1. A. Any entity wishing to provide support coordination services for any OAAS administered HCBS waiver program shall meet all of the standards for participation contained in this Rule, unless otherwise specifically noted within these provisions.
2. B. The support coordination agency shall also abide by and adhere to any federal, state law, Rule, policy, procedure, performance agreement, manual or memorandum pertaining to the provision of support coordination services for OAAS administered HCBS waiver programs.

3. C. Failure to comply with the requirements of these standards for participation may result in sanctions including, but not limited to:

   1. 1. monetary sanctions;
   2. 2. suspension of payments;
   3. 3. recoupments;
   4. 4. cessation of linkages
   5. 5. citation of deficient practice and plan of correction submission;
   6. 6. removal from the freedom of choice list;
   7. 7. decertification as a support coordination agency for OAAS administered HCBS waiver services; and/or
   8. 8. termination of support coordination performance agreement.
4. D. A support coordination agency shall make any required information or records, and any information reasonably related to assessment of compliance with these requirements, available to the department.

5. E. Designated representatives of the department, in the performance of their mandated duties, shall be allowed by a support coordination agency to:

   1. 1. inspect all aspects of a support coordination agency’s operations which directly or indirectly impact participants; and
   2. 2. conduct interviews with any staff member or participant of the agency.
6. F. A support coordination agency shall, upon request by the department, make available the legal ownership documents of the agency.
7. G. Support coordination agencies must comply with all of the department’s systems/software requirements.

8. H. Support coordination agencies shall, at a minimum:

   1. 1. maintain and/or have access to a comprehensive resource directory containing all of the current inventory of existing formal and informal resources that identifies services within the geographic area which shall address the unique needs of participants of OAAS administered HCBS waiver programs;
   2. 2. establish linkages with those resources;
   3. 3. demonstrate knowledge of the eligibility requirements and application procedures for federal, state and local government assistance programs, which are applicable to participants of OAAS administered HCBS waiver programs;
   4. 4. employ a sufficient number of support coordinators and supervisory staff to comply with OAAS staffing, continuous quality improvement (CQI), timeline, workload, and performance requirements;
   5. 5. demonstrate administrative capacity and the financial resources to provide all core elements of support coordination services and ensure effective service delivery in accordance with programmatic requirements;
   6. 6. ensure that all agency staff are employed in accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor regulations (subcontracting of individual support coordinators and/or supervisors is prohibited);
   7. 7. have appropriate agency staff attend trainings, as mandated by LDH and OAAS;
   8. 8. have a documented CQI process;
   9. 9. document and maintain records in accordance with federal and state regulations governing confidentiality and program requirements;
   10. 10. ensure each participant has freedom of choice in the selection of available qualified providers and the right to change providers in accordance with program guidelines; and
   11. 11. ensure that the agency and support coordinators will not provide both support coordination and Medicaid-reimbursed direct services to the same participant(s).
9. I. Abuse and Neglect. Support coordination agencies shall establish policies and procedures relative to the reporting of abuse and neglect of participants, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 15:1504-1505, R.S. 40:2009.20 and any subsequently enacted laws. Providers shall ensure that staff complies with these regulations.

10. J. Ensure that statewide criminal history background checks are performed on all unlicensed persons working for the support coordination agency (SCA) in accordance with R.S. 40:1203.1 et seq. and/or other applicable state law upon hire;

    1. 1. ensure that the SCA does not hire unlicensed persons who have a conviction that bars employment in accordance with R.S. 40:1203.3 or other applicable state law;

       1. a. the SCA shall maintain documentation on the final disposition of all charges that bars employment pursuant to applicable state law.

11. K. Ensure that all employees, including contractors, are not excluded from participation in the Medicaid programs by checking the databases upon hire and then monthly thereafter.

    1. 1. the SCA shall maintain documentation of the results of these database checks.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office of Aging and Adult Services, LR 39:3089 (November 2013), amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office of Aging and Adult Services, LR 50:1840 (December 2024).