MEDICAID MANAGED ASSISTANCE (MMA)

Medicaid Managed Assistance (MMA) is a federally funded program for providing coverage to needy families for health care services assistance. The recent changes to this program will be rolled out in three-phases.

On December 1, 2018, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) starts the rollout of new MMA programs, statewide, as follows:

• South Florida on December 1, 2018
• Central Florida on January 1, 2019
• North Florida on February 1, 2019

Currently, Florida Medicaid covers Early Intervention Services and Targeted Case Management on a fee-for-service basis. The new MMA contracts will now include EIS and TCM.

WHAT THIS MEANS

To ensure successful transition for the newly carved-in services, contracts between the LES programs and MMA plans will need to be amended or executed, agreements related to local processes will require updating, billing processes will need to be established or expanded, and collaboration with AHCA to ensure Continuity of Care (COC) will occur where needed. The Early Steps State Office continues to meet with AHCA and LES programs to ensure timely transition of services.

A web-page on the CMS-Kids.org website is under development to serve as the central location for current information regarding the MMA transition. Content suggestions are welcome.

Early Steps Native Languages Survey:

The Early Steps State Office (ESSO) is requesting that Local Early Steps (LES) offer feedback on the languages that LES staff, such as Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS), Service Coordinators, and providers, encounter as services are delivered to children and families. Your responses will inform how the ESSO will proceed in translating program materials, including the Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) and related attachments, prior written notice, and other consent documents.

Native language may be considered a written or spoken language that is not English, and is the primary language used by the family, caregiver, and/or child.

To complete the survey, please go to: Early Steps Native Languages Survey. The survey will take approximately one minute to complete

NICHQ Pediatrics Supporting Parents Initiative:

The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) is currently accepting applications for a learning community parents launching January 2019 for pediatrics supporting parents to ensure that all children from birth to age 3 receive the supports they need to achieve kindergarten readiness and positive live outcomes.

To learn more about the NICHQ initiative, please go to NICHQ Pediatrics Supporting Parents Initiative

Video Recordings Available of The July 2018 LES Directors’ Meeting Presentations:

Dr. Patricia Snyder and Dr. Juliann Woods provide an update on implementation and initial evaluation of the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Early Steps Professional Development Project at three local Early Steps demonstration sites

Dr. Batya Elbaum provides an in-depth overview of Florida’s Part C child outcomes measurement system

Becoming an Evidence-Based Program Video Series:

A national not-for-profit research organization, Child Trends, which focuses on improving the lives of children and families and promotes the use of data to shape public policy, has recently posted a series of videos and resources on using data to build evidence for effective programs. The series, found at Child Trends, includes information to assess, target, plan, deliver monitor, and evaluate systems for program improvement.

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ESSO Newsletter may reference and contain links to external sources. The opinions expressed in these sources do not reflect the views, positions, or policies of the Florida Department of Health or Early Steps Program nor should their inclusion be considered an endorsement of any private organization.