Youth Empowerment Services (YES)

Background

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) received approval by the federal government to implement a 1915(c) Medicaid Waiver. The program, called Youth Empowerment Services (YES), allows more flexibility in the funding of intensive community-based services and supports for children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and their families. HHSC and DSHS worked collaboratively to develop the waiver, and sought input throughout the process from a broad array of stakeholders.

Additional Information: YES Waiver Brief (MS Word) July 27, 2012
YES Tracking Report (MS Excel) Posted July 10, 2012

Program News


April 5, 2013	YES Program Evaluation The University of Texas School of Social work conducted an evaluation of the YES program. The evaluation was published in January 2013. YES Evaluation - Executive Summary - January 2013 (PDF) YES Evaluation - January 2013 (PDF)
July 27, 2012	YES Waiver Community Update – July 2012 (MS Word) New: Implementation Status, Participant Recruitment and Enrollment, Revised Provider Qualifications and Service Descriptions, Provider Recruitment, and more.
July 1, 2012	Inquiry List for YES Waiver Services Available in Tarrant County The Local Mental Health Authority in Tarrant County, MHMR of Tarrant County, has begun an Inquiry List for youth and families interested in accessing services through the YES Waiver. To obtain more information or register for the Inquiry List for Tarrant County, please call (817) 569- 5600. Information is also available online at www.mhmrtc.org on the Mental Health Services link. Brochure for Youth & Families in Tarrant County (MS Word)
July 1, 2012	Inquiry List for YES Waiver Services Available in Bexar County April 2010 – The Local Mental Health Authority in Bexar County, Center for Health Care Services, has begun an Inquiry List for youth and families interested in accessing services through the YES waiver. To obtain more information or register for the Inquiry List for Bexar County, please call (210) 731-1300 extension 259. Brochure for Youth & Families in Bexar County (MS Word) Updated July 1, 2012
July 1, 2012	Inquiry List for YES Waiver Services Available in Travis County February 2010 – The Local Mental Health Authority in Travis County, Austin Travis County Integral Care, has begun an Inquiry List for youth and families interested in accessing services through the YES Waiver. To obtain more information or register for the Inquiry List for Travis County, please call (512) 804-3191. Information is also available online at www.integralcare.org. Brochure for Youth & Families in Travis County (MS Word) Updated July 1, 2012
July 1, 2012	Request for Applications for Tarrant County Service Providers July 2012 – Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. is recruiting for YES Waiver service providers in Tarrant County. All potential interested providers, please contact Kim Garrett at kgarrett@yapinc.org for application information.
2012	RFAs for Travis County Non-Traditional Community-Based Support Services and for Licensed or Certified Professional Services Austin-Travis County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center dba Austin Travis County Integral Care (ATCIC) is seeking applications for the provision of Non-Traditional Community Based Support Services and for Licensed or Certified Professional Services for the residents of Travis County, Texas through a Request for Applications (RFA) open enrollment process. Contracts will be initiated for all Providers who meet application criteria. If would like a copy of the RFA for Non-Traditional Community Based Support Services or for Licensed or Certified Professional Services, contact Arianna Franz at 512.440.4062 or by email at arianna.franz@atcic.org. For other opportunities, please see http://www.integralcare.org/?nd=yes.
May 2010	*YES Featured in HHSC's In-Touch* Newsletter** The YES Program was featured in the May-June 2010 Issue of In-Touch. Read the feature »
March 2010	YES Waiver Policy Clarification - March 2010 Update (MS Word)
February 2010	RFA for Bexar County Service Providers February 2010 - The Center for Health Care Services has released an Open Enrollment Request for Applications (RFA) with the intent of recruiting YES Waiver Service Providers in Bexar County. The RFA can be viewed at: http://www.chcsbc.org/.

Current Status

DSHS and HHSC submitted the YES Waiver proposal to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in June 2008 and received approval in February 2009. Bexar and Travis Counties began as pilot sites in April, 2010 for their respective service areas. Tarrant County began provision of services July, 2012. DSHS is contracting for YES waiver services with the Center for Health Care Services (Bexar County), Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (Tarrant County) and Austin Travis County Integral Care (Travis County).

DSHS’ Open Enrollment of additional Waiver Providers will continue and any individuals or organizations interested in becoming a Waiver Provider (must provide all YES Waiver services) may respond to DSHS’ Notice of Open Enrollment posted at http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=82557. The ultimate goal is to have a variety of DSHS contracted Waiver Providers in each service area. Harris and Tarrant Counties will begin serving as pilot sites as early as 2012 if the waiver is determined to be cost effective in its first two years of operation.

YES Waiver Information

Brochures for Youth and Families
- Brochure for Youth & Families in Bexar County (MS Word) Updated July 1, 2012
- Brochure for Youth & Families in Tarrant County (MS Word) Posted July 1, 2012
- Brochure for Clients & Families in Travis County (MS Word) Updated July 1, 2012
Approved Waiver Application (PDF) Posted October 3, 2011
Waiver Provider Brochure (MS Word) Updated July 1, 2012
YES Waiver Overview – (MS PowerPoint) Updated July 1, 2012

YES Waiver Provider Information

Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Notice of Open Enrollment posting can be viewed at: http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=82557
Provider Credentialing Criteria (MS Word)

YES Waiver Provider Rates

To view rates, please visit HHSC’s Rates Analysis for Long-Term Care Services website at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/rad/long-term-svcs/yes/index.shtml. This link also provides additional information about the YES Waiver Rates (Contacts, Methodology/Rules, Payment Rate Information).
HHSC sets rates for all YES Waiver Services. To receive notice of Meetings, Public Hearings, Workshops and Events please visit http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/news/meetings.asp

YES Waiver Policies and Procedures Manual
Version 6 - Published July 9, 2012

If you would like to receive email notification of updates to the YES Waiver web page, please join the YES Waiver email announcement list.

Manual	Date Updated
Manual (MS Word)	Revised December 19, 2012 - Revision Posted February 28, 2013
YES Manual Change Log (MS Word)	Revised December 19, 2012 - Revision Posted December 28, 2012
Waiver Participant Eligibility and Enrollment Change Log (Updated July 1, 2012) (MS Word)
Waiver Participant Eligibility and Enrollment Change Log ( Updated January 24, 2011) (MS Word)
Waiver Participant Eligibility and Enrollment Change Log (Updated August 20, 2010) (MS Word)
Appendices	Date Updated
Appendix A – YES Waiver Service Codes Descriptions and Provider Qualifications (MS Word)	Posted April 6, 2011
Appendix B – Quality Management Plan (MS Excel)
Appendix C – Waiver Provider Credentialing Process Flow (MS Word)
Appendix D – Eligibility and Enrollment Process Flow (MS Excel)	July 27, 2012
Appendix E – Billing Guidelines (MS Excel)	Posted April 6, 2011
Appendix F: LMHA Staff Training Q & A (MS Excel)
Appendix F: Question and Answer Document (MS Word)
Form	Date Updated
Clinical Eligibility Determination Form	July 1, 2012
Consumer Choice Consent - English	July 1, 2012
Consumer Choice Consent - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Co-Occurring Diagnosis Needs Assessment	July 1, 2012
Critical Incident Reporting Form	July 19, 2012
Denial of Eligibility Letter - Travis County	July 1, 2012
Denial of Eligibility Letter - Travis County - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Denial of Eligibility Letter - Bexar County	July 1, 2012
Denail of Eligibility Letter - Bexar County - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Denial of Eligibility Letter - Tarrant County	July 1, 2012
Denial of Eligibility Letter - Tarrant County - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Documentation of Provider Choice	July 1, 2012
Documentation of Provider Choice - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Encounter and Invoicing Template	Revised January 25, 2013
Financial Eligibility Screening Tool	July 1, 2012
Individual Plan of Care Form	Revised January 24, 2013
Inquiry List Removal Letter	July 1, 2012
Inquiry List Removal Letter - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Letter of Withdrawal	July 1, 2012
Letter of Withdrawal - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Notification of Participant Rights	July 1, 2012
Notification of Participant Rights - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Offer Letter	July 1, 2012
Offer Letter - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Optional Eligibility Screening Tool (LMHA)	July 1, 2012
Optional Eligibility Screening Tool (Referral Source)	July 1, 2012
Participant Handbook and Provider Directory	July 1, 2012
Participant Handbook and Provider Directory - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Participant Referral Form	July 1, 2012
Respite Relative Provider Form	July 1, 2012
Respite Relative Provider Form - Spanish	July 1, 2012
Signature Page	July 1, 2012
Transportation Log Template	July 1, 2012
Vacancy and Deadline Notification Form	July 1, 2012
Vacancy and Deadline Notification Form - Spanish	July 1, 2012

YES Training Topic/Dates

Information to come

YES Extended Observation Unit Standards

Extended Observation Unit Standards (MS Word)