Community Care may enter into individualized purchase
of service agreements, contracts for services, or affiliated service
agreements. Though this is not done routinely and the agency does not�� provide any collaborative services where it
would be necessary to place a request for proposals in a public forum, there
are times when an individual Community Care client may receive services through
the aforementioned agreements. Any time such a case arises, the following
procedures must be followed regarding Purchase of Service (POS) agreements:
- The
proposed POS agreement will specify the responsibilities and expectations
of each party within the body of the agreement.
- Responsibilities
and expectations will include:
a. A list of the services
exchanged, including the goals and objectives of the agreement;
b. The roles and
responsibilities of each organization, including reporting responsibilities;
c. The procedures for sharing
of information;
d. Confidentiality
protections, including signed written consents; and
e. Language that describes how
differences will be resolved.
- All
applicable laws, regulations, and standards will be followed.
- POS
agreements will include anticipated outcomes and a plan for evaluating
outcomes.
- POS
agreements will include language that describes how client satisfaction
with services will be measured.
- POS
agreements will define how services will be paid.
The following apply to all
contracts for services:
- The
proposed contract will specify the responsibilities and expectations of
each party within the body of the contract.
- Responsibilities
and expectations will include:
a. A list of the services
exchanged, including the goals and objectives of the contract;
b. The roles and
responsibilities of each organization, including reporting responsibilities;
c. The procedures for sharing
of information;
d. Confidentiality
protections, including signed written consents; and
e. Language that describes how
differences will be resolved.
- All
applicable laws, regulations, and standards will be followed.
- Contracts
will include anticipated outcomes and a plan for evaluating outcomes.
- Agreements
will include language that describes how client satisfaction with services
will be measured.
- Contracts
will include language that defines payments for services.
The following apply to all
affiliated agreements:
- The
proposed agreement will specify the responsibilities and expectations of
each party within the body of the agreement.
- Responsibilities
and expectations will include:
a. A list of the services
exchanged, including the goals and/or objectives of the agreement;
b. The roles and
responsibilities of each organization; and
c. The procedures for sharing
of information.
- .
All applicable laws, regulations, and standards will be followed.
- All
agreements will include a statement of commitment to ensure comprehensive
clinical treatment for a specified client.
Additionally, the following
procedures or requirements apply to all contracts and agreements:
- Community
Care will be responsible for surveying and measuring client satisfaction
for all services provided in addition to any agreed upon process within a
contract or agreement.
- The
Community Care overseer of contracts and agreements will ensure that the
results of such surveys are made available to external providers upon
request, or as needed.
- Prior
to presenting a POS agreement, contract for services, or affiliated
agreement for routing signatures, copies of any required licenses must be
obtained from the provider.
- Community
Care is required under law to make a report, or cause a report to be made,
at any time there is a reason to suspect that abuse or neglect has
happened or is likely to happen. No agreement or contract for services can
take away that requirement.
- Each
party of a POS agreement, a contract for services, or an affiliated
agreement is responsible for protection of confidentiality as defined by
clients' rights, including assurance that appropriate consents and
authorizations are obtained.
- Once
an agreement or contract is written, it must be signed by the service
providers of all agencies involved and submitted to the Community Care
Executive Director (or designee) for approval and final signature. No
agreement or contract may be entered into without this signature.
- Unless
otherwise indicated, all agreements and contracts will be reviewed no less
than annually by Community Care.
- Whenever
a review of services indicates a need for corrective action, a plan will
be developed between the agency designee overseeing contracts and
agreements and the service provider.
- Community
Care agrees to make reasonable attempts to resolve any dispute arising
with external providers who have a POS agreement, a contracted service
agreement, or an affiliated agreement with the agency.