STATE OF WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

Developmental Disabilities Administration * P.O. Box 45310 * Olympia, WA 98504-5310

DDA MANAGEMENT BULLETIN

D23-001 – Procedure
January 5, 2023

TO: Regional Administrators

Deputy Regional Administrators
Field Services Administrators
Field Services Staff
FROM: Beth Krehbiel, Director of the Division of Field Services
Developmental Disabilities Administration
SUBJECT: Specialized Evaluation and Consultation: A New Community
Protection Waiver Service
PURPOSE: To provide information about the new Community Protection
service called Specialized Evaluation and Consultation and
provide guidance on how to transition from Positive Behavior
Support and Consultation
BACKGROUND: On September 1, 2022, Specialized Evaluation and Consultation
was added to the DDA Community Protection waiver.
WHAT’S NEW, 1. Specialized Evaluation and Consultation is a new service on
CHANGED, OR the Community Protection waiver that replaces the habilitative
CLARIFIED supports previously provided through the service of Positive
Behavior Support and Consultation.

2. Positive Behavior Support and Consultation is closed to new

enrollment. A community protection participant currently
receiving Positive Behavior Support and Consultation may
receive the service until the end of their waiver year or August
31, 2023, whichever is sooner. Positive Behavior Support and
Consultation will no longer be a service on the Community
Protection waiver after August 31, 2023.

3. Specialized Evaluation and Consultation provides direct,

individualized, habilitative skill building support in the areas of:

a. Sex education;
b. Fire safety;
c. Social skills training; and
d. Learning about rules and laws.

4. Specialized Evaluation and Consultation supports are provided

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 to a client to address the behavior the client engaged in that
made them eligible for the Community Protection Waiver
related to:

a. Sexual assault;
b. Fire setting; or
c. Physical assault.

5. Specialized Evaluation and Consultation includes:

a. Individual or group supports: One-on-one or group skill

building to learn basic skills about sexuality, social skills,
fire safety, or to learn about laws and rules and the
consequences of breaking them.

b. Treatment team participation: The Specialized

Evaluation and Consultation provider participates in
quarterly treatment team meetings to discuss the client’s
progress in meeting their goals of reduced supervision and
program graduation.

c. Plan writing: Completing the Specialized Evaluation and

Consultation Initial Report and Specialized Evaluation and
Consultation Quarterly Report.
ACTION: Determining Need for Specialized Evaluation and
Consultation

1. 90 days before a client’s annual assessment due date, the

case resource manager must begin reviewing the client’s
person-centered service plan (PCSP), the current positive
behavior support plan, risk assessment, and other reports or
therapeutic plans to be knowledgeable about the client’s goals,
progress in reaching their goals, and any restrictions in place.

2. Specialized Evaluation and Consultation is limited to basic skill

building. At the quarterly treatment team meeting before a
client’s annual assessment due date, the treatment team must
meet to determine if the client’s skill building need is for sex
education, social skills training, fire safety, learning rules and
laws, or a combination of these areas.

a. During the treatment team meeting, the provider must

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 identify if they are licensed or certified by the Department
of Health (DOH) and providing medically necessary
treatment services, such as:

i. Cognitive restructuring, counseling, or skills training

as a part of cognitive behavioral or psychoeducation
approaches; or

ii. Other behavioral health related care.

b. The provider must bill the client’s health plan for the above
services.

3. If the provider is not providing medically necessary treatment

services or other behavioral healthcare under their DOH
license or certification, the treatment team must review the
client’s current support needs, goals, and other supporting
documents to determine the client’s eligibility for Specialized
Evaluation and Consultation.

a. If there is no indication of need for behavioral healthcare,

the CRM must report back to the Community Protection
Regional Coordinator and the Community Protection
Program Manager at central office.

b. If there is indication of need for behavioral healthcare, state

plan services will need to be pursued. The CRM must
notify the Community Protection Regional Coordinator and
Community Protection Program Manager to notify the
DDA-HCA-MCO Central Office workgroup who will connect
the provider, health plan, and client to evaluate client
needs and authorize appropriate services.

c. If the provider has been providing medically necessary

treatment services, therapeutic psychoeducation, or other
behavioral healthcare under the scope of their DOH license
and the client needs to continue the level of support they
have previously been receiving, the CRM must inform the
Positive Behavior Support and Consultation provider to
work with the client’s MCO or other Health Care Authority
representative to transition billing to the client’s health plan.

4. Regardless of whether a client receives, or is referred to,

behavior health benefits through their health plan, if
Specialized Evaluation and Consultation is needed, the CRM
must add the service to the PCSP during the annual
assessment, or earlier if requested by the client.

D23-001 Page 3 of 4 01/05/2023

 5. Specialized Evaluation and Consultation does not replace Staff
and Family Consultation for ongoing or intermittent
consultation support to the client’s family or staff.

6. For instructions about adding Specialized Evaluation and

Consultation to a client’s PCSP, open Specialized Evaluation
and Consultation PCSP Information on the HQ QCC
SharePoint.

7. For instructions about sending a termination planned action

notice (PAN), open PBS Termination for CPP Waiver PAN
Direction on the HQ QCC SharePoint.
CONTACTS: Destinie Buzzard, Community Protection Program Manager
Destinie.buzzard@dshs.wa.gov
360-791-4787

Leila Graves, Waiver Services Program Manager

Leila.graves@dshs.wa.gov
360-890-2338

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