RSM 3, Attachment 1400-2: Collection of Consumer Financial Participation

Updated: 05/25

Program Income Process for Collection of Consumer Financial Participation

Home and Vehicle Modifications

1. At the IPE Amendment to add the actual Modification (Home or Vehicle), Counselor brings Consumer’s attention to the Service Item on the IPE which indicates the Modification being provided, the cost, and the Consumer’s contribution. Counselor may provide information regarding the MD Assistive Technology Loan Program (low interest guaranteed loans for Assistive Technology, including home and vehicle modifications and vehicles for modification).

   Specific language to be included in the IPE Service Item:
   

   “Consumer’s financial participation will be managed by the DORS Program Income Office. The Consumer will have the option to pay the entire participation amount at one time (at the beginning of the Service) or request monthly payments. The entire financial participation must be completed within 12 months of the beginning of the Service to which it is attributed.”

   Note: This language will be automatically populated into the IPE Service Item when “Modification” is the selected category and there is a dollar amount entered into the Participant field.

2. OFS Technical Assistance Branch informs Program Income staff when the updated IPE has been approved.

   OFS Technical Assistance Branch also informs the Rehabilitation Technology Services (RTS) staff at WTC of the Consumer’s financial participation.

3. Program Income contacts the consumer, to review IPE and participation amount, discuss payments, and agreement of one time, or monthly, amount to pay (in a 12-month period).

   1. Program Income sends Financial Participation in Cost of Services and Establishment of Payment Arrangement Agreement (RS-3L) form to consumer to sign and return to Program Income using the agreed upon one time or monthly amount.

      • Note: 12 months is the maximum amount of time for Consumer to complete financial participation.

      • Rationale: The Consumer’s Annual Financial Participation is re-evaluated every 12 months, as part of the IPE Annual Review. Therefore, the Consumer must fulfill this obligation within the 12 months to which the Service (Modification) applies.

   2. Program Income signs, scans into AWARE™ and sends a copy back out to the consumer to finalize agreement.

   3. Billing won’t start until modification actually begins, unless Consumer wants to start/pay earlier.

   4. As appropriate, Program Income bills monthly, starting the first week of the month, and tracks payments until all payments are made.

   5. Program Income documents in AWARE™ case notes all activity during billing.

4. OFS Technical Assistance Branch and/or RTS at WTC will notify Program Income when modifications actually start.

5. Program Income starts billing Consumer, forwarding checks to the DORS Accounting office.

6. If the Consumer chooses to cease/discontinue modifications, after the Vendor has started the actual modification:

   1. RTS staff at WTC will notify the Program Income office and the OFS Technical Assistance Branch of the Consumer’s decision.

   2. If the Vendor has not incurred any costs, and will not be billing DORS, then no financial participation will be collected from the Consumer.

   3. The Consumer will be notified as such by Program Income.

   4. If the Vendor has incurred costs, but the Consumer has no Financial Contribution, then DORS will be responsible for the Vendor costs.

   5. If Vendor has incurred costs and will be billing DORS, and the Consumer has a Financial Contribution, then a Financial Participation-to-Modification Cost percentage will be calculated, and the Consumer will be billed accordingly.

      Example:
      

      • Consumer Financial Participation - $1,000.
      • Total Modification Cost - $10,000.
      • Financial Participation-to-Modification Cost percentage = 10%.
      • Modification is ceased; Vendor bills DORS $3,000 for work started.
      • DORS “bills” Consumer $300.​