Review of the Community Residential Care Facilities Program, Department of Health and Environmental Control

This review was predicated on a credible complaint alleging substantial health and safety deficiencies in the care of a resident placed in a Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF) in Kershaw County, South Carolina. Initial investigation with subject matter experts, non-profit advocacy groups, and CRCF inspection reports revealed this single incident might be a symptom of systemic health and safety deficiencies throughout DHEC’s CRCF Program, which regulates 471 CRCFs with the approximately 17,000 vulnerable clients, primarily elderly and disabled. This review’s scope and objectives were: Assess the risk of a vulnerable population of elderly and disabled citizens residing in CRCFs living in unsatisfactory health and safety conditions; Evaluate DHEC’s CRCF Program inspection process capabilities to identify and address CRCFs with unsatisfactory health and safety living conditions; Recommend opportunities to improve the CRCF Program.

Review of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Allegations Involving SC Mentor, a Private Provider for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

This review was requested by the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs for an independent review of allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation at SC Mentor, a private provider of residential services for DDSN consumers. An analysis of incidents did not indicate systemic abuse towards consumers inasmuch as the majority of the ANE reporting system contained allegations more akin to staff/facility performance issues and the vast majority of all allegations were unsustained by independent investigations. In the future, DDSN should expand the level of detail in its ANE reporting, which currently only reports total allegations and sustained criminal incidents.

Allegation of a Violation of the State Procurement Code and Other Issues Related to a Statewide Term Contract Involving the Department of Revenue and the Department of Health and Environmental Control

A complainant alleged the Department of Revenue violated the South Carolina Procurement Code. This paper examines that complaint.

Review of Program Integrity Operations At Six Managed Care Organizations Delivering Medicaid Services under a Contract with the South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services

The State contracted with six managed care organizations to deliver Medicaid managed care at an annual cost of $2.7 billion, representing 10% of the State’s annual budget, to 750,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in South Carolina. This review’s scope and objectives were: Test the six MCOs’ compliance and effective execution of the SCDHHS’s managed care contract “Section 11 - Program Integrity” focusing on the operational components of pre-payment review and post-payment review. Identify opportunities to improve SCDHHS’s biennial managed care contract, contract monitoring, and MCO compliance and effective execution of the contract.

Into the Spotlight: Bringing Transparency, Consistency, and Efficiency to the Division of Appeals and Hearings

Currently, the Division of Appeals and Hearings of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has no specific presence on the agency's website to provide information or to allow for the electronic submission of appeals. This project's focus was developing an online presence for the Division on SCDHHS' website. The page will make the Division's procedures publicly available to beneficiaries, providers, and agency program staff who attend hearings. Additionally, parties will have a secure online portal through which they can file appeals and upload supporting documentation, reducing the need to send appeals via first class mail. The online appeal portal will further the agency' s goal of reducing paper.