Iowa PASRR

Provider Tools and Resources

Iowa PASRR

Maximus provides online Level I PASRR screening and onsite, independent PASRR Level II mental health and intellectual/developmental evaluations. Scroll down for Provider tools, frequently asked questions, training opportunities, and historical information.

Are you a licensed Behavioral Health Clinician or Registered Nurse interested in working as an assessor with the IA PASRR program? Contact our Recruiting team to learn more: Recruiting@maximus.com

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How To: Set up an Access Coordinator for your facility

  • For questions on Iowa policy or procedures, contact Iowa Program Manager, Lila Starr: LStarr@dhs.state.ia.us or 515.281.5318, email is preferred.
  • For information on how to obtain Specialized Services for Medicaid members, contact Iowa Medicaid Enterprise Member Services at: 1.800.338.8366, or visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/ime/members
  • If you would like to be added to the Iowa PASRR email contact list, please send an email to: IowaPASRR@maximus.com with the subject line "I would like to be added to the IA PASRR email list."

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Tip of the Month:

CMS letter about Nursing Home Quality Ratings and Erroneous Schizophrenia Coding, January 2023

The federal Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) issued a policy letter on January 18, 2023.The primary issue is concerned with; some nursing homes have erroneously coded residents as having schizophrenia, which can mask the facilities’ true rate of antipsychotic medication use.

A summary of the content follows here: 

  • Adjusting Quality Measure Ratings Based on Erroneous Schizophrenia Coding: CMS will be conducting audits of schizophrenia coding in the Minimum Data Set data and based upon the results, adjust the Nursing Home Care Compare quality measure star ratings for facilities whose audits reveal inaccurate coding. 
     
  • Posting Citations Under Dispute: To be more transparent, CMS will now display citations under informal dispute on the Nursing Home Care Compare website.

The change in practice is that CMS will conduct offsite audits of schizophrenia coding and based upon the results, adjust the quality measure star ratings for facilities whose audit reveals inaccurate coding while the issue is under dispute. Iowa HHS asked that it be shared on the Iowa PASRR Providers webpage, so the full letter can be found under “resources,” and entitled: CMS letter about Nursing Home Quality Ratings and Erroneous Schizophrenia Coding, January 2023.

Contact the help desk
Phone, Fax & Email

833.907.2777

1 (877) 431 9568

IowaPASRR@maximus.com

Business Hours

7:00 AM-4:00 PM CT

Announcements

  • Learning Opportunities: Register for Upcoming Iowa PASRR Provider Webinar Series | June - October 2023

    Are you brand-new to PASRR? Would you like a refresher on certain aspects of the process? This new webinar series has you covered!

    The Iowa PASRR support team at Maximus and Program Managers, Lila Starr of Iowa HHS and Brad Goodin of Maximus, have developed a comprehensive series of informative webinars designed to walk providers through many key aspects of the PASRR process and maximize their use of Iowa's assessment management system, AssessmentPro.

    For the PASRR newcomer
    The sessions listed below are paced in an order that we hope will be most beneficial for someone who is new and needs to attend them all. It is designed to help you understand the process, from most basic to more advanced concepts, including an invaluable overview of many aspects of PASRR.

    For the PASRR veteran
    Even an experienced provider who's accustomed to the Level I submission process is likely to have many questions and can learn a great deal more by attending these sessions. We hope you gain skills for using the assessment management system, AssessmentPro, as well as deepening your overall understanding of PASRR and how it relates to many other issues. 

    What are next steps? Be sure to scroll through the series descriptions, register for the sessions you need, and be sure to add those dates/times (shown below) to your calendar. Individual webinar reminders will also be sent out before each event.

     

    PathTracker+ for Nursing Facility Social Workers, Administrators, & Business Office Staff

    Please join us on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm CST, for an Iowa PASRR Technical Assistance webinar, as part of our continuing education series.

    This Iowa PASRR Webinar is specifically designed for the staff in your NF who are involved in entering admission, transfer, and discharge information into PathTracker Plus, which is a feature of the Iowa PASRR database.

    The webinar will include an overview of several critical functionalities of PathTracker Plus, including the when, where, why, and how to submit admissions, transfer, discharge, and corrected notices, as well as level of care and payment source changes. The use of PathTracker Plus has been mandatory since February 1, 2016, for all nursing facilities in Iowa. It is critical that appropriate nursing facility staff are trained and prepared to make necessary entries into the system in a timely manner. It is also critical that the NF stop all use of paper Case Activity Reports, also known as CAR forms, and that ALL changes that would have been submitted using a CAR form prior to 2016, must now be made only in the electronic PathTracker Plus system.

    Register in advance for this webinar:

     

    How to Successfully Complete a Level I PASRR Screening

    Please join us on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. CST for up to 90 minutes, as part of our continuing education series. This very important Iowa PASRR webinar will get into the weeds and address your questions about exactly how to successfully complete a Level I PASRR screen and what documents are needed at the point of submission, and how to upload them. This webinar will provide information on:

    • Who gets a Level I PASRR screening?
    • What information is required in a Level I screen?
    • Which documents to provide for the process to work as quickly and efficiently as possible
    • What are the best practices for completing thorough and timely Level I screens?
    • Turnaround times for Level I outcomes in Iowa
    • The various outcomes that can be given at the conclusion of a Level I screen

    If you are a hospital submitter, social worker, discharge planner, nursing facility DON or social worker, or any other person in any organization who may submit clinical information for a Level I screen, then this webinar is for you. If you work with other community-based service providers such as in-home health care, community mental health centers, group homes, hospice providers, or others who may have a need to learn how to submit Level I PASRR screens, please help us reach out and invite them as well.

    Register in advance for this webinar:

     

    PASRR Abbreviated Level II Outcomes: Exemptions & Categorical Outcomes

    Please join us on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. CST for an Iowa PASRR Technical Assistance webinar for up to 90 minutes, as part of our continuing education series. This very important Iowa PASRR webinar will take a deep dive and address your questions about how and when it may be useful to complete a Level I PASRR screen with a requested or expected outcome of a 30-day Exempted Hospital Discharge (EHD) or any other of several Categorical Outcomes. This webinar will provide information on:

    When is it appropriate to request a hospital exemption (EHD) from the full Level II process?
    When is it appropriate or not appropriate to request the various kinds of abbreviated outcomes?
    What are the pros and cons of using any of the abbreviated Level II outcomes?
    Which documents to provide up front for the process to work as quickly and efficiently as possible
    What are the best practices for completing thorough and timely Level I screens?
    
    If you are a hospital submitter or nursing facility administrator, hospital discharge planner, nursing facility DON or social worker, or anyone who currently submits Level I screens, then this webinar is for you. If you work with other community-based service organizations such as in-home health care providers, community mental health centers, group homes, or hospice agencies who may need to learn about the appropriate times to request any of the Categorical Outcomes and what they mean, then please invite them to attend.

    Register in advance for this webinar:

     

    Understanding PASRR Level II Summaries of Findings, PASRR Identified Services, and Implementation

    Please join us on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 2:00 pm CST, for up to 90 minutes, as part of our continuing education.

    This webinar will demonstrate how to review and understand a PASRR Level II outcome, known as a Summary of Findings, where an individual in the PASRR population is approved for a level of care and services are identified to optimize care and recovery for the individual. There are three types of services that can be identified; including Specialized Services that focus on the PASRR Condition/Disability, Rehabilitative Services that are typically provided as a part of the individual's care in a nursing facility, and Community Placement Supports that help to optimize an individual's potential for successful transition to a lower level of care once they leave a nursing facility for life in the community.

    This webinar will provide you specific information on how to:

    • Review the Level II Summary of Findings (SOF) prior to admission
    • Understand the various areas of focus/information within the SOF
    • Understand the role of the accepting nursing facility regarding the SOF
    • Ensure delivery of all PASRR Identified Services
    • Find PASRR identified services within the SOF
    • Find Care Planning tools to facilitate compliance with service delivery
    • Document that PASRR identified Services are being delivered

    Register in advance for this webinar:

     

    How to Achieve Compliance during PASRR ServiceMatters Reviews

    Please join us on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 2:00 pm CST, for an Iowa PASRR Technical Assistance webinar of up to 90 minutes, as part of our continuing education series. A function of Iowa's PASRR process is that for every PASRR Level II where one or more "Specialized Services" are identified for an individual in the PASRR population, a ServiceMatters compliance review will be triggered. Ascend/Maximus will monitor whether the NF has developed a PASRR compliant care plan that includes all PASRR identified services and specific proof that any specialized services are being delivered. This webinar will offer specific guidance on how to successfully complete a PASRR Service Matters Review. The webinar will cover the following:

    • How to find the Iowa PASRR NF Level II Care Planning Tool, and how to use it write a PASRR Compliant Care plan
    • How to ensure that PASRR identified services are being delivered
    • What information is needed to document that PASRR identified Specialized Services (SS) are being delivered
    • How to complete the Service Matters Form
    • Common issues that arise during Service Matters reviews

    Register in advance for this webinar:

     

    Community Placement Supports / Discharge Planning / PASRR Compliant Care Planning

    Please join us on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. CST for a webinar in the Iowa training series where we'll address Community Placement Supports / Discharge Planning and Care Planning. A function of Iowa's PASRR process is that for every PASRR Level II Summary of Findings; there are three types of services identified. These include Community Placement Supports (CPS) that can, when appropriate and implemented as part of a well-orchestrated discharge plan, help an individual successfully transition to a lower level of care and thrive once they leave the nursing facility. This webinar will provide you specific information on:

    • Reviewing and understanding the PASRR Identified Services: SS, RS, and CPS
    • The role of the Olmstead Decision in PASRR
    • Review why and how these Services are Identified
    • Review where to find these services in the PASRR Summary of Findings (SOF)
    • Tips and best practices on when to start discharge planning (Hint, it’s usually best at admission!)
    • Knowing when to include Community Placement Supports (CPS) in the Care Plan (Hint; every SOF tells you exactly when!)

    Register in advance for this webinar:



    PASRR Status Changes & When to Complete Them

    Please join us on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. CST for an Iowa PASRR 90-minute webinar, as part of our continuing education series. The webinar will take a deep dive into the issues surrounding when to submit a new PASRR based upon Significant Changes in Status.

    The Iowa Help Desk and the Iowa PASRR program receive more questions about Status Changes/Resident Reviews in PASRR and when to submit them, than any other single issue in PASRR. This webinar is truly important for anyone and everyone who needs to understand a bit about when, why, and how to submit new PASRRs and the correlations to overall compliance. This webinar will offer guidance on:

    • What might trigger a need for a Status Change for someone with a previous Negative Level I PASRR?
    • What might trigger a need for a Status Change for someone who has previously been identified to be in the PASRR Level II population?
    • Ways to ensure you are compliant with Status Changes in PASRR
    • What we mean when we say – “When in doubt, submit a new PASRR”

    Register in advance for this webinar:

     

    PASRR & Individuals with History of Child or Dependent Adult Abuse

    Please join us on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. CST for a webinar that offers an overview of Preadmission Screening and Resident Review - PASRR - and considerations when PASRR is being conducted for someone with a history of Child or Dependent Adult Abuse. PASRR is utilized to identify individuals with serious mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and related conditions, and identifies services that will be required for them if they enter an Iowa nursing facility.

    Within the past several years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of PASRR assessments involving individuals with some criminal or child abuse history, or assessments that are conducted while individuals have also been identified as dependent adults by HHS, and where Dependent Adult Abuse assessments are co-occurring with PASRR or have recently been undertaken. In such cases, it is beneficial for the individual and their support network if/when those involved in PASRR can collaborate more effectively with those involved in child or dependent adult abuse assessment, and the service delivery that may follow.

    This webinar will offer guidance on:

    • Who/What/When/Why/and How of PASRR
    • What information is needed to complete a thorough Level II evaluation and Summary of Findings?
    • When PASRR requests Abuse information, what happens with it?
    • How and when facilities and those who deliver services may benefit from requesting abuse information
    • Why court orders and legal/criminal history become important matters in many cases
    • How Dependent Adult Abuse Assessments impact PASRR and service delivery within the nursing facility
    • The benefits of a collaborative process between PASRR and HHS staff engaged in Child or Dependent Adult Abuse Assessments.

    Register in advance for this webinar:


    PASRR 101: An In-depth Look into the Basics of Preadmission Screening and Resident Review

    Please join us on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. CST for an Iowa PASRR 90-minute webinar, as part of our continuing education series. This webinar is for anyone who will do work related to PASRR including those who work in nursing facilities, hospitals, in-home healthcare, community mental health, hospice, and PACE provider organizations, MCO care managers, long term care ombudsman staff, community-based service provider organizations, and interested parties, to attend and learn with us. This webinar should be viewed as a pre-requisite to other PASRR training offered by HHS and Maximus about PASRR in Iowa and can also serve as a useful refresher to those who haven’t been involved in PASRR for some time.

    This PASRR 101 discussion will provide guidance on:

    • History and purpose of the federally mandated PASRR program
    • Links between PASRR and the Supreme Court Olmstead Decision
    • Who receives a PASRR?
    • The basics of PASRR Level I and Level II
    • Information needed to complete a thorough Level II evaluation and Summary of Findings
    • PASRR in Iowa - unique features
    • What is PASRR compliance and why is it important?

    Register in advance for this webinar:

  • Quarterly Newsletter: Assessment Best Practice Tips & Reminders | Review Helpful Resources on Tools & Resources Site

    BEST PRACTICES: Assessment Tips & Reminders

    1. Several Providers have asked how to establish themselves as Access Coordinators in AssessmentPro. Click here to review instructions for adding an Access Coordinator, available via the Iowa PASRR Provider Tools & Resource site.
       
    2. Assessors now have access to an electronic Release of Information (ROI). Keep in mind that although you are likely to see this version more often in the coming months, Assessors may still provide a paper ROI if they unable to send a digital copy to the Provider. Both versions are still valid.
       
    3. Please submit a recent psychiatric note whenever one is available, especially if the individual has major mental illness.
       
    4. Be on the lookout for information regarding upcoming in-person spring training sessions, coming soon to a town near you.


    RESOURCES: Review Important Guides and Training Materials Available on the IA PASRR Provider Tools & Resources Site

    Keep in mind that the Iowa PASRR Provider Tools & Resources site is full of helpful guides, manuals, and training materials that you can view or download 24/7. Be sure to review a few of these helpful resource links also listed below: 


    SUPPORT: Your Iowa PASRR Help Desk Contacts