New Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) Qualification Process

ODP Announcement 20-111

The purpose of ODP Announcement 20-111 is to inform Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) of an updated statewide qualification process. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires a statewide process to ensure that SCOs are qualified to render services to waiver-funded individuals. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is replacing the previous Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) SCO requalification process with the ODP AAW SCO qualification process outlined in this communication.

New SCO Requalification

Following the SCO’s initial qualification date, all SCOs classified as new are to be requalified by the end of the following fiscal year. This will be detailed on the AAW SCO qualification form (Note: This form is under development and will be distributed at a later time). For example, if a new SCO’s first qualification begin date is January 20, 2017, the SCO must be requalified by June 30, 2018, which is the end of the following fiscal year. A new SCO’s status will be updated from new to existing after the SCO is requalified.

Existing SCO Requalification Cycle

Previously, AAW SCOs were requalified during annual monitoring and the Quality Assessment and Improvement (QA&I) process. All activities associated to the AAW SCO requalification process will now occur during the ODP AAW SCO qualification process. Once an SCO is classified as existing, the SCO is to be requalified on a three-year cycle based upon the last digit of the SCO’s MPI number. The timelines for Cycle 2 of SCO requalification will be slightly different from the timelines for Cycle 2 of QA&I due to when the requalification process is starting and the corresponding fiscal year.

For inquiries regarding this communication, contact the AAW Enrollment mailbox.