LTSS Screening Changes to Go into Effect January 1, 2021
Beginning January 1, 2021, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) will be responsible for conducting LTSS Screenings for non-Medicaid members admitted to SNFs who have a change in financial status and require intermediate care facility level of care. DMAS has worked since July to develop new regulations and enhanced training for nursing facility staff to meet the requirements, which stem from VHCA-VCAL backed legislation passed earlier this year. DMAS will host a training webinar on December 15 to outline the changes and provide assistance with developing the training teams within nursing facilities.
The 1135 Waiver for the Virginia LTSS Screening does not apply to this new screening requirement for nursing facilities. (The 1135 waiver eliminates the requirement for the Medicaid LTSS Screening for individuals admitted to a nursing facility directly from hospital inpatient status that is currently in effect until January 20, 2021.) The screenings will be performed by designated and trained nursing facility screening teams at the time an individual is converting from a skilled stay to a LTC nursing facility level of care and will be eligible for Medicaid coverage. If you have any questions, please contact April Payne at april.payne@vhca.org.
Save the Date: December 15 | 10:00 am
The DMAS Division for Aging and Disability Services (DADS) will host a WebEx on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from 10:00-11:00 am regarding the new requirement for SNFs to establish an LTSS Screening Team. DMAS will provide a brief overview of the legislation, required training, and resources for the new teams. A link to the WebEx will be sent out soon.
If you have any questions or need Technical Assistance starting your new team, please contact Dena.Schall@dmas.virginia.gov or ScreeningAssistance@dmas.virginia.gov.
Background on the LTSS Screening Changes
During the 2020 General Assembly Session, House Bill 902 and Senate Bill 902 were passed, removing the requirement for the hospital screening teams to do a Medicaid assessment for individuals discharging from the hospital to a nursing facility for a non-Medicaid, short-stay rehabilitation admission. Under the bills, a patient would instead only be screened to determine if he or she needs Medicaid coverage of long term services and supports at a later point if his or her condition has changed and may warrant such services. This change will make the screening process more efficient and effective for this specific circumstance. The legislation does not affect the need for hospital screening when the patient is discharging directly to Medicaid long term care services, nor does it affect community screenings at all.
Additional Information
Medicaid Bulletin on Mandatory Training for LTSS Screeners
Update Regarding Mandatory Training for LTSS Screening
LTSS Screening Provider Manual
New Short Screening Responsibilities
Medicaid Portal Registration Users Guide
Web Portal Pre-Admission Screening Automation (ePAS) Users Guide