ACL NOTE: This new process has been piloted but now will be implemented statewide. It should streamline the process a bit. Please read the FAQs as well as this announcement. If you have any questions that are not answered in the FAQs, we can help get those answered so let us know.
TARGETED RECERTIFICATION
A Licensing Renewal Process Designed for Increased Effectiveness and Efficiency
Impetus:
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) regulates mental health programs statewide to ensure that quality and safety standards are met. Analysis by OMH, including feedback from licensed stakeholders, identified a need to streamline processes and functions in order to make recertification visits more effective and efficient. To address this need, an initiative was undertaken to consolidate review processes so as to have a positive impact on all stakeholders, including providers, OMH staff and, most importantly, the recipients we serve.
Background:
NYS is in the midst of a monumental transformation in the array and method of delivering behavioral health services to our State’s citizens, necessitating a commensurate transformation in the culture of service delivery and oversight. While OMH is extremely cognizant of the challenges such change can pose on recipients, providers, and staff, through this initiative OMH saw an opportunity to challenge our mindset regarding the traditional recertification process. Specifically, the following concerns were identified:
- The same intensity of monitoring has historically been applied across all providers, regardless of past performance.
- Several visits to the same agency have resulted in redundant reviews of administrative standards.
- Survey redundancy has reduced the availability of OMH Field Office staff to offer providers guidance or technical assistance.
- Time constraints during the traditional process have not allowed for additional focus on programs with past performance issues or current concerns.
Targeted Recertification:
The result of this initiative is a new method known as “Targeted Recertification”, involving the concurrent recertification of all OMH licensed programs under the provider’s umbrella of services. This new process will allow for the identification and rectification of issues systemically, while maximizing licensing staff resources.
A provider’s level of on-site review will be determined by past performance on previous reviews, as well as current performance data. A single administrative review will be conducted for all of an agency’s programs at one time, rather than separate visits and reviews for each licensed program. Successful completion of a Targeted Recertification review will result in a 36-month Operating Certificate for all of the provider’s licensed programs.
The reduction in time spent surveying will increase OMH staff availability to conduct activities focused on increasing provider performance and reducing risk. As such, the new process seeks to ensure providers follow through on their Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) in the months following inspection. This ongoing “PIP monitoring” will assure planned corrections are implemented as expected.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions is included with this document that may answer any questions your organization may have. If your question is not answered there, feel free to reach out to your local OMH Field Office for additional guidance.
OMH believes in Targeted Recertification, and received positive feedback from providers during the pilot phase of the past year. We look forward to partnering with you on this exciting new initiative, and anticipate its full implementation over the next three years.
Keith J. McCarthy
Director, Bureau of Inspection and Certification
Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue, Albany, New York 12229
(518) 474-5570 | (518) 486-5587 (F) | [email protected]
www.omh.ny.gov
