continued cut.  The new reduction of 3.6 percent to every IHSS recipient’s total authorized hours will be effective beginning August 1, 2012. Notices will be mailed beginning July 16, 2012. (The temp NOA is attached.) Recipients will still be able to choose which specific authorized IHSS services they want to reduce. The new 3.6 percent reduction will first be applied to any documented unmet need (other than protective supervision).

A county that receives a request for a reassessment during the 90 days following issuance of a NOA generated by the 3.6 percent reduction must evaluate whether the request’s purpose is to dispute the 3.6 percent reduction, or whether there has been a change affecting the recipient’s functional abilities.  IF the county decides it’s just to dispute the hour reduction, it shall not do the reassessment, but shall explain state hearing rights. [Download]

 

Info on accessing the Case Management, Information And Payrolling System (CMIPS) system, to comply with HIPAA.[Download]

Transmittal of the outreach materials that explain the new process for submitting timesheets and which reiterate the program rules related to timesheet submission. Expect confusion and questions. [Download]

 

Information on upcoming materials related to the state “Community First Choice Option” program, which includes a requirement to provide voluntary training for IHSS recipients on how to manage their IHSS care providers.  Although announcing the 15 new factsheets, they are not yet available (but will be “on or before” the end of May, with translated versions in Armenian, Spanish and Chinese, to be added by June 30, 2012.).  The ACL also links to the new Recipient Handbook.  [Download]

Instructions for implementing AB 876 , which prohibits an IHSS provider applicant from signing his/her own individual waiver request as a recipient’s authorized representative.  Potential providers who were convicted of certain “Tier 2” crimes are barred, unless the recipient signs a waiver.  The exceptions are for provider applicants who are a parent, guardian or person having legal custody of a minor recipient or the conservator, spouse or registered domestic partner of an adult recipient.  [Download]