Agreement_with_ViaQuest_7_22_25_clean_version.pdf

Agreement between ViaQuest and the Ohio Department of

Developmental Disabilities

Effective July 1,2025

WHEREAS, ViaQuest submitted an application for approval to receive the intensive behavioral support add-on rate in two facilities for youth with complex behavioral support needs in Columbus, Ohio;

WHEREAS, in accordance with OAC 5123-7-28, the Ohio Department of

Developmental Disabilities (DODD) has approved the application for the intensive behavioral support add on; and

WHEREAS, the two facilities are open and providing services to these youth; and

WHEREAS, both parties wish to renew their agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree to the following terms and conditions:

A. Operation of Intermediate Care Facilities

1. In these two facilities, ViaQuest will prioritize admissions for referrals of youth from DODD. The parties recognize that the number of DODD referred youth in each facility may vary based on programmatic considerations for each facility. ViaQuest will also consult with DODD about admissions to beds for children not referred by DODD.

2. Each facility will be operated in accordance with the requirements contained in OAC 5123-7-28 and ViaQuest’s best practices protocol submitted to DODD on October 9, 2020, attached as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference.

3. ViaQuest will ensure that all staff working with the residents will successfully complete the 9 module series of Supporting Youth with

Intensive & Complex Needs Training, offered by DODD at https://dodd.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/dodd/training/department-provided-training/supporting-youth. Staff taking the training will include direct support professionals and supervisors, home managers, https://dodd.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/dodd/training/department-provided-training/supporting-youth https://dodd.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/dodd/training/department-provided-training/supporting-youth qualified intellectual disability professionals, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and registered behavioral technicians. Program directors and QIDP’s will also complete Navigation Essentials at:

https://navigationessentials.org/

4. ViaQuest will collaborate with the OhioRise specialized managed care program administered by Aetna Better Health of Ohio (Aetna) and

Family and Children First Councils (FCFC). Collaboration includes working with designated case managers prior to, during and after discharge.

B. Referral and Admission process

1. DODD will refer all youth with complex behavioral support needs. Youth will be referred without regard to their county of residence. With the referral, DODD will provide all available clinical information, including the results of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment, service coordination plans, and other non-clinical information relevant to the youth’s placement and treatment.

2. DODD and ViaQuest will consider the needs of each youth referred by

DODD and the compatibility of that youth with other residents of the facility, including those not covered by the intensive behavioral support addon program. Whenever possible the ViaQuest team will visit the youth and/or family prior to making the decision about admission.

3. If the parties agree that the youth will be admitted, DODD will convene a conference to include DODD staff, family members, the SSA from the county board, a representative from Family and Children’s First Council

(FCFC) or the OhioRise Aetna case manager as appropriate, the local and/or home school district and representatives of other involved agencies (for example, mental health, children’s services) in order to: a) plan for the admission and b) begin planning for transition back to the family.

4. After admission, DODD may provide or arrange for an interdisciplinary clinical consultation to provide additional treatment recommendations.

ViaQuest, in conjunction with DODD, will review these recommendations and will incorporate them into the youth’s treatment plan.

5. Upon admission, ViaQuest will electronically submit the request for the rate add-on for each child in DODD’s system.

C. Aftercare

1. Within 60 days after admission, and in consultation with everyone who attended the initial conference in (B)(3), ViaQuest will draft the initial transition plan, which will detail where the youth will live after discharge. The plan will be developed in accordance with the Transition, Discharge and Aftercare planning Guide (attached as Exhibit B.). The plan will include specific components for the transition of the youth, including how the transition is to occur, who will be responsible for specific actions identified for a successful transition, and ViaQuest’s after care services for the 3 months following discharge. After-care services may include participation in team meetings, phone calls with the individual, and consultation with the family and staff.

2. DODD will designate staff to be involved in discharge and transition planning and to facilitate collaboration with the youth’s home county board and FCFC or Aetna case manager.

3. ViaQuest will submit invoices to ComplesNeeds@dodd.ohio.gov for after care services delivered and DODD will pay ViaQuest $200 per month per youth for after care services.

D. Reporting

1. ViaQuest will report the following events to DODD by confidential and secure email to the designated IBSRAO Assigned Contact by the close of the next business day: referral to an emergency department for any reason, a psychiatric hospitalization or a call to law enforcement.

2. ViaQuest will notify the designated IBSRAO Assigned Contact within 24 hours of any major unusual incident, as those incidents are defined in

OAC 5123-17-02.

3. ViaQuest will send quarterly reports to DODD using this link:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xPz4UNiUB0-

E6zbtV8fIomho_pAN8X9JtKmtAhlfOSRUNVFYTUo5TE5CSU5JM0hLSkww mailto:ComplesNeeds@dodd.ohio.gov https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xPz4UNiUB0-E6zbtV8fIomho_pAN8X9JtKmtAhlfOSRUNVFYTUo5TE5CSU5JM0hLSkwwTEk1UzZINiQlQCN0PWcu https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xPz4UNiUB0-E6zbtV8fIomho_pAN8X9JtKmtAhlfOSRUNVFYTUo5TE5CSU5JM0hLSkwwTEk1UzZINiQlQCN0PWcu

TEk1UzZINiQlQCN0PWcu. Each report will be submitted within 15 days after the end of each quarter.

4. ViaQuest and DODD will jointly evaluate the overall program annually.

In conducting the evaluation, the parties will identify the factors making the program successful; impediments to success and suggestions on removing these; effectiveness of the use of the add on funds. The parties will also evaluate the effectiveness of discharge planning for the youth. The intent is to use this information to expand the program to additional facilities.

5. ViaQuest will provide annual calendar year financial reports which detail how ViaQuest is using the add-on funds to provide the level of intensive behavioral supports services needed for these youth. The annual financial report to DODD will supplement the cost report and will be prepared in the format attached as Exhibit C. ViaQuest will also provide a narrative report in the format attached as Exhibit D. These reports are due by April 14 of each year. The reports will be submitted to CR-

ICF@dodd.ohio.gov and to the Complex Needs Policy and TA Manager.

The report will provide greater detail and narrative into costs that may be higher due to the level of intensive behavioral supports services needed for these youth. It is anticipated that the report will include items listed in OAC 5123-7-28 (B)(6) such as: intensive and specialized therapies; non-traditional therapies; higher staffing levels; specialized training; higher level and intensity of supervision; intensive engagement with family; and participating in the intensive behavioral support community of practice convened by DODD. In addition, it will include other items that are not reported on the cost report, such as lost revenue. The parties recognize that costs will be driven by the individual needs of each resident as well as the overall program for each home.

6. All reports and communications from ViaQuest, other than those electronically submitted, will be submitted to the Complex Needs Policy and TA Manager. and the ICF Program Administrator.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xPz4UNiUB0-E6zbtV8fIomho_pAN8X9JtKmtAhlfOSRUNVFYTUo5TE5CSU5JM0hLSkwwTEk1UzZINiQlQCN0PWcu mailto:CR-ICF@dodd.ohio.gov mailto:CR-ICF@dodd.ohio.gov

F. Term

This Agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

Either party may terminate this agreement without cause upon 180 days written advance notice. Either party may terminate this agreement with cause upon 30 days written advance notice.

Exhibits:

Exhibit A: ViaQuest Application and Best Practice Protocol

Exhibit B: Transition, Discharge and Aftercare Planning Guide

Exhibit C: Annual financial Report

Exhibit D: Annual narrative report

Business Associate Agreement

On Behalf of ViaQuest:

Rich Johnson, President/CEO Date

On Behalf of The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities:

Lyndsay Nash, Director Date

July 28, 2025

7/30/2025