Early Intervention Service Provider Enrollment

I. The purpose of this Agreement is to fulfill the State's responsibility pursuant to the Early Intervention Act for Infants and Toddlers (MS Code §§41-87-1, et seq.) and Subchapter III of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §§1431, et seq.; The Provider agrees to participate in the Mississippi First Steps Early Intervention Program (hereinafter referred to as "MSFSEIP") in accordance with the terms and conditions of the program; and the Provider has represented to MSDH the ability to provide specific service(s) as defined in federal and state policies, certifying all service providers covered under this agreement meet all current state enrollment, credentialing and/or licensure requirements established as of the effective date of this Agreement. Providers may be classified as either an Evaluator or a Service Provider. Evaluator. All Evaluators must: a. Have a current credential (i.e., certification, license, or other qualification) to conduct and interpret individual child assessments. b. Have completed formal training in the administration and interpretation of assessments with individuals and training specifically in the administration and interpretation of assessments with infants, toddlers, and families. c. Demonstrate competence in administering and interpreting developmental assessments. d. Observe all applicable professional and ethical practices in the administration and interpretation of assessments. e. Complete ongoing professional development, including the completion of all MSFSEIP-required professional development, focused on principles and best practices in assessment, data-based decision-making, and the administration and interpretation of MSFSEIP-required assessments. f. If applicable, pursue "in-network" status with all major public and private insurance companies providing coverage in the location in which the evaluator practices, including but not limited to the following: Aetna, Ambetter from Magnolia Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid (regular), MSCAN-Magnolia, MSCAN-Molina, MSCAN- Mississippi Truecare, Tri-Care, and UnitedHealthcare. g. Attend all MSFSEIP- or Local FSEIP-required meetings. Evaluation Teams. Evaluation Teams must be multidisciplinary, as defined in the MSFEIP policies and procedures, and actively involve one or more family members and/or primary caregivers and the Service Coordinator for the infant or toddler and his/her family. Evaluation Team members must enter all child and family assessment or evaluation results into the Mississippi Infant and Toddler Intervention (MITI) data system to generate an assessment or evaluation report. a. If an infant or toddler has an established condition likely to lead to a developmental delay as defined in the MSFSEIP policies, the infant or toddler is eligible for early intervention services. An Evaluation Team will conduct an initial assessment of the infant or toddler and family to inform the development of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and child outcomes ratings. b. If an infant or toddler does not have an established condition likely to lead to a developmental delay as defined in the MSFSEIP policies, the eligibility of the infant or toddler must be established through evidence of developmental delay based on an evaluation or through clinical opinion. An Evaluation Team will conduct an initial evaluation which will include the administration and interpretation of developmental assessments according to the MSFSEIP policies and procedures. The Evaluation Team will use the evaluation results for the infant or toddler and family and, if applicable, documentation supporting clinical opinion to inform the development of an IFSP and the child outcomes ratings. Service Provider. All Service Providers must: a. Have a current credential (i.e., certification, license, or other qualification) to provide one or more of the following early intervention services: assistive technology services; audiology services; family training and counseling services; health services; medical services; nursing services; nutrition services; occupational therapy; physical therapy; psychological services; related services; sign language and cued language services; social work services; special instruction; speech- language pathology services; or vision services. b. Have completed formal training in the provision of one or more of the early intervention services listed in Section I.B.1. c. Demonstrate competence in the provision of one or more of the early intervention services listed in Section I.B.1. d. Observe all applicable professional and ethical practices in the delivery of early intervention services. e. Complete ongoing professional development, including the completion of all MSFSEIP-required professional development, focused on the principles and best available evidence-based practices for the delivery of family-focused, routines-based early intervention. f. If applicable, pursue "in-network" status with all major public and private insurance companies providing coverage in the location in which the service provider practices, including but not limited to the following: Aetna, Ambetter from Magnolia Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid (regular), MSCAN-Magnolia, MSCAN-Molina, MSCAN- UnitedHealthcare, Tri- Care, and UnitedHealthcare. g. Attend all MSFSEIP- or Local FSEIP-required meetings. Evidence of efforts to obtain in network status will be required within thirty to sixty days of accepting a client with applicable insurance. II. Provider Duties and Services. The Provider understands and agrees to the following: A. To the extent that the services rendered pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement are governed by applicable State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to early intervention services, the Provider shall exercise due diligence to be knowledgeable concerning these laws and regulations and shall maintain reasonable efforts to comply with the requirements. B. The Provider shall participate in training sessions, seminars, and other educational initiatives sponsored by the MSDH to further compliance with the applicable laws, as well as the policies and procedures adopted by the Agency to achieve programmatic objectives and goals. C. All Providers must comply with Title 34, Subtitle B, Chapter III, Section 303 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers, MSDH and MSFSEIP policies and procedures, and directives of the MSFSEIP. Failure to do so is grounds for termination of this Agreement. D. All Providers must meet minimum personnel qualifications according to the policies and personnel standards of the MSFSEIP, including obtaining and maintaining a discipline- specific credential required to practice in the state (i.e., certification, license, or other qualification) and meeting the professional development requirements of the MSFSEIP, including completion of discipline-specific professional development required to maintain a credential (i.e., certification, license, or other qualification for practice) and a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of professional development in the principles and practices of early intervention. Professional development hours must be submitted to the MSFSEIP Training Coordinator for approval and entry into the Provider's record maintained in the MITI data system. E. All supports and services for eligible infants or toddlers and their families must be provided according to the: a. Current IFSP; b. Individualized needs of the infant or toddler and her/his family; and all travel expenses will be paid based on per diem and mileage rates approved by the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration on the date of travel. Personnel service fees for service delivery and training documented in the MITI data system according to the rates in the MSFSEIP Fee Schedule, published online at for the date of service. These expenses must adhere to the requirements of the MSFSEIP Billing Manual. a. Invoices detailing units of service, fees, and associated travel will be generated by the MITI data system. The invoice will record the following information: child id number, child name, local EI program, service type, service provider, service log id number, unit/duration (i.e., 1 unit = 15 minutes), fees billed to Medicaid, Insurance, and MSDH, and mileage expenses. b. Invoices for reimbursement for approved training hours and associated travel will be generated by the MSFSEIP. Documentation of training attendance and expenses for associated travel, including original receipts, must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the training. b. Invoices will be processed on a monthly basis. An invoice including all expenses approved during the billing period (i.e., previous month) will be generated on the first business day of every month. Invoices will be submitted to the Providers for signature prior to submission for payment. c. Expenses will not be paid for any services for which a service log or a fee amount has not been entered into the MITI data system within 40 (days) of the date of service. d. All invoices for payments under this agreement must be completed no later than fifteen (15) days after the expiration of this agreement or the first business day thereafter. Any expenses invoiced after this date may result in a denial of payment. I. Contingencies Pertaining to the Payment of Early Intervention Services: a. With respect to the requirements of law and the Provider's compliance with applicable MSDH/MSFSEIP policies and procedures, the Provider acknowledges and agrees that early intervention services pertaining to any applicable child and family shall continue to be provided during any period in which a party-in-interest has initiated a dispute resolution procedure, such as a mediation proceeding, a written state complaint, or a due process hearing request. During any such period, unless otherwise notified in writing either by the parent (or other responsible adult who has consented to the early intervention services) or by MSDH/MSFSEIP, appropriate early intervention services pertaining to any applicable child or family shall not be terminated, diminished, delayed, or denied by the Provider. b. Payments made by MSDH/MSFSEIP pursuant to this Agreement shall be made only to the extent that MSDH/MSFSEIP is authorized by IDEA to use funds for activities or expenses that are reasonable and necessary for implementing and conducting the state program for the benefit of eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities, in accordance with 34 CFR §303.501. The Provider acknowledges and agrees that MSDH/MSFSEIP does not have authority to use Federal funds to satisfy a financial commitment for services that would otherwise have been paid by another source (e.g. private insurance, CHIP, and/or Medicaid, including MSCAN), including any medical program administered by the Department of Defense, as provided in 34 CFR §303.510. As a result of these restrictions, the Provider shall seek payment for any eligible services pertaining to infants and toddlers with disabilities for all possible sources prior to Provider's submission of any request for payment by MSDH/MSFSEIP, which shall act solely as the POLR to the extent authorized by law. The Provider agrees to provide documentation which is deemed satisfactory by MSDH/MSFSEIP concerning the Provider's reasonable efforts to seek alternate payment from other sources, which documentation shall be provided with Provider's request for payment by the Agency and at such other times as may be reasonably requested by MSDH/MSFSEIP. c. In the event that the Provider unsuccessfully seeks payment for any early intervention services from a state agency other than the MSDH which may have financial responsibility for the payment of early intervention services, the MSDH, as the lead agency, reserves the right to exercise its authority pursuant to 34 CFR §303.511 to seek resolution in a timely manner of any dispute involving such other state agency prior to making any payments to the Provider in MSDH's capacity as the POLR. During any such period of dispute resolution, the Provider acknowledges and agrees that appropriate early intervention services pertaining to any applicable child and family shall not be terminated, diminished, delayed, or denied by the Provider.