Tools and Resources

Happy New Year! For this first North Dakota Under 21 Provider Newsletter of 2023, we cover some important best practice reminders, and share a sneak preview of the new AssessmentPro system, which is scheduled to launch later this year.

As always, thank you for all you do to improve the lives of those we serve across the state. 

BEST PRACTICES: Assessment Tips & Reminders

1. It is essential to provide the best clinical picture of a child’s current symptoms and behaviors, as well as previous episodes and incidents. This plays a significant part in Maximus making accurate clinical determinations.

Please provide the most up-to-date information possible regarding the individual's behaviors and/or moods requiring admission or continued stay. This should include documentation that has dates and timelines of behaviors and moods.

2. Remember to always provide current psychotropic medications and update the psychotropic medications for each continued stay review.    

SNEAK PREVIEW: System Transition Planned for 2023

Exciting things are ahead later this year, as planning moves forward on a system transition for the ND Under 21 program to AssessmentPro, the industry leading online system for the management of Maximus assessments. As we move closer to this launch in the months ahead, we will keep you connected with important updates and resources. 

Stay tuned in the coming months for more information on next steps, including:

• Process Guides: Understand what's changing, with a helpful overview of AssessmentPro processes and procedures. 
• System Benefits: Walkthrough of the positive impact this new tool can have for the provider community and most importantly, those we serve together across North Dakota 
• Account Registration: Step-by-step instructions to create your own account in the new system. 
• Learning Opportunities: Dates and registration details for any planned webinars and in-person training events.  

CONTACT: North Dakota Under 21 Services Help Desk

Do you need clarification on any processes or questions regarding a current referral? Contact your North Dakota Under 21 Help Desk for more information:

Phone: 629.230.5034

Email: NDUnder21@maximus.com

BEST PRACTICE: Certificate of Need (CON) Guidance

When referencing dates and timelines, Maximus is requesting approximate dates. For example, for items requesting prior inpatient or outpatient treatment dates, last treatment dates, dates pertaining to onset of symptoms requiring PRTF level of care - all of these can be approximate dates and do not need to reflect exact (to the day) dates. 

Keep an eye out for an additional communication regarding other CON review updates, such as transitioning several items to “optional” when completing the PRTF review. 

To provide additional clarification, the only attachment or supporting documentation requirement that pertains to the PRTF CON process is described on page 16 of the North Dakota Under 21 Provider Manual:

Provider submits the most recent psychiatric assessment/evaluation [dated within ninety (90) days prior to proposed admission date] delineating the child’s mental, emotional or behavioral disorder requiring the intensity of services offered in an inpatient setting. The purpose of the psychiatric assessment/evaluation is to establish medical necessity for all CON reviews completed by the Maximus Utilization Review team. 

A letter can be provided in lieu of an available assessment/evaluation note; however it must include the following items:

• Composed on the hospital or office letterhead of the physician dated within ninety (90) days of proposed admission date
   
• Description of subjective/objective observations, diagnosis(es), current psychotropic medications and recommendations

New policy: if neither an assessment/evaluation or a letter is available to submit with the admission review, the child will be approved for an initial fifteen (15) days in order for the treating facility to complete a psychiatric assessment. A CSR must be completed, and include the psychiatric assessment, with the Continued Stay Review (CSR), if length of stay requires additional time.

UPDATE: New Maximus Branding

You may notice some small changes to this communication, as well as revisions made to the ND Under 21 Tools and Resources web page in recent months. This includes updates to the company logo, headers, and other graphic elements.

This evolution of the global Maximus brand is intended to visually emphasize the active partnership we have with program stakeholders like you to positively impact the lives of those we serve together.
 

SUPPORT: Contact the ND Under 21 Help Desk

Questions about a current referral? Contact the North Dakota Under 21 Help Desk for more information:

Phone: 629.230.5034
Email: NDUnder21@maximus.com

On the evening of Wednesday June 15, the Maximus IT team will update the IP address for AscendAMI.com. This change is not expected to affect any existing bookmark or site access for the majority of all system users.

In the unlikely event this change does affect your ability to access the site after the transition date, please contact your organization’s IT support team. Notify them that you require updated access to the AscendAMI site and forward the information below so that they can add the information to their list of approved IP addresses.

Web Domain: www.ascendAMI.com

New IP Address: 52.176.156.181

REMINDER: Share Contact Phone or Fax Updates

If your name, email, work phone number/extension number or fax number has recently changed, be sure to notify Maximus to ensure we have the accurate information in the system for your facility. Given outcomes are provided two ways (e.g., called on and faxed), it’s vital that Maximus has the most up-to-date contact details on file. Please note, if your name is not explicitly listed on your voicemail box, Maximus is not able to leave any information pertaining to the outcome on your voicemail. 

BEST PRACTICE: Submitting Clinical Information

Providing the best clinical picture of a child’s current symptoms and behaviors, as well as previous episodes and incidents, play a significant part in Maximus making accurate clinical determinations. As a result, we continue to request providers to submit detailed clinical information, including timeframes/timelines to delineate between historical and present. 

SNEAK PREVIEW: System Transition Planned for Later in 2022

Exciting things are ahead later this year, as planning moves forward on a system transition for ND Under 21 program to AssessmentPro, the industry leading online system for the management of Maximus assessments. As we move closer toward this launch, we will keep you connected with important updates and resources. 

Stay tuned in the coming months for more information on next steps, including:

• Process Guides: Understand what's changing, with a helpful overview of AssessmentPro processes and procedures. 
   
• System Benefits: Walkthrough of the positive impact this new tool can have for the provider community and most importantly, those we serve together across Connecticut. 
   
• Account Registration: Step-by-step instructions to create your new account for the new system. 
   
• Learning Opportunities: Dates and registration details for both webinars and on-site events. 

SUPPORT: Contact the ND Under 21 Help Desk

Questions about a current referral? Contact the North Dakota Under 21 Help Desk for more information:

Phone: 629.230.5034
Email: NDUnder21@maximus.com