IRIS: News

Stay up to date with latest news and updates about the IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) program.

Medicaid home and community-based services rate reform

Providers who offer home and community-based services received a 5% rate increase. This means they make more money for services they offer through Medicaid. Higher rates help providers add staff and continue to offer quality care.

The rate increase started in January 2022. The change applies to many service providers in Medicaid programs, including Family Care, Partnership, and PACE. Learn more about the American Rescue Plan Act: Medicaid HCBS Rate Reform Initiative.

Introducing the Adult Long-Term Care Update and ForwardHealth Portal enhancements

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has published the first issue of the new Adult Long-Term Care Update (PDF).

This publication will share important information that affects service providers and other stakeholders for Wisconsin Medicaid's adult long-term care programs:

• IRIS
• Family Care
• Family Care Partnership (Partnership)
• PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)

In addition to the new publication, DHS is also launching enhancements to the ForwardHealth Portal to add content for adult long-term care administrators and providers. Read the Adult Long-Term Care Update 2022-01 (PDF) for more information about the new publication and enhancements coming to the ForwardHealth Portal.

Geographic Service Region reconfiguration

Charge 2 of the 2020-2021 Long Term Care Advisory Council aims to ensure Wisconsin’s long-term care programs focus on the whole person. That includes a focus on:

• Access
• Choice
• Quality
• Collaborative relationships
• Efficiency
• Cost-effectiveness

As part of this charge, the Council was asked for input on the number of Geographic Service Regions. Read more:

• Wisconsin Long Term Care Advisory Council’s Geographic Service Region recommendation
• Family Care and IRIS Geographic Service Region Reconfiguration Timeline, P-03225 (PDF)

Policy Manual and Work Instructions updates

In 2022, IRIS staff are updating the IRIS Policy Manual and Work Instructions. The goal is to reflect the IRIS 1915(c) waiver that went into effect on January 1, 2021.

New policies and updates will be made to the current manuals. Those changes will be released before this project is finished. They will be shared here. They will also be shared on the Resources and Reports webpage. You can find them there under the Program Authority and Operations section.

Updates

• IRIS Remote Services Policy (effective January 1, 2022) (PDF)
• Reporting and Follow-up for Immediate Reportable and Critical Incidents (effective January 1, 2022) (PDF)
• Electronic Visit Verification in IRIS, P-03113
• Vulnerable and High Risk Participant, P-03128 (effective January 1, 2022) (PDF)
• Fiscal Employer Agent (FEA) Transfers and Enrollments, P-03107 (PDF), replaces sections 6.7 and 6.71 of the IRIS Policy Manual and section 6.31 of the IRIS Work Instructions •
• Guidelines for Assistive Technology – Service Dogs, P-03224 (PDF)

Scorecards

There are IRIS consultant agency and fiscal employer agent scorecards. These tools can be used to help you choose an agency and an agent. In the scorecards, each agency has a star rating. The rating reflects performance on a number of items, including customer satisfaction. You’ll also find more information about the agencies and agents.

You can find the scorecards on the IRIS Participant Information page.

Beware of scam callers

Recently, spam phone calls were made to IRIS participants and their workers. The callers were trying to get personal information. They also demanded the IRIS participant pay money or face being arrested. The callers said they were from the IRIS program, IRIS consultant agencies, or fiscal employer agents. This is a scam.

The IRIS program wants to help you keep your personal information private and secure. We take this very seriously. Your IRIS consultant agency or fiscal employer agent may sometimes call you. However, they will never:

• Ask you for personal or financial data over the phone.
• Claim that your information is lost or missing.
• Threaten you with arrest.

Be careful in calls asking for sensitive personal or financial information. If you get a phone call from someone you do not recognize or if you are not sure if you should provide information to a caller:

1. Do not give any information to the caller. Hang up.
2. Write down who the caller was and what the caller wanted. If possible, note the caller’s phone number as well.
3. Never return a call on the number given to you in the unwanted call. Do not trust the information on your caller ID. Scammers can “spoof” their numbers. They can make it look like they are calling from IRIS or other organizations even when they are not.
4. As soon as possible, contact your IRIS consultant. Or call the IRIS Call Center at 888-515-4747. Tell them you might have had a scam call.

If you have been scammed or if you think your identity has been stolen, report it. Contact the Federal Trade Commission.