We have an updated sample tracking tool. We are actively using this tool to help our clients keep track of where they stand with their bonus payments to attendants.
We can now take exported Vesta Biller claims data and process it and calculated how much ARPA funds to expects, and track how much has actually been received by each MCO. We can even account for paper checks that have been paid out by some MCO's.
Download the sample tool below.
Agencies are starting to pay out bonuses for the ARPA program. There is no time like the present to make sure you are keeping track of what is being paid out and for which program. You should also have a pretty good idea of how much money you should be receiving from each payor source and should try to trace back ARPA deposits to your billing records. All of this information should be useful when it is time to compile and submit the reconciliation report that will be required. Here is a sample report that we created to help our customers with this.
We are hearing that funds are starting to hit bank accounts! We are receiving quite a few calls asking about best methods for tracking and distributing funds. Although this “program” is quite simple on its face, the fact is that we still don’t have any direction on what the final reporting is going to look like.
We are recommending that you anticipate reporting that is similar to the cost reporting and rate enhancement reporting requirements. The big categories used in the cost report for 2021 were the following:
There were many other categories on the reports as well, but the above is probably what most of you are accustomed to. And seeing how many programs have different ARPA add-on amounts, we recommend that you specifically track these funds by every program that you service.
We have come up with a sample template on how to track your monthly Anticipated ARPA funds so that you can compare actual monies you have received to your actual billing amounts, and so that you can tie-in bonus money paid out to your attendants by service category/program. The pdf is attached to this post.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at info@advantageconsulting.biz if you have any questions.
The Texas Health and Human Services department has published a plan implementing parts of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) that provide agencies extra funds for attendants and other direct care staff in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) programs. This plan affects most PAS and DAHS agencies in Texas.
If a provider agency wishes to participate in this program and receive extra funding to pay their attendants, they must go online and fill out a few questions and attest to a few program requirements by July 1, 2022. It looks like provider agencies will also need to fill out MCO specific attestation forms/paperwork as well by July 1, 2022. If your agency has not received paperwork from all of your contracted MCO’s, you may have to start making phone calls to their customer service departments and request copies of the letters and paperwork they are sending out.
The payments that must be made to attendants and other direct care staff should be made in lump sum amounts and not be used to increase hourly pay rates. These funds are meant to act as retention aids to attract employees to your agency and to help you keep existing employees. A final “accountability” report will be required at the end of the program, sometime after August 31, 2022.
We recommend that any bonus or lump sum payments paid to attendants and other direct care staff should be categorized as follows (not an all-inclusive list):
Categorizing the payments in this way will make it easier to extract data from your payroll software and will aid in the preparation of the final program reports when they are due. Please feel free to reach out to us here at Advantage Healthcare Consulting, Inc. with any questions you might have, including the preparation of the final reports mentioned above.
We have uploaded a pdf with the questions that are listed on the HHSC Attestation web page. Feel free to download the file and review before you visit the site so you can be prepared with the required information.
Here is the link to the HHSC web page: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Enhanced Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Provider Retention Attestation and Initial Reporting Survey (surveymonkey.com)
