OPWDD PASRR Referral Communication Update and MOLST Training Opportunity

OPWDD PASRR Referral Communication Update

A new communication protocol from the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) serves to inform hospitals and nursing facilities of a change to the referral process for the Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Level II assessments for people suspected of, or diagnosed with, an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). OPWDD conducts these required assessments for individuals who are known or suspected of having an IDD prior to admission to a nursing facility.

Effective Nov. 16, 2023, hospitals and nursing facilities are to send all PASRR Level II referral materials to the email address listed in the new communication protocol that corresponds to the referred person’s county of residence. They ask that facilities securely email all PASRR referral materials to the appropriate email address, as referral materials provided via other means will no longer be accepted (i.e., faxing). Discontinue sending PASRR referral information to any other OPWDD email address that is not listed in the communication.

For general inquiries regarding OPWDD PASRR, please email the Statewide OPWDD PASRR mailbox at opwdd.sm.cof.PASRR@opwdd.ny.gov or call the statewide OPWDD PASRR phone line at 518-388-0694.

The following provides a brief overview of the current process. Federal regulation requires hospitals and/or nursing facilities to:

• Complete a Level I SCREEN Form for all persons, with limited exceptions, who are seeking admission to a Medicaid-certified nursing facility to determine whether they are suspected of, or have a diagnosis of, an IDD. When indicated by the Level I SCREEN Form, hospitals must submit a referral to OPWDD for a PASRR Level II assessment.
  • Please note that when a person meets the criteria for a Categorical Determination on the Level I SCREEN Form:
    • A PASRR Level II referral is still required to be made to OPWDD. In these cases, the OPWDD PASRR Coordinator will review the referral information and will complete an abbreviated PASRR Level II assessment, if indicated.
    • If the Categorical Determination has a time limit (i.e., Brief and Finite Stay or Convalescent Care), and the person’s stay must extend beyond that limit (i.e., amended to Long Term Care status), the nursing facility must contact the OPWDD PASRR Coordinator prior to the end of the Categorical Determination time limit so that the OPWDD PASRR Coordinator can complete a full PASRR Level II assessment.

Nursing facilities are prohibited from admitting persons suspected of, or with a diagnosis of, an IDD until OPWDD determines via the PASRR Level II assessment that the person:

• Requires the level of services provided in a nursing facility; and
• Requires “specialized services” or “services of a lesser intensity” to address the person’s IDD needs.

Federal regulation requires a nursing facility to notify OPWDD to request completion of another PASRR Level II assessment when a resident suspected of, or having a diagnosis of, an IDD has experienced a “Significant Change.” The federal regulations guiding this process may be found here.

MOLST Training Opportunity

OPWDD is hosting an upcoming training on Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) and End of Life Decision Making targeted at voluntary agency providers, State-operated providers, care coordination organizations, and hospitals and medical providers on Wed., Nov. 15, 2023 at 10 a.m.

How to register: Click here to enroll in the MOLST: End of Life Decision Making for Individuals with I/DD training (sign-in required). If you need to create an account, instructions can be found here.

Contact: Carrie Mosley, cmosley@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 147