AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
59G-13.070Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting Waiver Services
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 46 No. 26, February 7, 2020 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
Rule 59G-13.070 Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting Waiver Services.
(1) through (3) No change.
(4) This rule is in effect for five years from its effective date.
The Florida Mediciad Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting Waiver Services Coverage and Limitations Handbook has been updated as follows:
Table of Contents now includes: Appendix J: Minimum Technical Requirements for iConnect
Definitions now includes:
APD iConnect - APD designates iConnect as the The agency’s data management system as specified in Florida Statutes, Section 393.066(2). APD iConnect is used to document service provisions to APD clients, and provide a centralized location for contains key demographic and recipient-related information. This information includes the recipient’s address, county of residence, program component, legal representative name and address (if applicable) and type of benefits received. APD iConnect includes the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) functionality for the delivery of services as described in Rule 65G-12.002, F.A.C. for iBudget waiver recipients. This does not include EVV functionality for recipients enrolled in the CDC+ program.
iConnect Electronic Visit Verification Mobile Site - APD’s designated functionality of APD iConnect under which visits conducted as part of personal care services or home health care services, as they are defined in Chapter 65G-12, F.A.C., are electronically verified.
Qualifications.
Residential Habilitation.
First sentence now reads: Providers and employees providing residential habilitation services hired after ___________September 2015 (the effective date of this rule) must meet the qualifications
outlined in this handbook.
Fourth paragraph now reads: Providers and employees providing behavior focus and intensive behavior
residential habilitation services hired before ___________ September 2015 (the effective date of this rule) with no break in service, must meet the qualifications outlined in Developmental Disabilities Waiver Service Coverage and Limitations Handbook, November 2010, as outlined below.
Respite Care.
First sentence now reads: Providers and employees providing respite care services hired after ____________September 2015 (the effective date of this rule) must meet the qualifications outlined in this handbook.
Fourth paragraph now reads: Providers and employees providing respite care services hired before _____________September 2015 (the effective dateof this rule) with no break in service must meet the qualifications outlined in Developmental Disabilities Waiver Service Coverage and Limitations Handbook, November 2010, as outlined below.
General Information.
General Provider Requierments.
Fourth bullet, sixth sentence now reads: Providers will comply with APD information security policies, and state and federal regulations and laws, in all use of APD computer systems and data in accordance with Rule 71A-1.006 F.A.C.; Chapter 119, F.S.; section 501.171, F.S.; section 282.318 and 286.011, F.S.
Support Coordination now includes:
Individuals must use all resources available to them prior to using their budget allocation. WSCs are responsible for supporting individuals’ self-direction, working collaboratively with others to meet the individual's needs, and being vigilant about monitoring individuals’ health and safety. The iBudget Waiver places a special emphasis on WSCs’ working with individuals and families to locate and develop natural and community supports. This will require exploration to go beyond the generic resources available from established non-profits. Instead, WSCs will need to work with individuals and families to identify and develop resources, such as the help of family friends, colleagues, churches, or businesses who might be approached directly with requests to support an individual outside of a formal organizational program of assistance.
Recipient Contact Requirements.
Second paragraph now reads: For recipients residing in supported living, if a direct service provider not otherwise licensed to administer medication supervises the self-administration of medication or administers medication to a recipient, it is the responsibility of the supported living coach to assure that there is a current medication administration validation certificate as required by Rule Chapter 65G-7 F.A.C., and that it is updated annually. In the situation where there is no supported living coach, this responsibility falls to the WSC.
Appendix B has been updated as follows:
iBudget training requirements for iBudget Waiver Providers now reads:
With the promulgation of this handbook, Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) provider training requirements are broken into three categories: Required Basic, Required Pre-Service Certification, and Required In-Service (also known as Continuing Education in certain professions). However, provider staff employed prior to the promulgation continue to be held to the qualifications that were in rule at the time of their employment. A chart Charts follows this section and provides additional details on the new course titles, course descriptions, time frames for successfully completing courses, trainer qualifications, documentation of successful completions, and the frequencies in which courses need to be completed. Failure to timely complete all required training stated within this handbook constitutes grounds for APD to exercise disciplinary action according to sections II.A.1. and III.B. of the provider’s Medicaid Waiver Services Agreement.
For all APD training except iConnect Training, pProvider staff, management staff, and solo providers rendering services prior to the promulgation will have 180 days from the date of this handbook's promulgation to come into compliance with new training requirements not previously completed in this Appendix.
For the purpose of APD iConnect Training only, provider staff, management staff, and solo providers enrolled before the promulgation of this handbook will have 90 days from the date of the notice of training being posted on the agency’s website to complete the training. New provider staff, management staff, and solo providers enrolled and hired to render services after the promulgation of this rule must be in compliance with the rule.
The use of trainers certified by the named entities contained in the following chart are effective immediately: AIDS/HIV/Infection Control, First Aid, CPR and HIPAA.
For Required Basic and Required Pre-Service Certification, emphasis is being placed on whether the trainee successfully completes the course in lieu of the number of hours the trainee completes. Successful completion is defined as attending and participating in all required sessions, completing all applicable assignments, and successfully passing any required course test(s) with a score of 85% or better, except for training relating to APD iConnect, which shall be 75% or higher. Trainees who do not successfully complete a course will not be issued a certificate of successful completion. Students may retake a test if no passing score was achieved.
While required courses no longer identify a number of hours the trainee must complete, providers are responsible to ensure that each of their staff is providing services in a competent and appropriate manner in accordance with required training. In-Service training is based on the number of hours the trainee completes.
The use of Web-based training for any required training is acceptable if it is the current curriculum and is approved by the APD state office.
APD’s calendar listing classroom trainings which are provided by APD may be found on APD’s Web site. For required courses, go to http://ptc.apd.myflorida.com/AvailableTraining.aspx?TrainingType=2.
For in-service courses, go to http://ptc.apd.myflorida.com/AvailableTraining.aspx?TrainingType=1.
I. Required Training
A. Basic Training
1https://apd.myflorida.com/waiver/iconnect/elearning.htm
Direct Service Providers who hold professional certificates for the services listed below must only complete Core Competencies, Zero Tolerance, and HIPAA, and APD iConnect training. Independent or solo providers and management staff for these services must complete Requirements for all Waiver Providers:
IV. APD iConnect Training
All providers described below are required to take APD iConnect training to ensure they possess the skills and knowledge necessary to use APD’s data management system effectively.
APD provides APD iConnect Training on a cyclical basis, with each cycle coinciding with iConnect functions becoming operational. The course content is the same for new and existing providers, but the timeframes for completing the courses differ as described below. APD iConnect training need only be completed once unless it is required as part of a plan of remediation.
A. APD iConnect Training for Providers Enrolled Prior to Promulgation of this ______ Handbook Version
Providers already enrolled prior to the promulgation of this ______ handbook version are required to complete applicable APD iConnect training as it becomes available. General APD iConnect training requirements are listed in Appendix B. Table 1., Section 3., and service-specific training requirements, including services requiring EVV, are listed in Appendix C.
Providers shall receive In-Service training credit upon receiving a Certificate of Completion. Providers shall only receive a Certificate of Completion if they attend and participate in all required sessions and pass the test with a score of 75% or higher. After two failed attempts to pass any applicable exam, the provider shall receive a Certificate of Attendance for that course instead of a Certificate of Completion. Providers shall not receive In-Service credit for receiving a Certificate of Attendance. A provider must have either a Certificate of Attendeance or a Certificate of Completion before being provided access to APD iConnect. A provider who does not take the course, shall not receive a certificate and must complete the required training before the Agency will provide access to bill for that service code in APD iConnect.
B. APD iConnect Training for Providers Enrolled After Promulgation of this _____ Handbook Version
Providers enrolled after the promulgation of this ______ handbook version are required to complete APD iConnect training in accordance with the time frames identified in Appendix B., Table 1., Section 2. and, if applicable, Appendix C.
Providers shall only receive a Certificate of Completion if they attend and participate in all required sessions and pass the test with a score of 75% or higher. A provider must have a Certificate of Completion before being provided access to APD iConnect. A provider who does not take the course shall not receive a certificate and must complete the required training before the Agency will provide access to APD iConnect.
Table 1, Section 1 now reads: Required of all Direct Care Service Providers - Each Course has a Standardized Curricula Developed by APD
Table 1, Section 2 Course Content, now includes:
14. Multi-Factor Authentication and APD iConnect Access
15. APD iConnect Basics
16. Overview of the Consumer Central Record
17. Provider Documentation
18. Service Provider Submits a Claim
19. The QIO and Corrective Action Plan Process
Table 1, Section 3 now includes the following table:
Appendix B, Section 3 has been renumbered as Section 4
Appendix B, Section 4 Timeframe column now includes:
Within 90 120 days of providing services successful completion of preservice training
Appendix C, Service Specific Training Requirements now includes:
Required Pre-Service or In-Service Training
Agency owners and solo providers of this service must complete APD approved training for utilization of APD iConnect when it becomes operational. Additionally, all providers of this service must complete training for EVV claims submissions, processing uploaded deliveries, and connecting to APD iConnect EVV Mobile Site, complete the documentation, and upload back into APD iConnect.
Respite- Children in family home only now reads: Required Pre-Service or In-Service Training
Agency owners and solo providers of this service must complete APD approved training for utilization of APD iConnect when it becomes operational. Additionally, all providers of this service must complete training for EVV claims submissions, processing uploaded deliveries, and connecting to APD iConnect mobile site, complete the documentation, and upload back into APD iConnect.
Appendix J: Minimum Technical Requirements for iConnect includes:
APPENDIX J
MINIMUM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ICONNECT
Minimum Equipment Requirements for APD iConnect
This document provides the minimum hardware, software, operating system, browser, and Internet access requirements for APD iConnect. The full details of computer configuration requirements, settings, and required updates are available at http://www.apdcares.org/waiver/iconnect. While it is possible that APD iConnect will work on other hardware and software, APD iConnect may not perform as expected.
Hardware/Software
All providers must have access to hardware and software that meet these minimum requirements:
Operating System/Browser Combinations
The following combinations are certified and supported:
Windows 7 SP1
• Internet Explorer 11 – 32 bit
• Internet Explorer 11 – 64 bit
Windows 8.1
• Internet Explorer 11 – 32 bit
• Internet Explorer 11 – 64 bit
Windows 10
• Internet Explorer 11 – 32 bit
• Internet Explorer 11 – 64 bit
Internet Access Requirements
To determine bandwidth, count how many users will be sharing services on the network and decide if they will have a light or heavy workload in relation to network bandwidth. Use the following values as starting points:
• Light user workload: 80 Kbps
• Heavy user workload: 120 Kbps
The system does not support dial-up access. Agency infrastructure should allow 100ms or less round-trip travel time from end user browser/computer to the APD iConnect site.
iConnect EVV Mobile Site
All workers who provide Home Health Services or Personal Care Services as defined in 65G-12.001, F.A.C. will need to use a smartphone, tablet or laptop with geotracking and active internet access to utilize the EVV Mobile Site within APD iConnect to document the provision of those services. Minimum operating system and browser requirements include:
• Microsoft Windows 10 or higher
• Safari 8 or higher
• Mozilla Firefox 39 or higher
• Google Chrome 44 or higher
• iOS 8 or higher
• Android (Lollipop) or higher
