CMCS-393-2017-0040__SOW.docx

Data Quality Technical Assistance for States on Insure Kids Now (IKN) Dentist Provider Locator Statement of Work February 15, 2017

Project Title

Technical Assistance for States on Insure Kids Now (IKN) Dentist Provider Locator

Background

Section 501(f) of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 required the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to post on its Insure Kids Now (IKN) website (www.insurekidsnow.gov) a current and accurate list of dentists and providers within each State that provide dental services to children under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In order to address this requirement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) developed the Dentist Provider Locator Tool and instituted multiple processes to assist States to ensure the accuracy and currency of the data they submit to the Tool. This includes a process wherein a State official certifies that the data submitted are current and accurate in accordance with the law.

Scope

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) is committed to providing technical assistance support services to assist States in improving the quality, accessibility and utilization of the data available on the IKN Dentist Provider Locator (Locator) and to identify and implement ways to improve and expand the functionality and accessibility of the Locator. (To view the Locator, visit http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/state/index.html). The technical assistance support services will be provided through various forums such as webinars, telephone and online assistance, case studies, and other written materials.

Specific Tasks

As a result of both technical changes to the IKN Dentist Provider Locator and technical assistance to States and managed care plans related to submission of data, States continue to make improvements in the quality and timeliness of their data submission since the Locator launched in 2009. However, data quality improvement continues to be needed and prioritized for accuracy and completeness of the data being provided, as well as its utility for families seeking a dental provider.

CMS is also interested in identifying potential improvements to and expanded functionality of the IKN Dentist Provider Locator. Such improvements may include enhancing its accessibility and usability for parents, linking to other oral health information, including State-level initiatives, making it more user-friendly for our state partners, and adding resources to complement the Provider Locator.

Task 1: Technical Assistance

Ad Hoc Technical Assistance to States: The contractor will respond to requests for technical assistance from States. Via phone and email, the contractors will provide guidance on data collection strategies, clarify reporting requirements, trouble-shoot technical issues, and walk users through the submission process. The contractor shall implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the technical assistance.

Targeted Technical Assistance to Problem States: The contractor will work with CMS to develop and implement a technical assistance plan for States that are non-compliant in the submission of their quarterly provider data submission and / or their annual submission of the State summary of dental benefit information. The contractor will provide CMS with a summary of State issues related to data quality and non-compliance, as well as a history of technical assistance provided to the non-compliant State. Finally, the contractor will attend all calls between non-compliant States and CMS to address any issues of non-compliance, as well as to track State progress.

Webinars: The contractor will conduct at least three (3) webinars. Potential webinar topics include:

· Navigating the New Summary of Benefits Interface

· Applications of IKN Data, including Measuring Access to Care

· Best Practices for Maintaining Locator Directories

· Promoting the Locator among Organizations

· Addressing Providers with Multiple Addresses

· IKN Validation Survey Results Task 2: Guidance for Quality Improvement

Data Quality Guidance: The contractor will provide several forms of guidance to States related to improving their data accuracy. This guidance will include both general information applicable to all States provided through a webinar or other means, as well as State-specific guidance provided through telephone and electronic communications. The contractor will produce and disseminate data quality summary reports to every state twice a year and assist States to use the reports to support quality improvement in state data. If requested by CMS, the contractor will prepare a report on the work with each State, including specific strategies that are implemented and the improvements achieved as a result of implementation of those strategies.

Technical Resources: The contractor will update the IKN Welcome Packet as necessary. In addition, the contractor will amend the IKN Technical Guidance as necessary to reflect changes and maintain a user-friendly document for state audiences.

Compliance Reports: To assist CMS in monitoring state compliance for quality improvement, the contractor will produce quarterly reports identifying the status of each state’s provider submission data and summary of benefits. In addition, the contractor will produce an annual report identifying the status of each state’s summary of benefits templates.

The contractor has resources to conduct at least two of the following additional strategies:

· Disseminating the Locator. The contractor will research ways by which to advertise and promote the IKN Dentist Locator to consumers, such as having State Medicaid programs, CHIP programs, health and social services organizations, and advocacy groups post or embed the Locator on their websites. The contractor will also offer technical assistance to States to help increase consumer utilization of the IKN Locator.

· Using IKN Data to Assess Access to Dental Care. IKN Dentist Locator data can be used to assess access to dental care in specific States or regions. The contractor would first estimate the number of families eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, by ZIP code, using American Community Survey data and the State’s Medicaid and CHIP income eligibility requirements. Using Quest software, the contractor would then assign each of these families a specific location based on the population distribution within the ZIP code. These locations would then be compared to the IKN Dentist Locator data to calculate the percent of eligible families within a certain distance of a dental provider. These statistics can be created on the state level, by county or by urban versus rural areas. By providing these statistics to States, the contractor would encourage them to improve their data quality so that access is not misrepresented. This work can also inform Access Monitoring Plans States must develop for CMS. The contractor can conduct this analysis for all 50 states and Washington DC.

· Supporting Leidos with the IKN Validation Survey. The contractor will assist Leidos in developing the IKN validation survey, designing the methodology, and creating state-specific reports that summarize findings. The contractor will disseminate the reports to States and develop a webinar on the survey results.

Task 3: Opportunities to Improve IKN Website

The contractor shall make suggestions for additional ways to improve the website and its usability by state administrators and uploaders. In addition, the contractor will help CMS staff understand technical aspects of the project and effectively prioritize enhancements to the IKN Data Management Website. The contractor will participate on the bi-weekly IKN HRSA Leidos calls to support this task.

Deliverables and Delivery Schedule

List all outputs/outcomes with specific due dates or time frames. Include media type, quantity, and delivery point(s). State due dates in terms of calendar days after task order award.

Period of Performance

The period of performance shall be for a base period of 12 months from the date of award, and two (2) one-year option periods, if exercised by CMS.

Period of performance: 03/20/2017 – 03/19/2018 Base Year and two (2) option years.