Western Highlands Provider Friday Newsletter, 1/19/07

	Western Highlands Network
	Friday E-Mail Newsletter Number 83 1/19/2007 The Friday E-Mail is a weekly update for providers by the Services Management Department of Western Highlands Network. Please distribute to all your staff. Update on PCPs and the NVML Transition During the transition period following the New Vistas-Mountain Laurel closure, WHN has accepted PCPs (Person Centered Plans) originating from the period that consumers were served by New Vistas-Mountain Laurel. As this transition period comes to a close, there have been many questions about when new PCPs will be required by Western Highlands. To clarify, state policy dictates that there are several conditions under which a new plan must be developed. This list is as follows: The Consumer changes to provider On or before the expiration of the target dates (which cannot exceed 1 year). During the consumer's birth month* The consumer's needs change We have waived the requirement for a new PCP during the transition period of consumers to new providers, but we now expect new PCPs as follows: 1. When your transition authorization expires, submit a new PCP from your agency. Use of white out or crossing out New Vistas-Mountain Laurel on an old form will no longer be accepted. 2.If your consumer has a birthday in January or February, we will not expect a new PCP until it would otherwise be due. Beginning March 1, 2007, a new PCP will be required during the consumer's birth month. If the consumer's birthday does not fall in January and February, please submit a new PCP with your first SAR beyond the transition authorization. 3. Anytime a consumer's needs change, you will need to develop a new PCP. We are trying to make this as painless as possible, and hope that these guidelines will be helpful in clarifying the new PCP expectations and process. So how do I get those medical records?* New Vistas-Mountain Laurel records will continue to be available at no cost to the providers and consumers through March 31, 2007. New Vistas-Mountain Laurel has arranged to provide management of the process of copying, storing and retrieving client records from January 1, 2007 - March 31, 2007. For all record transactions beginning January 1, 2007: Call 828-233-2522. Leave a message with your name and number and at least the full consumer name and date of birth for the record you are requesting. They will call you back. You will be able to retrieve the New Vistas-Mountain Laurel records after March 31, 2007. More detailed instructions will be sent as available. Charlie Schoenheit Director of Services Management Western Highlands Network 356 Biltmore Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 Telephone: (828)258-3511 x2219 FAX: (828) 225-2779 E-Mail: Charlie@westernhighlands.org Website: westernhighlands.org