Office of Developmental Programs Bulletin 00-19-03 Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) was published on July 23, 2019. The purpose of the bulletin is to distribute the updated PUNS Manual. Additional materials include the PUNS Form, the PUNS cover letter, and the PUNS Disagreement Form. The PUNS Form and the PUNS Disagreement Form will be translated into Spanish; ODP will release a communication once the forms are translated.

When PUNS was first implemented in 1998 and revised in April 2006, a manual was published to provide instructions on the completion of the form. The PUNS Manual was updated to reflect circumstances that better identify the individual’s and family’s experiences throughout the individual’s lifespan. It also provides new instructions for completing the form, emphasizing that is to be completed in its entirety through a face-to-face conversation between the Supports Coordinator, the individual, and family.

The PUNS Form cannot be handed or sent to the individual and family to complete on their own; however, the form can be shared with the individual and family in advance of the meeting at their request so they are prepared when meeting with the SC.

A copy of the finalized HCSIS PUNS Form and PUNS cover letter must be sent to the individual and family within five working days of finalization of the HCSIS PUNS Form. The HCSIS PUNS should contain the same information as the PUNS Form completed during the meeting. The HCSIS PUNS reflects the service needs captured at the meeting.

The PUNS is a tool used to determine the need for ID/A services and establishes the priority of need for services when there is a waiting list for the County Program or AE to provide services as requested. The information in PUNS is reviewed and updated if needed during the annual Individual Support Planning (ISP) process and as an individual’s needs change.

The PUNS indicates the urgency of need for services. The urgency of the need is identified in one of three categories:

• Emergency Need → the service need will occur within six months;
• Critical Need → the service need is anticipated to occur after six months but within two years; and
• Planning for Need → the service need is anticipated to occur more than two years away but less than five years away.

If there is disagreement with the results of the PUNS, the PUNS Disagreement Form has detailed instructions for the individual and family to indicate disagreement with the information on the finalized PUNS Form. Concerns should be noted on the PUNS Disagreement Form and returned to the SC within 10 calendar days of receipt of the finalized HCSIS PUNS Form. The Disagreement Form will be reviewed in attempt to resolve the concerns. The SCO must contact the individual and family within seven calendar days of receipt of the Disagreement Form to initiate a review of the concerns with the individual and family and why they disagree with the PUNS Form.

Effective July 23, 2019, Bulletin 00-06-15, Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) Manual, is obsolete.