What an honor it was to attend the historic bill signing that will create the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA)! DIDD and TCAD will become DDA effective July, 1st. We’re ready to hit the ground running as we tackle important issues about caregiver support, housing, transportation, and more. Let’s get to work elevating the voices of older adults and people with disabilities! To view the post on Instagram click here.

Reset, collaborate and connect! Our Middle Tennessee TEIS team had such an amazing Time for Teaming training last week. We’re so thankful for their dedication to the vital work of early intervention! 🙌  To view the post on Instagram click here.

New Employment Service Templates are Now Available! 

New templates are available for all employment services, including outcome-based and hourly (non-outcome-based) services. The same templates will be utilized across all HCBS programs, including ECF CHOICES, CHOICES*, and DIDD/1915© Waivers.

All employment services with a start date of May 1st, 2024, and after should be submitted on the new templates. Services initiated prior to May 1st, 2024, can still utilize the original templates; however, providers are encouraged to utilize the new templates as soon as possible.

Please note that if an original template is utilized for a service initiated after May 1st, 2024, the MCO/DIDD will be unable to approve the report and will ask the provider to resubmit using the new template.

To watch the recorded training for the new templates please click here.

To access and download the updated templates please click here.

*CHOICES employment services are still pending CMS approval and are not currently available to CHOICES members.

DIDD is seeking to fill 2 positions in the Appeals Unit:  IDD Program Specialist 2 and IDD Program Specialist 3.  These positions will be stationed in West and will be in Arlington.  

Job responsibilities include:  Review Person Centered Support Plan (PCSP), assessments, plans of care, and other supporting documentation to determine if adverse action is warranted.  Recognize differences of services provided versus services billed.  Verifies services and supports relative to compliance standards.  Review documentation to determine if requested services meet 1915c and KB waiver definitions and protocols.  Gather information from internal and external customers for review of denied plan for services needed.  Convey accurate information to stakeholders to comply with current departmental standards and practices in writing.  Performs day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining files and processing paperwork.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office products (such as Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
• Ability to make prompt decisions based on relevant facts.
• Detail-oriented, able to independently organize multiple tasks and priorities, and to effectively manage an assigned caseload under pressure of deadlines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, highly effective communication ability, and the propensity to make prompt independent decisions based upon relevant facts and established processes.

IDD 2 Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in special education, rehabilitation or therapeutic health, nursing, sociology, social work, or any behavioral science field and experience equivalent to two years of professional developmental disabilities and/or mental health work.

IDD 3 Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in special education, rehabilitation or therapeutic health, nursing, sociology, social work, or any behavioral science field and experience equivalent to three years of professional developmental disabilities and/or mental health work, of which one year must include professional developmental disabilities work.

The Family Support Program is in need of District Council members to volunteer in the following counties: Carter, Claiborne, Grainger, Green, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington.

Candidate requirements

Must live in the service areas noted above.

A majority of the District Council shall be consumers (i.e., an individual with a severe disability or member of a family containing a member with a severe disability).

Role of the District Council

The District Council is to provide oversight and make recommendations on funding needs and priorities of services.

The District Council shall provide oversight of the operation of Family Support Services within the area that the agency contracts for, including-

Overseeing priorities for selection of service recipients,

Reviewing agency quarterly reports

Reviewing the operation and effectiveness of service delivery and recommend any necessary changes in the services and

Reviewing the performance of the agencies and recommend continuation or changes where necessary.

The District Council shall review the expenditure of funds in the district and make recommendations to the State Council.

The District Council shall approve changes and recommendations such as funding and priorities for agencies in the district.

The District Council shall be represented on the State Family Support Council.

If you are interested in volunteering for this opportunity, please email julia.kiehna@tn.gov.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - Training Kick-Off - Office Hours 

• Billing Kick-Off recording here and slides here

Thursday, April 25, 2024 - Training Begins

• Topics Covered: Billing Introduction and Preparation: Provider Expectations, Billing training outline and timeline, EVV changes, Billing Workflow, Process (3P’s),User Roles and Privileges, Program Enrollment, Service Authorization Acknowledgment, Billing Timeline, EVV Staff Configuration
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Super Users, CFO’s
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Training Week 2

• Topics Covered: Deep Dive: EVV, Collect EVV Data, Check EVV Data, EVV Reports, Generate EVV Billing Data, Reports
• Target Audience: KBB, State Funded, 1915c 
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Super Users, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 9, 2024 - Training Week 3

• Topics Covered:  Deep Dive: Attendance (Time & Consensus & Unit), Collect Attendance Data, Check Attendance Data, Attendance Reports, Generate Billing Data, Reports
• Target Audience: ICF, KBB, State Funded, ISC/CM, 1915c
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 16, 2024 - Training Week 4

• Topics Covered: Billing Data Input & Follow up on Attendance and EVV, Enter Billing Data, Import Billing Data, Check Billing Data
• Target Audience: KBB, State Funded, ISC/CM, Health Reimbursement/Payflex, Fiscal Intermediary/CDTN, 1915c
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Training Week 5

• Topics Covered: Attendance (Time & Census & Unit), Collect Attendance Data, Check Attendance Data, Attendance Reports, Generate Billing Data, Reports
• Target Audience: ICF, KBB, State Funded, ISC/CM, 1915c
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Training Week 6

• Topics Covered: Deep Dive: Claims - Claims Generation for all MODC, CC Groups, Reports, Reconciliation, Resubmission
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Training Week 7

• Topics Covered: Claims Management in Therap: Claims Generation for all MODC, CC Groups, Reports, Reconciliation, Resubmission
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO’s
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Training Week 8 

• Topics Covered: Billing Preparation: User Roles and Privileges, Program Enrollment, Service Authorization Acknowledgment, Billing Timeline, EVV Staff Configuration
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - Training Week 9 

• Topics Covered: Review: Methods of Data Collection, EVV Data Collection and Generation, Attendance Data Collection and Generation, Billing Data Input
• Target Audience: All 
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, June 27, 2024 - Training Week 10

• Topics Covered: Get Ready for Go-Live: Acknowledge Service Authorizations, Enrollments, Billing Process and Workflow, Identify Resources, Q&A
• Target Audience: All
• Target User: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, July 11, 2024 - Training Week 11

• Topics Covered:  Pre-Billing: Generate Billing Data, Reports, Generate Claims, Q&A 
• Target Audience: All
• Target User: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, July 18, 2024 - Training Week 12

• Topics Covered: Claims Management: Reports, Reconciliation, Payments, Resubmission, Q&A
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

Thursday, July 25, 2024 - Training Week 13

• Topics Covered: Claims Management: Reports, Reconciliation, Payments, Resubmission, Q&A
• Target Audience: All
• Target Users: Billing Admins, Program Managers/Supervisors, CFO's 
• Meeting link here (please note - once you have registered once, you will be registered for all trainings in all 13 weeks of training in this series) 

What an honor it was to attend the historic bill signing that will create the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA)! DIDD and TCAD will become DDA effective July, 1st. We’re ready to hit the ground running as we tackle important issues about caregiver support, housing, transportation, and more. Let’s get to work elevating the voices of older adults and people with disabilities!

To check out the post on Instagram click here.

🎧 Can we get a mic check 1,2? 🎙️ Go behind the scenes of the Waves of Awareness Podcast, as they sit down with State Director of Enabling Technology Milton Neuenschwander to talk all things technology, new innovation and the future of AI. Be sure to listen to the whole episode! To view the post on Instagram click here.

When Ollie gets in front of the camera, it’s clear he was meant to be there! The high school Junior has a passion for sports reporting and even leads a sports segment for Green Hill High School, Sports on the Hill with Ollie and Josh. He loves all sports, but especially reporting on basketball. He never misses a Vanderbilt or South Carolina women’s basketball game and can recite sports statistics for just about everything! He’s also an athlete and plays multiple sports in the Special Olympics. This year, he’s throwing shot put on his high school track team and he’s loved every minute of it! Join us in sharing his story this Autism Month featured in DIDD”s #IAmASDinTN campaign.

We were blown away by The Union University EDGE Program Cooking Lab last week! The school used their Tennessee Believes grant to create a hands-on program that teaches students everything from savvy grocery shopping to safety in the kitchen and food prep!

We were honored to taste their VERY impressive three-course meal and hear directly from the students about how this program has impacted their lives. They are doing such great work!”

The Statewide Planning & Policy Council (SPPC) collaborates and advises the Commissioner of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on issues affecting the department, providers, families, and advocates, and plays an important role in the development and improvement of DIDD programs and policies.  If you are interested in joining the DIDD Statewide Planning & Policy Council, please submit an application at this link.

Policy Update 

New Department Policy 80.8.1 Termination/Disenrollment from MAPs Services has been published effective March 19, 2024. This policy may be accessed on the Department’s website at Policies & Guidance (tn.gov) and the Intranet at Policy & Guidance (teamtn.gov). Questions may be directed to Jason.camperlino@tn.gov.

Strengthening Supports & Services for Adults with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Residential
and Day Programs

The Treatment and Research Institute of Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) and the
Department of Intellectual and Development Disabilities (DIDD) have recently
partnered on a project to enhance services for adults with developmental and
intellectual disabilities being served in residential and day programs. There is a specific
focus to increase safety through enhanced training for direct support professionals.

The three-year strategic plan involves understanding the unique needs and barriers to
quality care in the state of Tennessee and use that knowledge to create and adapt tools
and strategies to help adults increase their independence, achieve personal goals, and
experience greater quality of life at home, at work, and in the community. In order to
better understand the needs of service providers, we are conducting a survey of service
providers serving adults in residential and day programs.

We would appreciate your participation in the survey or for you to pass along the
information to relevant colleagues. The survey should take only 5-10 minutes to
complete.

Strengthening Supports & Services for Adults with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Residential
and Day Programs

The Treatment and Research Institute of Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) and the
Department of Intellectual and Development Disabilities (DIDD) have recently
partnered on a project to enhance services for adults with developmental and
intellectual disabilities being served in residential and day programs. There is a specific
focus to increase safety through enhanced training for direct support professionals.

The three-year strategic plan involves understanding the unique needs and barriers to
quality care in the state of Tennessee and use that knowledge to create and adapt tools
and strategies to help adults increase their independence, achieve personal goals, and
experience greater quality of life at home, at work, and in the community. In order to
better understand the needs of service providers, we are conducting a survey of service
providers serving adults in residential and day programs.

We would appreciate your participation in the survey or for you to pass along the
information to relevant colleagues. The survey should take only 5-10 minutes to
complete.

When Josh Fee sits behind the piano, it’s clear to see he’s in the zone. With a deep breath, he starts playing a complicated competition piece, moving with the music, and making it look easy. Not only does he play the piano, but he’s also added violin, viola, flute, and vibraphone to his list.

He started writing music at a young age and composed his first symphony, Princess Connect Overture, in 2022!

“For sure I want to make a career out of it, for sure,” Josh said, “I can’t predict the future, but God knows my future. God knows my future and he’s got it all planned out.”

For more information on the Autism Society East Tennessee, you can follow the link below.

Autism Society of America Autism Society East Tennessee Autism Tennessee