Systems Transformation Grants

IOWA

Grant Information


Name of Grantee

Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise

Title of Grant

IowaCare: Rebalancing for Increased Community Capacity, Access, and Choice

Type of Grant

Real Choice Systems Transformation Grant

Amount of Grant

$2,286,469

Year Original Funding Received

2005

Contact Information


Debbie Johnson, Program Manager
Iowa Medicaid Enterprise
100 Army Post Road
Des Moines, IA 50315-6257

515-725-1012
djohnso6@dhs.state.ia.us

Subcontractor(s)

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), University of Iowa
Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa Finance Authority
Myers and Stauffer
Iowa Foundation for Medical Care

Target Population(s)


All individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

Goals


  • Improved access to life-term support services: development of one-stop system.
  • Creation of a system that more effectively manages the funding for long-term supports that promote community living options.
  • Long-term supports coordinated with affordable and accessible housing.

Activities


  • Augment Iowa's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) project to create a Web-based information and referral system for older Iowans and people with disabilities that customizes information for users.
  • Develop an accessible housing registry and link it to the ADRC project's enhanced virtual information and referral system.
  • Establish an eligibility/assessment work group of community providers, case managers, and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) personnel to develop strategies to improve efficiencies in the eligibility/assessment process, and to identify areas of confusion about policies, staffing issues, and training needs.
  • Ensure that hospital discharge planners and other health professionals in the "long-term care critical pathway" are trained and equipped to support community living options.
  • Develop a statewide resource allocation plan that will expand home and community services for both the frail elderly and people with disabilities.
  • Develop mechanisms to ensure the availability of technical assistance and support to institutional providers seeking to diversify.
  • Develop a case-mix adjusted reimbursement methodology for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and for home and community services.
  • Develop and implement the framework for the use of electronic medical records to track Medicaid service utilization by individuals with complex health care needs.
  • Implement assessments to monitor the health care quality of people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities to identify opportunities to improve health status and outcomes.
  • Enhance coordination and expansion of transportation services as a critical support for community living by designing and implementing a regional service brokerage program.
  • Develop counseling and assistance with housing-related supports for individuals at risk of institutionalization to help them stay in the community.
  • Present a "Housing Summit III" in collaboration with the Executive Office to educate stakeholders on the continuing urgent need for affordable and accessible housing in Iowa.

Abstract


The heart of IME's Systems Transformation efforts is the IowaCare Medicaid reform legislation, passed during the 2005 legislative session, that sets the direction for the redesign of Iowa's system of long-term supports for individuals with disabilities and older Iowans. The Systems Transformation grant will improve information and access, streamline the eligibility and assessment process, develop a case-mix adjusted reimbursement methodology for disability services and a plan for expansion for home and community services, and develop strategies to improve health care quality for people with mental retardation, developmental disabilities, and complex medical conditions.