The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has established a webpage for the Long-Term Care Consultation (LTCC) Expansion, which includes mandatory transitional consultation for prospective residents of Housing with Services establishments as directed by legislation passed in July. DHS has conducted the first two of ten meetings around the state to begin to prepare stakeholders for the October 1 LTCC implementation. View the 48-slide presentation from the meetings here. If you would like to attend one of the remaining eight meetings, you can read the list of dates and locations here. While there is plenty to digest in that presentation, to get a real visual understanding of the business processes that the various stakeholders will use in the implementation, please review the three flow charts linked in the numbered list below that were discussed or developed at an August 10 meeting of 60 stakeholders led by DHS (see our August 12 cover story on this). In reviewing the business planning models please note the following descriptions of the shapes and abbreviations.

Words in a rectangle describe a process.
Words in a diamond-shaped space state a decision point. In most cases, your next step depends on the choice you make (yes or no).
Words in an oval indicate a beginning or end point.

SLL = Senior LinkAge Line®
SOS = senior outreach specialist (an SLL staff person who can provide in-person options counseling for seniors and caregivers)
HWS = housing with services

Finally, we recommend printing the flow charts out on 11” by 17” paper to read the descriptions within each of the flow chart shapes.

1) As Is Senior LinkAge Line® Options Counseling (Mandatory transitional consultation*)
This business process model identifies the present process for Senior LinkAge Line® options counseling. This process was discussed in broad policy objectives at a video conference sponsored by DHS entitled “Transition to Housing with Services Consultation” in October of 2009. View the slides for this videoconference here.

2) Proposed Senior Linkage Line® Options Counseling (Mandatory transitional consultation*)
This business process model identifies the proposed or anticipated process that will be used by the various stakeholders in implementing the legislation. This was developed with the help of stakeholders; we anticipate there will be further clarifications made. Some primary questions we have (not all of which can be answered in one flow chart) are:

A) In the HWS “lane,” what is the definition of a “crisis” (4th shape from the left) or “emergency placement into ALs from ER” as it is referred to on page 13 of the DHS presentation?

B) How does the consumer or housing with services provider access an “online form to SLL for need of verification number?” (fifth shape from the left)

C) In the Consumer/Caregiver/Spouse/Partner lane, when does this process come to an end, resulting in the verification code being given to the consumer?

D) We think the chart needs to reflect a continuing option for the consumer to disengage from the process and obtain their verification code.

3) Proposed Senior Linkage Line® Process for Consumers Who Refuse Counseling (Mandatory transitional consultation*)
This business process model was developed at the insistence of providers participating in the DHS meeting on August 10 because we anticipate that some consumers are not going to want to call and obtain a verification code from the Senior Linkage Line®. The big question on this chart is the box (third shape from the left) in the HWS lane that says, “Consumer/HWS signs lease/contract and assumes risk.” We still are not clear which party — HWS, consumer, or both — is assuming risk, and if so, what is that risk?

* Language provided by Care Providers of Minnesota

As members have questions about these business process models and other issues with the implementation of the legislation, they are encouraged to call 952-851-2484 or send their questions to pmanz@careproviders.org.

Phil Manz
952.851.2484
pmanz@careproviders.org

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