People we support and family members may have heard a staff or two discussing LTSS and complex system changes they are learning that impact how The Arc is funded for the services we provide to every person.

Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) is a web-based, case management tracking system for providers across Maryland like The Arc. Required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and administered by the State, it allows for the billing/funding of The Arc’s core services, but requires extensive training for staff, development of new tracking systems and documentation, and the implementation of a far more rigorous

process for Person Centered Planning (and thinking).

LTSS is also being built around new rates being put into effect in Maryland. After a six-month pilot with 11 homes where we provide services, we converted the remaining 51 homes to LTSS in

April - truly a massive effort. LTSS includes current participant information and allows for secure service coordination for providers like us across the state. Although the State is still refining the reimbursement rates for our other services, we are preparing these departments as well with training and documentation protocols that will be similar.

Part of what makes LTSS so challenging is it moves us from a small pool of four basic funded services into a larger, far more complicated, pool of more than 40. Ultimately, and most importantly, it will give people with developmental disabilities a much wider array of services and choices.

People we support and family members may have heard a staff or two discussing LTSS and complex system changes they are learning that impact how The Arc is funded for the services we provide to every person.

Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) is a web-based, case management tracking system for providers across Maryland like The Arc. Required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and administered by the State, it allows for the billing/funding of The Arc’s core services, but requires extensive training for staff, development of new tracking systems and documentation, and the implementation of a far more rigorous process for Person Centered Planning (and thinking).

LTSS is also being built around new rates being put into effect in Maryland. After a six-month pilot with 11 homes where we provide services, we converted the remaining 51 homes to LTSS in April—truly a massive effort. LTSS includes current participant information and allows for secure service coordination for providers like us across the state. Although the State is still refining the reimbursement rates for our other services, we are preparing these departments as well with training and documentation protocols that will be similar.

Part of what makes LTSS so challenging is it moves us from a small pool of four basic funded services into a larger, far more complicated, pool of more than 40. Ultimately, and most importantly, it will give people with developmental disabilities a much wider array of services and choices.