Code of Massachusetts Regulations
101 CMR - EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Title 101 CMR 429.00 - Rates for Certain Sexual and Domestic Violence Services
Section 429.02 - Definitions

As used in 101 CMR 429.00, unless the context requires otherwise, terms have the meanings in 101 CMR 429.02.

Client. An individual that receives certain sexual and domestic violence services purchased by a governmental unit.

Cost Report. The document used to report costs and other financial and statistical data. The Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR) is used when required.

Domestic Violence Community-based Services. The Domestic Violence (DV) programs, which include supervised visitation and Child Witness to Violence, offer an array of services to survivors of domestic violence and their families. Domestic violence providers help victims of verbal abuse, financial abuse, emotional, sexual, and physical abuse by delivering specialized direct services and access to community resources.

EOHHS. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services established under M.G.L. c. 6A.

Extraordinary Circumstances/Flex Funding. A method whereby, subject to availability, a purchasing governmental unit may provide resource allocations to a client and/or provider across the state. Flexible funding may be provided through a number of means including, but not limited to, reimbursement to client for specific support services or funds directed to a qualified provider for extraordinary circumstances.

Governmental Unit. The Commonwealth, any board, commission, department, division, or agency of the Commonwealth and any political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

Housing Stabilization Flexible Funding. An additional support to survivors of domestic violence who are not eligible for other assistance and/or have exhausted other assistance available to them for the stabilization of current housing and/or securing more permanent housing.

Individual Consideration (I.C.). Payment rates for certain services are designated as individual consideration (I.C.). Where I.C. rates are designated, the purchasing governmental unit will determine the appropriate payment as the actual cost of the item or service as evidenced by invoice, published tuition amount, or other price reasonably obtained by a competitive market for the product or service.

Intimate Partner Abuse Education Program. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health certified Intimate Partner Abuse Education Programs (IPAEPs) work to increase the safety of domestic violence victims and survivors by holding their intimate partners accountable for abusing them. These 80-hour educational programs help abusers to develop respectful and non-abusive attitudes and behaviors toward their partners and children. IPAEPs contact victims and survivors to help them to plan for their safety, to refer them to support services like domestic violence service agencies and child witness to violence programs, and to ask about their abuser's behavior at home.

New Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Site Development. One-time rate for start-up costs associated with a new MA SANE-designated hospital site or MA SANE-designated telemedicine hospital site within a rape crisis center's DPH-established service area.

Provider. Any individual, group, partnership, trust, corporation, or other legal entity that offers services for purchase by a governmental unit and that meets the conditions of purchase or licensure that have been adopted by a purchasing governmental unit.

Rape Crisis Center Services. The Rape Crisis Centers (RCC), part of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services (SAPSS), serve as a vital community resource for survivors of sexual violence. Services are focused on the needs of the survivor and help with the short- and long-term community and health needs. Specific services include, but are not limited to, 24/7 hotline services; accompaniment to hospitals, police stations, and court appointments; and individual and group counseling.

Rape Crisis Center Statewide Specialized Hotline. A statewide hotline created to support primary and secondary survivors of sexual violence who are from a specific population at high-risk of experiencing sexual violence or who experience specific barriers to accessing resources including, but not limited to, language barriers. Any such hotline will provide these services under the supervision of a DPH-funded rape crisis center. Hours of service and other service provision conditions will be negotiated with DPH.

Rape Crisis Satellite Center. An additional physical point of access to clients with established and maintained office hours in locations external to the main RCC site.

Reporting Year. The provider's fiscal year for which costs incurred are reported to the Operational Services Division on the Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR).

Sexual and Domestic Violence Equity Services. Sexual and domestic violence (SDV) affects some groups of people at disproportionate levels as seen in higher prevalence, poorer access to services, and/or worse outcomes from SDV. Research on disparities has identified some of these groups as Black women, LGBTQ, immigrants, people with disabilities, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and people in rural areas. The service offers, but is not limited to, supports services, outreach, education, and community engagement with groups and individuals who are disproportionately adversely affected.

Sexual and Domestic Violence Equity Legal Services. Services for the relief/amelioration of immigration or humanitarian crises encountered by refugees and immigrants, such as legal representation and humanitarian relief following natural disasters, immigration raids, etc.