Community Care contracts as needed with external
service providers to successfully meet the needs of persons served.
Additionally, Community Care contracts with external organizations as a vendor
to provide services to persons served by those external organizations. The
following procedures must be followed when entering into any contract or
service agreement, whether as a purchaser or a vendor of services:
- All
contracts and/or service agreements will state clearly the relationship
between the contract and services agreement and the purpose and mission of
Community Care.
- Each
contract or service agreement must have a designated individual whose job
description identifies them as having oversight of contracts and
agreements.� This individual who
will oversee all contracts and/or service agreements, and will remediate
any deficiencies associated with the service being provided under the
agreement.
- The
agency designee has the responsibility to monitor the progress and the outcomes
associated with the contract/agreement.
- Each
contract or service agreement will contain all significant terms and
conditions to be met in accordance with all regulatory bodies. The
significant terms required include, but are not limited to:
a. roles and responsibilities of all parties;
b. services to be provided;
c. service authorization, including eligibility
criteria;
d. provisions for training and technical support, if
necessary,
e. target populations;
f. duration of contract, including delineation of
follow up services;
g. policies and procedures for sharing information;
h. methods for resolving disputes;
i. a plan and
procedure for timely payments;
j. consequences for failure to pay;
k. documentation necessary for, and means of reporting
to, funding or oversight bodies;
l. conditions for termination; and
m. expected outcomes with a stated means for progress
monitoring .
- Any
contract or service agreement entered into by Community Care as a vendor
of services will provide safeguards against over or under billing that
include an accurate account of units of services, timely submission of
invoices or other required documentation, and compliance with all
applicable regulations.
- Providers
of services will comply with all policies and will not violate
confidentiality or privacy protection requirements.
- .
Any external provider contracting with Community Care for service
provision must provide validation of ability to provide the specified
services including appropriate licensure, show that they are legally
authorized to provide the stated services, and show sufficient financial
means to fulfill their obligation.
- �All contracts or service agreements will
be periodically reviewed for progress toward fulfilling the terms stated
within the document.
- All
contracts or service agreements will include expectations for quality
outcomes and client satisfaction.
- Any
time the results of monitoring and evaluating contract performance include
the need for corrective measures, Community Care will develop a corrective
action plan with the provider and will follow up to ensure that the action
is remediated.
- No
contract or service agreement will be entered into by Community Care
without the approval and signature of the Executive Director or designee.
- Approval
of the contract should be obtained prior to any signatures being
solicited.
- Once
approved, the contract or agreement should be routed for signatures and
then presented to the Executive Director for final signature.