"Created by the Legislature to oversee the quality assurance system for the Developmental Disabilities Program"The 2000 Florida Legislature, in their proviso language, created funding for a quality assurance system for the Developmental Disabilities Program and the formation of a council composed of stakeholders to act as an advisory group for system development, quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives. The proviso language reads:
“...Administrative Trust Funds are provided for quality assurance monitoring of the Persons with Disabilities Home and Community Based Services Waiver, which shall be accomplished through contract with a peer review organization or similar provider. The monitoring and contract content shall be overseen by an interagency quality assurance council made up of the Department of Children and Families’ Mission Support and Planning, the Agency, and consumers or their families in the developmental disabilities program.”
The Florida Legislature appropriated funding in the FY 2000-01 budget to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for implementation of quality assurance monitoring of consumers receiving services through the Developmental Disabilities Waiver program. The legislature directed that monitoring be implemented through a contract with a Peer Review Organization (PRO) or Pro-like entity. PROs or PRO-like entities are Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) that are responsible for reviewing quality of designated services provided under the Medicaid umbrella.
To assist the Department and AHCA in this quality assurance role, an Interagency Quality Council (IQC) was established. The IQC is responsible for providing oversight to the contracted PRO, currently the Delmarva Foundation, with the primary focus of the interagency group being one of quality improvement.
Current approved membership is made up of representatives from the following stakeholder groups: five (5) consumer representatives, five (5) family member representatives, four (4) representatives from AHCA, and four (4) representatives from the Department’s Developmental Disabilities Program. Currently Beverly DeStories serves as the Chairperson and Scott Barrish serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the Interagency Quality Council. An advisory group made up of district staff and representatives from provider and advocacy groups assist the IQC in overseeing the quality assurance project.
The Interagency Quality Council meets quarterly throughout the state of Florida. The meetings are open to the public and anyone is welcomed to attend. Please refer to the IQC Meeting Dates and Minutes sections for the meeting dates and sites and most recent IQC minutes.
- Please contact, Ed Rousseau, the IQC liaison at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, at (850) 414-7787 with any questions or concerns.
|
