1 / 40

Please stay on the line. Audio: 1-888-469-3145 Passcode : 2045270 The webinar will begin shortly.

Please stay on the line. Audio: 1-888-469-3145 Passcode : 2045270 The webinar will begin shortly. Strengthening Applications: Quality Review of SOAR Applications. Presented by: SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center Policy Research Associates, Inc. Under contract to:

yama
Download Presentation

Please stay on the line. Audio: 1-888-469-3145 Passcode : 2045270 The webinar will begin shortly.

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Please stay on the line.Audio: 1-888-469-3145Passcode: 2045270The webinar will begin shortly.

  2. Strengthening Applications: Quality Review of SOAR Applications Presented by: SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center Policy Research Associates, Inc. Under contract to: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

  3. Welcome!

  4. Webinar Instructions • Question instructions • Muting • Recording availability • Downloading documents • Evaluation

  5. Agenda Quality Review Strategies and Options Kristin Lupfer, SOAR Technical Assistance Center Internal Case Reviews and Checklists KasCauseya, BEST Program, Central City Concern, Portland, OR Community Mentoring and Review Michele Levy, Homeless Advocacy Project, Philadelphia, PA Quality Review from a State SOAR Program Monica Bellamy, Department of Community Health, Detroit, MI Questions and Answers Facilitators: SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Team

  6. Quality Review Strategies and OptionsKristin LupferSAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance CenterPolicy Research Associates, Inc.

  7. Critical Components for Success • Staff trained & available to assist with applications • Maintain contact with applicant • Become applicant’s representative • Obtain medical records, past and present • Collaborate with physicians • Electronic submission of information • Collaborate with DDS and SSA • Ensure quality of applications • Arrange for representative payees • Track and report outcomes

  8. Why do Quality Review? • To ensure the greatest chance of an approval on initial application • To reinforce with SSA and DDS what to expect from SOAR applications

  9. What is Quality? • Complete information • Online form submission • Medical records indicating impairment • Detailed functional summary • Doctor’s co-signature (when possible) • Timely communication with SSA/DDS

  10. Levels of Quality Review • Individual care coordinator • Peers/mentors • Supervisors • Local/Regional SOAR Planning Group • SOAR Trainers • SSA/DDS • State SOAR Program • SAMHSA SOAR TA Center

  11. Strategies for Quality Review • Use the Quality Review Checklist • Have a trained mentor review applications for completeness prior to submission • Review medical summary reports • Review outcomes • Targeted refresher trainings

  12. You CAN do this! We support you!

  13. Internal Case Reviews and ChecklistsKas CauseyaBEST Program, Central City Concern, Portland, OR

  14. A Complete Packet Includes: • 1696- Appointment of rep. • All medical records • ROI’s for SSA • Functional summary • Medical summary signed by MD • Our CE (aka IE) reports not DDS’s • Pictures if deemed appropriate • As much lay evidence as possible • 3369- Work history report • Miscellaneous questionnaires (pain, seizure, employer, DA+A, current medications and side effects)

  15. BEST Flag

  16. BEST Appeal Flag

  17. Community Mentoring and ReviewMichele Levy Homeless Advocacy ProjectPhiladelphia, PA

  18. HAP and SOAR • HAP’s SOAR Project in Philadelphia began in July, 2007 • HAP Partners • SSA: Specifically, the SSA Downtown Philadelphia field office • Disability Determination Services: Specifically, the Wilkes-Barre Office • Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing

  19. HAP’s SOAR Projects • Initial project with OSH for homeless adults • Partnership with DHS for youth aging out of the delinquency or dependency systems • HPRP project for “newly homeless” persons • TANF SOAR Project with DPW

  20. Philadelphia SOAR Outcomes • First application filed in December 2007 • To date, 717 claims in HAP’s SOAR Projects have been approved and 3 claims have been denied. • Average processing time from date application filed is 32 days.

  21. Securing Positive Outcomes • Selecting Advocates: who should be trained to participate in application filings via SOAR? • Which population do they serve? • The nature of the advocate’s job • Past relationship with the relevant agency

  22. Securing Positive Outcomes • Determining SOAR Clients: which potential clients should be included in the SOAR project? • Most recent psychiatric or other medical evaluation • Current or past medication – type and dosage • Current functioning

  23. Securing Positive Outcomes • Providing Ongoing Supervision and Support • Review first letter of support (a/k/a medical summary report) submitted by each advocate • Remain available to answer questions and to review any documents • Provide reminders of upcoming deadlines and the steps in the claims process

  24. Securing Positive Outcomes • Knowing Your Adjudicator and Claims Representative • What medical evidence will your adjudicator require for various impairments? • How much information does your adjudicator need in the letter of support? • What should be provided to secure re-openings of prior filings? • What will your claims representative require to process the claim?

  25. Securing Positive Outcomes • Maintaining Communication Among SOAR Partners • Is the process running smoothly between the SSA claims representative and the disability adjudicator? • Is the advocate maintaining effective communication with the adjudicator and claims representative? • Remaining available to trouble-shoot as issues arise.

  26. Michele Levy Managing Attorney 215.523.9585 mlevy@philalegal.org Homeless Advocacy Project 42 S. 15th Street, 4th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102 Telephone: 215.523.9595 Fax: 215.981.3866 www.homelessadvocacyproject.org Contact Information

  27. Quality Review from a State SOAR ProgramMonica BellamyDepartment of Community HealthDetroit, MI

  28. SOAR Across Michigan Is Sponsored by: • Michigan Department of Community Health • In partnership with: • Michigan State Housing Development Authority • Corporation for Supportive Housing • Department of Human Services • With contractual assistance and support from: • Policy Research Associates, Inc.

  29. SOAR Across Michigan A total of 65 trainings have taken place statewide • 1600+ persons have been trained in every region of the state

  30. What is going on in Michigan? 2020+ applications submitted • 72% success rate of getting applications approved on first application and for applications on appeal combined. • Applications approved in an average of 79 days statewide. • 48% of clients are chronically homeless

  31. Who is Participating? • There are a minimum of 4 trainings offered per year to cover all 8 regions of the state. Who’s getting trained: • Community Mental Health Agencies • Domestic Violence agencies • Emergency Shelter Staff • Grass Roots Community Agencies • Volunteers

  32. What Have We Learned? • More support and input is needed from Regions • More support and TA is need for trainee’s to assist them in getting started • More support and TA is needed directly after training.

  33. Follow-up to Improve Outcomes • Getting started document (www.prainc.com/soar) • One on One follow up with trainee’s • MOU agreement follow-up w/ directors • Meet periodically to plan and address issues that arise

  34. Follow-up to Improve Outcomes Monthly Newsletter • Contract w/ Advanced Trainers • TA calls

  35. What is the State Doing? • Providing on-going TA to all Regions • Establishing Collaborations with SSA offices, both on regional and local levels— designated staff. • Establishing Collaborations with DDS—designated staff • Conduct state-level planning to support SOAR Across Michigan • Monitor progress and report on individual and system outcomes

  36. Refresher Training • 60 to 90 days after 2 day Stepping Stones to Recovery training. • Review the most critical aspects of the SOAR Process to get successful outcomes. • Review updated and new information • Review and discuss revised forms and processes • Give tips and best practices for successful outcomes • Provide an opportunity for questions and answers along with TA

  37. SOAR Across Michigan Improving Outcomes is Possible • Collaboration works! • More intense TA provided for trainee’s • More community support Makes a difference with outcomes

  38. For More Information: Monica Bellamy SOAR Across Michigan State Team Lead Michigan Department of Community Health Phone: 313-456-4360 E-mail: Bellamy@michigan.gov

  39. Questions and AnswersFacilitators:SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center TeamPolicy Research Associates, Inc.

  40. For More Information on SOAR Visit the SOAR website at www.prainc.com/soar Or contact: SAMHSA SOAR TA Center Policy Research Associates, Inc.Delmar, NY518-439-7415soar@prainc.com

More Related