Notification of New IRIS Consultant Agency
By: Shanna Jensen, Director of ICA Operations
As we have shared over the last couple of years, the Department of Health Services is committed to increasing the number of IRIS Consultant Agency (ICA) and Fiscal Employer Agent (FEA) providers. Organizations that meet the Department’s rigorous requirements can be certified in one or more geographic service regions. This ensures that people enrolled in IRIS have a choice in who provides their supports, and in turn, drives agencies to shine in a competitive marketplace.
Up until now, TMG and iLIFE have been the only ICA and FEA available to people enrolled in IRIS. Late last week, we received notification from the Department of Health Services that as of July 1, 2015, Lutheran Social Services – Connections will become a new ICA in the Northeast expansion counties. Additionally, we were notified that LSS Connections will become an ICA option for people living in Milwaukee County on August 1, 2015. (As an aside, we will clearly need to change the name of our quarterly newsletter, IRIS Connections.)
Besides the two go-live dates, we do not have many details. We know that DHS has trained all of the Northeastern Aging and Disability Resource Centers on offering multiple ICA options, and DHS will be helping the Aging Resource Center and Disability Resource Center in Milwaukee prepare for that change to their enrollment counseling process as well. We are working with the Department to learn about how they plan to notify people about the new option, and we will share that information with you as soon as it is available.
We are moving into a competitive arena with an obvious advantage, and while we know that we are currently partnering with every person enrolled in the program, that gives us no excuse to let our foot off the gas. Competition is another catalyst for resourcefulness, creativity, collaboration, and other attributes that make us the people and organization that we are, and we will shine.
As always, we will share any new information as we get it. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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