Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Children Services Act Utilization Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tazewell County CPMT to begin CSA utilization reviews after OCS technical assistance; chair cites rise in foster-care cases
Summary
The Tazewell County Community Policy and Management Team agreed Jan. 22 to begin utilization reviews of Children’s Services Act cases after an Office of Children’s Services report; Chair David Taylor said the county has seen three additional children enter foster care and members will use a tracking spreadsheet to guide reviews.
David Taylor, Chair and Director of the Tazewell County Department of Social Services, told the Community Policy and Management Team on Jan. 22 that the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) has advised localities to expect an increase in foster-care cases and that Tazewell County has already seen three more children enter care.
The CPMT reviewed the OCS Enhanced Technical Assistance initial report (Oct. 24, 2023) and Recommendation 1, which advises that local CSA operations be reviewed to ensure alignment with state policy in areas including family engagement, utilization review and documentation. Taylor said OCS has been tracking data and sought additional funding to meet anticipated increases; localities must still provide the required match to receive that funding.
Members reported that Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) participants reviewed the OCS “CSA Utilization Review: Guidelines for Best Practices” (Sept. 2020) and agreed to use a tracking spreadsheet titled “Cases Up For Review 7-1-2023 to 6-1-2024” to record the start and completion of utilization reviews. FAPT will conduct the reviews alongside case managers and workers and will keep CPMT informed of progress, the minutes state.
Lori Gates-Addison said she has been working on updates to the CPMT Long Range Plan (Goal 1, Strategies 2 and 3) and requested the chair send an editable copy so she can submit edits for the coordinator to consider at the February meeting. The coordinator provided members with the case-tracking template referenced above.
The CPMT packet also included a reminder about Statement of Economic Interests filings for FY2024 and a Medicaid behavioral-health rate bulletin effective Jan. 1, 2024, which were distributed to members for awareness but not acted on at the meeting.
Next steps noted in the minutes: FAPT and CPMT will begin the scheduled utilization reviews using the tracking spreadsheet, and Gates-Addison will forward Long Range Plan edits to the CSA coordinator for consideration at the Feb. 26, 2024 CPMT meeting.
