General Relief Assisted Living Program S E N

General Relief Assisted Living Program S E N I O R A N D D I S A B I LI T I E S S E R V I C E S

General Relief Program Staff Oversight of General Relief (GR) program transitioned to: v Jordyn Grant, GR Program Manager GR Program staff: John Sutton, Health Program Associate (907)334 -0888 v Lisa La. Badie, Senior Services Technician (907)334 -2672 v Shanon Stallard, Senior Services Technician (907)269 -3464 v

General Relief Program � GR was designed as a temporary safety net program for vulnerable adults, and is utilized only after all other resources are exhausted; yet average GR stay is 274 days. v Other resources include but are not limited to: Medicaid and Adult Public Assistance (APA), and must be applied for through DPA prior to approval of GR benefits. � GR recipients must re-apply every 6 months, and must be submitted to GR at least 15 days before expiring. The GR approval letters and calculation sheets indicate the start and end dates (examples are in the folders). v Approval letters and calculation sheets can be obtained by requesting one from the applicant, guardian, social worker, or case manager. v Providers should ensure that clients have active GR benefits, and may also contact GR to verify benefits. � Currently, GR does send renewal application requests; however this is only a courtesy, and it is the client or legal representative’s responsibility to re-apply for GR benefits 15 days before the expiration date. v If renewal applications are not submitted before the date requested, GR benefits will be closed.

General Relief Provider Agreements Assisted Living Homes must have a GR Provider Agreement on file before serving GR clients. v If services are provided prior to having a GR Provider Agreement, you will NOT be compensated for your services. v Payment will NOT be backdated to initial services for GR clients who move into your ALH. Payments will begin, starting the day your Provider Agreement has been approved. GR Provider Agreement must be renewed prior to expiration. It is the Provider’s responsibility to track this. Questions can be directed to: Grants and Contracts: v Nancy Brooks, Grants Administrator DHSS Grants and Contracts Phone: (907) 465 -2835 Fax: (907) 465 -8678 Email: nancy. brooks@alaska. gov

General Relief Application and Benefits • Assisted Living Homes (ALH) can assist with filling out General Relief Renewal Applications for clients already residing within their homes. v We do not allow ALHs to assist with Initial Applications. • The GR Program is required to send both the Client/Guardian and the ALH a 30 day notice prior to termination of benefits. v Our 30 day notices includes a renewal application request: Clients/Guardians and the ALH are informed that a renewal application must be received by the date requested or benefits will end. v The renewal application request contains both: the date the renewal applications are required by and the date benefits will terminate.

Reminders for Renewal Applications The GR application must be complete, including all signatures and initials indicated on the application. v Example: John Smith initialed (JS) etc. Diagnosis codes (ICD-10) must be present, and functional assistance information must be completed on the Physicians Report. Must submit 3 months of bank statements (Current month application is submitted and two months prior) for verification of income. Demographics page must be complete, including POA/Guardian information with attached POA or Guardianship Paperwork if applicable.

General Relief Waitlist • Requests for assistance from the General Relief Program is currently outpacing available funding. An increase in the number of applicants, as well as recipient participation in the program for longer periods of time have contributed to this shortfall. • All initial applications that are approved are added to the waitlist, to be drawn as funding becomes available. • Why is this important to ALHs? v Renewal Applications submitted to the GR Program after the date requested will be processed as Initial Applications. Benefits will be terminated as stated on the renewal application request letter. v If the initial application is approved, the applicant will be placed on the waitlist. v To ensure clients already residing in your ALH maintain their GR benefits, it is critical that renewal applications are submitted by the date requested.

General Relief Program Invoices What you can do to help: Questions can be sent to: General. Relief@hss. soa. directak. net v Emailing the GR DSM is the fastest way to get your questions answered. You must have a DSM to send a message to the GR DSM is a requirement of being a GR Provider. Further info regarding DSM is located in the Folders. Submit complete & accurate invoices on time to prevent delays in processing Include your vendor # on the invoice Do not bill multiple months on same invoice Don’t submit multiple invoices for the same person/same months Invoice must be typed, not hand written Include correct rates/dates and days on invoices Remember to sign the invoice Please refrain from contacting us about the status of payment unless it has been 30 days or more since you submitted your invoice

Invoices Important Information • When can invoices be submitted? v The first day of the following month, NOT last day of current. Example: for the month of January 2020, the earliest you can submit the invoice is February 1 st, 2020. v Invoices must be submitted to the GR Program within 30 days. Example: for the month of January 2020, the latest you can submit the invoice is March 1 st, 2020. a) If an invoice is submitted after the 30 th day, a detailed description as to why it’s being turned in late must accompany the invoice. b) This will be evaluated by the GR Program Manager and Program Supervisor prior to approval, and can be denied per your Provider Agreement (GR Provider Agreement – IV Billing). • How long does it take to get paid? v Complete and accurate invoices are processed by GR Staff within 30 days of submission to the GR Program. v Once invoices are processed by GR Staff, the invoices are sent to Juneau for payment. This can take an additional 7 -10 business days before payment is issued.

Reminders for the ALH Notify SDS if the recipient no longer wishes to pursue GR benefits (Client Activity Form – CAF attached in Folders). Notify SDS when a GR beneficiary receives back payment from SSI. Provide supporting documentation when you request an augmented rate (must be submitted on a CAF form). v Physician’s Report, Statement, or Health Documents. v Must also apply for Waiver Services. Submit Client Activity Forms (CAF) on time. v Within 10 days after an event such as Move In, Move Out, Client passed away, etc. Use of Direct Secure Messaging (DSM) for correspondence with SDS that contains Protected Health Information (PHI) is required due to HIPAA rules. Read and follow your provider agreement

General Relief Last Notes �Before you contact SDS, please read your Provider Agreement and information on the GR webpage at http: //dhss. alaska. gov/dsds/Pages/apsrelief. aspx, to see if you can find an answer to your question. �Always submit any documents that contain PHI to General. Relief@hss. soa. directak. net, not through regular email. You must have an active DSM account to send to this address. �You may also contact GR directly for any questions not answered in your Provider Agreement.