E-Billing
Click this link to connect to E billing: Service Provider Billing System
Direct Support Professional Workforce Survey: In the Spring of 2022, all agencies employing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) paid for by a regional center will be invited to participate in an online survey to collect quantitative information about factors that impacted this workforce during the 2021 calendar year. The survey collects data pertaining to DSP tenure, turnover, vacancy rates, wages, benefits and other types of compensation, recruitment and retention, and front-line supervisor support. The survey also will include questions specifically tailored to California’s workforce and I/DD service system. Read more and find the survey link here.
IMPORTANT: Correspondence to ALL Non Residential Providers re: Alternative Non Residential Services Model: The Department of Developmental Services issued a directive on August 31st that outline policies and procedures for utilizing alternative nonresidential services during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. This model will go into effect September 1, 2020. To allow a service provider to bill for Alternative Services effective September 1, 2020, DDS requires that service providers submit to Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) the DDS Certification of Alternative Nonresidential Services prior to billing for September services. This replaces all previous certifications requested by ELARC. Read the full correspondence with important deadlines here. Additionally, ELARC is requiring providers complete the Alternative Services Engagement Log.
NOTE: Alternative Service Delivery Framework for services under SOE to be used by vendors for services beginning September 1, 2020. Access the following billing worksheets:
Daily Billing Worksheet- NEW UPDATED 09/30/2020
Hourly Billing Worksheet- NEW UPDATED 09/30/2020
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REPORTING ON ALTERNATIVE SERVICES:
Reporting in January, 2021
For the reporting required for January 2021 and continuing until further DDS guidance, by the fifth business day of each month, providers must submit a report for the prior month for each vendorization delivering Alternative Services this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021AlternativeServicesReporting
Reporting on September and October
By November 25, 2020, providers must submit a report for each vendorization delivering Alternative Services for the initial period of September 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020, using SurveyMonkey. The survey may be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AlternativeNonresidentialServicesSurvey
Reporting on November
By December 5, 2020, providers must submit a report for each vendorization delivering Alternative Services for the month of November 2020 using SurveyMonkey. The survey may be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OngoingAlternativeServicesSurvey
Future Reporting
DDS has stated that additional guidance regarding subsequent reporting is forthcoming. ELARC will keep our community posted on updates as they are received.
Important Alternative Services Billing Update: Monthly Rate Release Delayed: The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) August 31, 2020 Directive regarding Alternative Nonresidential Services (Alternative Services) during the COVID-19 State of Emergency indicated that prior to November 1, 2020, providers would be notified of the monthly unit rates for Alternative Services and the monthly unit rates would be used for November 2020 and subsequent months. DDS has announced that, in the interest of an effectual implementation, use of the monthly unit rates for Alternative Services will instead become effective December 1, 2020. Further, DDS has announced that they will provide guidance on use of the monthly unit rates in a forthcoming correspondence. For November 2020, providers shall continue to follow the methodology and rules outlined in the August 31, 2020 Directive for September and October 2020. Read the full DDS announcement.
State of Emergency: LA County/LA City Civil Unrest: On May 30, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency for Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, as a result of the civil unrest following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020. On June 1, 2020, Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) received the attached State of Emergency (SOE) notification from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). As a result, DDS is authorizing, pursuant to Title 17, California Code of Regulations section 54326(a)(11), Regional Centers to pay vendors of nonresidential services for absences that are the direct result of the civil unrest in Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles. Read the full correspondence here.
Read State of Emergency Notice
Providers: 6/2/20 Update on SOE Billing: A May 7, 2020 Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Directive and subsequent May 26, 2020 ELARC correspondence and requested self-certification has led to questions regarding State of Emergency (SOE) absence billing. This notice is intended as an update.
If you are a service provider who is eligible for SOE absence billing, you may submit your billing as usual. Per the DDS directive, Service Providers are advised to pursue other forms of funding during this SOE such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. If the provider obtains a loan, the provider may still bill for SOE absence billing. If any loan related to the SOE, such as the PPP, is forgiven in the future, the provider should then advise ELARC. If the loan is forgiven, ELARC will then work with the provider to reconcile any funds through a payback or amended billing process. Providers are advised to keep all documentation related to SOE absence billing and related loan or other funding applications.
Submitting Notification of Supported Employment Program Group Changes: Form DS 1963: The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) recognizes that many providers and the individuals they serve have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including reductions in work hours or losses of individual jobs and/or group placements. This correspondence serves as a reminder to Regional Centers and Supported Employment Program (SEP) providers that pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 17 section 58832(c), a DS 1963 form must be submitted to the Department. View the complete DDS correspondence here with all instructions on how to submit the DS 1963 form.
COVID-19 Bridge Funding: The onetime limited 2.1% increase some vendors received on May 1, 2019 is set to expire April 30, 2020. This rate increase was approved as ‘Bridge Funding’ for specific services, which included Community Care Facilities (CCF), day programs, independent living services, respite, and infant development. The increase was approved for services provided in ‘high cost’ counties. This was a temporary increase for twelve (12) months and will expire on April 30, 2020. Read correspondence regarding this matter here.