Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior And Disability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senior and Disability Services expands certification, assessment tool and incident‑detection system
Summary
The Division of Senior and Disability Services said it launched a Direct Support Professional certification program, is developing an NRI assessment tool for self‑directed services with 90% federal funding, and rolled out a critical‑incident detection system called Pulse Light.
Deputy Commissioner Emily Ricci briefed the Senate Health and Social Services Committee on Jan. 23 on recent Senior and Disability Services initiatives.
Ricci said the division established a Direct Support Professional certification program in coordination with the University of Alaska Anchorage; the first cohort of 50 individuals was certified and the next cohort will include 60. The program is intended to professionalize and stabilize the direct‑care workforce, Ricci said.
Nut graf: The division is also building an assessment and budgeting tool (an NRI assessment) for home‑and‑community‑based waivers that leaders said is the first to receive a 90% federal/10% state funding arrangement. The tool is expected to support budgets for self‑directed services and allow the state to serve more people more efficiently.
Other items: The division rolled out a critical‑incident detection and trending system called Pulse Light to combine claims and program data and flag potential concerns (for example, multiple falls at a single assisted‑living home). Ricci also noted the Legislature increased the cap on environmental modification services (ramps, grab bars) from $18,000 to $40,000 and the division is implementing regulations to use the higher cap.
Ending: Ricci said the NRI procurement and testing steps will continue in 2025; stakeholder engagement and technical assistance contractors are part of the rollout plan.
