Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) In addition to completing required
training as provided in the iBudget Handbook and Rule
65G-10.004, F.A.C., any person
or Support Coordinator who has less than 12 months' experience working as a
Support Coordinator as of July 1, 2021 must complete an Agency-approved
mentoring program offered by his or her Qualified Organization. Mentees will
only receive credit for participating in a mentoring program approved by the
Agency. The following qualifications and restrictions apply:
(a) Any existing Waiver Support Coordinator
who has an active Medicaid Waiver Services Agreement but less than 12 months'
experience working as a Waiver Support Coordinator within the past 12 months of
July 1, 2021 may receive credit for completing activities described in
subsection (4) of this rule prior to joining the Qualified
Organization.
(b) Mentees may serve
clients during the mentoring program as long as their mentor supervises each
activity described in paragraphs (4)(a) and (b) of this
rule.
(2) As described in
paragraph (1)(a) of this rule, mentees do not need to repeat activities
described in subsection (4) of this rule that they have already performed
within the past 12 months of July 1, 2021 and documented in case notes in
iConnect. To receive credit, activities completed and documented during said
period should be listed on APD Form
65G-14.0043 B, as described in
subsection (10) of this rule. The mentee must participate in the mentoring
program for no less than 30 days. Nothing in this section prohibits the
Qualified Organization from electing to place or keep a Support Coordinator in
mentee status due to concerns about competency or performance.
(3) Mentees who did not have an active MWSA
upon joining a Qualified Organization must shadow or observe a mentor over the
course of no less than 90 days. All mentees must complete all activities
described in subsection (4) of this rule.
(4) The Qualified Organization must request
approval from the Agency Regional Office prior to implementing a new mentoring
program at the time of the prospective Qualified Organization's application or
changing an approved mentoring program. The request must include, in writing, a
copy of the Qualified Organization's policies or procedures concerning the
mentoring program. These policies or procedures must require:
(a) A mentee to shadow or observe a mentor
and participate in the following:
1. A
minimum of five (5) support plan meetings involving the mentor or mentee's
clients;
2. At least nine (9)
face-to-face visits in a variety of settings, including meetings with the
mentor or mentee's clients in family homes, supported living arrangements, and
licensed facilities. At least six (6) of these visits must detail the
coordination of providers' supports;
3. Meetings with the Agency, including the
Regional Office and State Office meetings, which occur while the mentee is
participating in the mentoring program;
4. Discussions to educate clients and
families regarding identifying and preventing abuse, neglect, and
exploitation;
5. Instructions to
clients and families on mandatory reporting requirements for abuse, neglect,
and exploitation;
6. Use of
iConnect for case management activities; and
7. Supported Living Quarterly
Meeting.
(b) A mentee to
shadow or observe a mentor or, if applicable, other Support Coordinator
employed by the Qualified Organization, participate in the following if they
occur while the mentee is participating in the mentoring program:
1. Submission of a Significant Additional
Needs ("SAN") request;
2. Medicaid
eligibility redetermination process;
3. Discussion with the assessor regarding the
completion of the comprehensive needs assessment; and
4. Updating of a minimum of five (5) client
cost plans and service authorizations in iConnect.
(c) If the events discussed in subparagraph
(4)(b) of this Rule do not occur while the mentee is participating in the
mentoring program, the Qualified Organization must review these processes,
including the documentation in the client's central record, with the
mentee.
(d) Mentors to:
1. Have at least two (2) years of experience
working as a Waiver Support Coordinator immediately prior to being
hired;
2. Have an active
caseload;
3. Have no ethical
violations within the past three (3) years;
4. Have no unresolved QIO background
screening alerts for the past three years;
5. Remain in compliance with required
training as specified in the iBudget Handbook and Chapter 65G-10,
F.A.C.;
6. Pass the Level 1
competency-based assessment described in Section
393.0663, F.S., and Rule
65G-10.004, F.A.C., with a score
of 90% or better;
7. Have no
delinquent Corrective Action Plan per QIO review or Agency audit, or timely
resolve any Corrective Action Plan required while the Support Coordinator is a
mentor;
8. Have no more than three
mentees assigned to him or her at any given time; and
9. Ensure that, if the mentor and mentee's
clients do not require any of the items listed in subsection (4) but another
Support Coordinator employed by the Qualified Organization has a client(s) who
does, the mentee can acquire the necessary experience with the other Support
Coordinator.
(e) If the
Qualified Organization operates in multiple regions, a statement regarding how
the mentor will meet the mentoring program requirements.
(5) Agency staff will provide a written
certificate to mentees who attend the meetings discussed in subparagraph
(4)(a)3. of this rule. The mentee must maintain this documentation to validate
successful completion.
(6) Any
Qualified Organization that intends to provide consultation services for
clients enrolled in the CDC+ program must include guidance and instructions
with respect to the CDC+ Handbook in its mentoring program, including observing
or shadowing a consultant:
(a) Review draft,
denied, or updated purchasing plans, if applicable, or review the current
purchasing plans; and
(b) Submit a
SAN request, if applicable, or review the most recent SAN request that was
submitted.
(7) The Agency
must only approve mentoring programs that address the requirements identified
in section (4) and, if applicable, section (6) of this rule.
(8) The Agency must send the applicant
written notice indicating approval or denial of the proposed mentoring program
within the timeframes established in Rule
65G-14.002(4),
F.A.C., as well as the reasons for a denial, if applicable.
(9) The prospective Support Coordinator must
successfully complete the Level 1 Training before completing the mentoring
program.
(10) Support Coordinator
Mentoring Program Completion.
(a) For a mentee
described in subsection (3) of this rule to receive credit for completing a
mentoring program, the mentor must issue a letter indicating the mentee's
successful completion of the mentoring program to the mentee and the Agency's
Regional Office. This letter is titled Certification of Mentoring Program
Completion, on APD Form
65G-14.0043 A, effective July 1,
2021 and incorporated here by reference. The Certification of Mentoring Program
Completion form is available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12654.
(b) For a mentee described in subsection (2)
of this rule to receive credit for completing a mentoring program, the mentor
must issue a Certification of Mentoring Program Completion for Existing WSCs,
APD Form 65G-14.0043 B, effective July 1,
2021 and incorporated here by reference, to the mentee and Agency's Regional
Office. The Certification of Mentoring Program Completion for Existing WSCs
form is available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12655.
(c) The Qualified Organization must maintain
a copy of the Support Coordinator Mentoring Program Completion Certification
form for six (6) years. The mentor may only issue this letter after the mentee
successfully completes all tasks and duties required by the mentoring
program.
(11) This rule
shall be reviewed, and if necessary, renewed through the rulemaking process
five years from the effective date.
Rulemaking Authority
393.0662 (7),
(15),
393.0663(5),
393.501(1) FS.
Law Implemented 393.0662,
393.0663(2),
393.063 FS.
New 7-1-21.
