Project Information

Bid Title

Core Standardized Assessments for Home and Community-Based Services Programs

Issuing Agency

State Government of Iowa

Location

Iowa

Published Date

Feb 18, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 30, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFP MEDIOMC26016

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

Bid Information

Bid Number

RFP MEDIOMC26016

Solicitation

Core Standardized Assessments for Home and Community-Based Services Programs

Solicitation Type

Request for Proposals

County

Iowa

Description

Description

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to select a qualified contractor to conduct Core Standardized Assessments (CSAs) for Iowa Medicaid members and applicants, as required by Iowa law and administrative rules. The Agency seeks an independent, third-party assessor to ensure the consistent, objective, and timely determination of member needs, functional eligibility, and appropriate service levels across applicable Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs.

Agency Information

Number

401

Name

Department of Health and Human Services

Address 1

321 East 12th Street

Address 2

City/State/Zip

Des Moines, IA 50319

Contact Information

Contact Name

Kathy Harper

Contact Title

Executive Officer 2

Contact Email

kathy.harper@hhs.iowa.gov

Contact Phone Number

(515) 518-5157

Contact Phone Extension

Contact Other Number

Contact Fax Number

Valid Dates

From

2/18/2026 2:00:00 PM

Until

6/30/2026 3:00:00 PM

Documents/Attachments

Attachment F Cost Proposal

2/16/2026 10:05:21 AM

Attachment G - Bidder Proposal Form

2/16/2026 10:04:29 AM

RFP MEDIOMC26016

2/16/2026 10:03:28 AM

Attachment Preview

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

Core Standardized Assessments for Home and

Community-Based Services Programs

MEDIOMC26016

Kathy Harper

321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-1002

Phone: 515-518-5157

RFPMEDIOMC26016@hhs.iowa.gov

RFP Purpose.

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to select a qualified contractor to conduct Core Standardized Assessments (CSAs) for Iowa Medicaid members and applicants, as required by Iowa law and administrative rules. The Agency seeks an independent, third-party assessor to ensure the consistent, objective, and timely determination of member needs, functional eligibility, and appropriate service levels across applicable Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs.

The Contractor shall conduct CSAs for Medicaid members enrolled in applicable 1915(c) HCBS waivers; individuals transitioning from in-state and out-of-state nursing facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICFs/ID) with the support of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) initiative; and HCBS applicants for whom funding has been identified and a waiver slot has been released and accepted, including individuals on a waitlist, but who are not yet Medicaid eligible.

The Contractor’s role is to provide independent, standardized assessments that support accurate Level of Care determinations, service planning, and budget development; promote equity and consistency statewide; support safe, person-centered community-based service delivery; and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state Medicaid requirements. Assessment results shall support program administration, oversight, quality monitoring, informed decision-making, and meet timeliness requirements established by the Agency.

To support these objectives, the Contractor shall maintain sufficient staffing and operational capacity to monitor the Agency’s IoWANS workflow system, coordinate assessment scheduling, complete required pre-assessment activities, and conduct assessments within all required timeframes. The Contractor is responsible for proactive workload and scheduling management; accurate and timely communication and coordination with managed care organizations (MCOs), Case Managers, Agency staff, and other HHS medical and program units; and the timely and accurate submission of completed assessments and required documentation through the Iowa Medicaid Portal Access (IMPA) system in accordance with Agency requirements.

Duration of Contract.

The Agency anticipates executing a contract that will have an initial 3-year contract term with the ability to extend the contract for 3 additional 1-year terms. The Agency will have the sole discretion to extend the contract.

Procurement Timetable

There are no exceptions to any deadlines for the Bidder; however, the Agency reserves the right to change the dates. Times provided are in Central Time.

Event	Date
Agency Issues RFP Notice to Targeted Small Business Website (48 hours):	February 16, 2026
Agency Issues RFP to Bid Opportunities Website	February 18, 2026
Bidder Letter of Intent to Bid Due By	March 2, 2026 3:00 p.m.
Bidder Written Questions Due By	March 9, 2026 3:00 p.m.
Agency Responses to Questions Issued By	March 16, 2026
Bidder Proposals and any Amendments to Proposals Due By	March 30, 2026 3:00 p.m.
Agency Announces Apparent Successful Bidder/Notice of Intent to Award	April 16, 2026
Contract Negotiations and Execution of the Contract Completed By	May 15, 2026
Scheduling Begins for Assessments	June 1, 2026
Anticipated Start Date of Statewide Assessments for the Full HCBS Population	July 1, 2026

Section 1 Background and Scope of Work

1.1 Background.

1.1.1 Legal Authority

Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act (the Act) contains provisions allowing states to request waivers to provide cost-effective home and community-based services (HCBS) to eligible people so they can avoid or leave institutionalization. The portions of the Code of Federal Regulations specifically dealing with HCBS are in Title 42, Parts 431.50, 435.3, 435.217, 435.726, 435.735, 440.1, 440.180, 440.250, 441.300 through 441.305, and 441.310. These regulations specify the requirements that the state must meet to be eligible for federal financial participation (FFP) and, in addition to the Social Security Act, serve as the foundation for state law and administrative rules.

Iowa Medicaid currently operates seven 1915(c) HCBS waiver programs and a State Plan 1915(i) HCBS program. This section lists Iowa Medicaid HCBS program authorities that require a Core Standardized Assessment, including 1915(c) waivers and the 1915(i) Habilitation State Plan benefit. Money Follows the Person is not an HCBS authority and therefore is not listed; rather, MFP participants receive ongoing services through one of these underlying authorities listed below following transition. Below is a current list of HCBS programs requiring Core Standardized Assessments, with their corresponding Iowa Administrative Code citations:

• AIDS/HIV waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.41

• Brain Injury waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.81

• Children’s Mental Health waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.121

• Elderly waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.21

• Health and Disability waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.1

• Intellectual Disability waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.60

• Physical Disability waiver Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.101

• Habilitation program Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-78.27

Iowa Medicaid is actively working on redesigning the HCBS waiver system through a project named Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME). Until the new waiver system receives approval, Iowa Medicaid will maintain the existing seven waivers. Once the waiver redesign is phased or fully implemented, Iowa intends to operate three 1915(c) waiver programs alongside the 1915(i) program. For more information, please see 1.1.6 below, the Bidders’ library, and visit this link: https://hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid/about-medicaid/medicaid-projects/home .

1.1.2 Iowa Medicaid Overview

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is the single state agency responsible for administering the Medicaid program in Iowa. Iowa Medicaid reimburses providers for services to eligible Medicaid recipients under the authority of Title XIX of the Social Security Act through enrolled providers and health plans. The Agency operates this program through its business unit, Iowa Medicaid. The Agency is also responsible for the Title XXI Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the separate CHIP supplemental expansion program called Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki).

Information regarding Iowa Medicaid programs and covered services can be found at this link: Medicaid Programs | Health & Human Services . Approximately 95% of all Medicaid Members are enrolled in Iowa Medicaid’s managed care system, known as Iowa Health Link. Most services are included in this statewide managed care structure, including long-term services and supports (LTSS), behavioral health, and pharmacy. There are currently three capitated Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) that have contracted with the Agency to provide Medicaid services. They are Iowa Total Care, Molina Healthcare of Iowa, and Wellpoint Iowa. Information regarding Iowa Health Link can be found at this link. https://hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid/plans-programs/iowa-health-link

The I owa Medicaid Dashboard includes information on Medicaid enrollment, financial, claims, prior authorizations, grievances, appeals and state fair hearings; and easy to find links to access information on facilities, waivers, Member outcomes, call center/helplines, network access, program integrity and annual quality scores. Other useful reports and dashboards can be found here: Medicaid Performance and Reports .

1.1.3 Current Enrollment by Waiver

Table 1: Current Iowa Medicaid HCBS Program Enrollment

HCBS Program	November 2025 MCO HCBS Enrollment	November 2025 FFS HCBS Enrollment	November 2025 Total HCBS Enrollment
AIDS-HIV Waiver	27	< 20**	< 47**
Brain Injury Waiver	1,297	135	1,432
Children’s Mental Health Waiver	1,070	38	1,108
Elderly Waiver	7,749	57	7,806
Habilitation Program	6,801	115	6,916
Health and Disability Waiver	1,952	266	2,218
Intellectual Disability Waiver	12,142	534	12,676
Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program*	142	< 20**	< 162**
Physical Disability Waiver	960	< 20**	< 980**
Totals	31,998	< 1,205	< 33,203

*MFP Enrollment numbers are for active referrals, not yet transitioned to the community.

**For confidentiality purposes, any programs with less than 20 Members are shown with a < symbol. This estimated number is also reflected in the total enrollment column.

1.1.4 Slot Releases

In addition to HCBS waiver, MFP, and Habilitation Program Members, assessments are also conducted for HCBS applicants for whom funding has been identified but who are not yet Medicaid eligible. Most HCBS programs have a waiting list. Below are the wait list slots released in calendar years 2023 to 2025 by HCBS program. See Bidders’ library for more information.

Table 2: Iowa Medicaid HCBS Waiver and Habilitation Program Slot Releases in Calendar Year 2023 - 2025

	AIDS/HIV	Brain Injury	Children’s Mental Health	Elderly	Habilitation	Health and Disability	Intellectual Disability	Physical Disability
CY 2023	n/a*	313	810	n/a*	n/a*	1,136	1,608	1,258
CY 2024		245	1,189			1,080	2,319	1,097
CY 2025		42	1,121			900	1,256	1,253

*AIDS/HIV waiver, Elderly waiver, and Habilitation Program have no waiting lists. Enrollment numbers are in Table 3 below.

Table 3: AIDS/HIV, Elderly Waiver, and Habilitation Program Enrollment

Year	AIDS/HIV	Elderly Waiver	Habilitation Program
CY 2023	30	9,693	8,301
CY 2024	30	10,072	8,571
CY 2025	42	9,822	8,663

.1.5 Current-state (as of 1/1/2026) Assessments through September 2026

Table 4. Current interRAI Assessment Tools by Waiver and Age*

Waiver/Service Title	Age	HHS-Designated Assessment Tool
AIDS/HIV	0-3	interRAI Early Years (EY Tool)
	4-20	interRAI Pediatric Home Care (PEDS-HC Tool)
	21+	interRAI Home Care (HC Tool)
AIDS/HIV with Habilitation	under 19	CALOCUS and PEDS-HC Tool
	19-20	LOCUS and PEDS-HC Tool
	21+	LOCUS and HC Tool
Brain Injury (BI)	0-3	EY Tool and the most current version of Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory form 470-5572 (MPAI)
	4-20	PEDS-HC Tool and MPAI
	21+	HC Tool and MPAI
BI with Habilitation	under 19	CALOCUS, PEDS-HC Tool, and MPAI
	19-20	LOCUS, PEDS-HC Tool, and MPAI
	21+	LOCUS, HC Tool, and MPAI
Children's Mental Health (CMH)	0-3	EY Tool
	4-11	interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health (ChYMH Tool)
	12-18	ChYMH Tool and interRAI Adolescent Supplement
CMH with Habilitation	12-18	CALOCUS, ChYMH Tool, and interRAI Adolescent Supplement
Elderly	65+	HC Tool
Elderly with Habilitation	65+	LOCUS and HC Tool
Health and Disability (HD)	0-3	EY Tool
	4-20	PEDS-HC Tool
	21-64	HC Tool
HD with Habilitation	under 19	CALOCUS and PEDS-HC Tool
	19-20	LOCUS and PEDS-HC Tool
	21+	LOCUS and HC Tool
Intellectual Disability (ID)	0-3	EY Tool
	4-17	interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health- Developmental Disabilities (ChYMH-DD Tool) or Off-year Assessment (OYA)
	18+	interRAI- Intellectual Disabilities (ID Tool) or OYA
ID with Habilitation	12-17	CALOCUS and ChYMH-DD Tool or OYA
	18	CALOCUS and ID Tool or OYA
	19+	LOCUS and ID Tool or OYA
Physical Disability (PD)	18-20	PEDS-HC Tool
	21+	HC Tool
PD with Habilitation	18	CALOCUS and PEDS-HC Tool
	19-20	LOCUS and PEDS-HC Tool
	21+	LOCUS and HC Tool
Habilitation Services	under 19	CALOCUS
	19+	LOCUS

*In addition to the tools listed in Table 4, Iowa also uses an Off-year Assessment for the ID population over the age of three and an Emergency Needs Assessment for the full population whenever necessary.

1.1.6 Future-state Assessments Proposed under the HOME Waiver Redesign

Figure 1. Waiver Phased Implementation

Notes for Phase 1:

• Existing Elderly, Brain Injury, and Intellectual Disability waiver Members will remain on their existing waiver. New applicants with Intellectual Disability or Brain Injury may apply for the BI, ID, Adults with Disabilities, or Children and Youth waivers.

• Individuals with a Brain Injury diagnosis will continue to receive the most current version of Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI).

• Habilitation Members will continue to receive a LOCUS or CALOCUS desk review, and the additional designated tool if they are also enrolled in an HCBS waiver.

Notes for Phase 2:

• For individuals with a Brain Injury, Iowa may transition away from the Mayo-Portland Assessment Inventory in the future.

• For the Habilitation program, Iowa may transition away from the completion of the LOCUS and CALOCUS desk reviews in the future.

• Assessments and data from the vendor’s InterRAI software will be used for resource allocation algorithms and scoring to determine support needs and service plan limits during this phase.

Phase 1- October 1, 2026

Figure 2. Phase 1 interRAI Assessment Tools by Waiver and Age

*Note: this figure does not reflect Habilitation-only assessments, which will not change during this phase. MFP program assessments will follow the ICF-DD LOC process.

Phase 2- TBD 2027

Figure 3. Phase 2 interRAI Assessment Tools by Waiver, Level of Care (LOC), and Age

*Note: this figure does not reflect Habilitation-only assessments. Any future changes to the Habilitation program will be addressed contractually with the winning Bidder, date to be determined. MFP program assessments will follow the ICF-DD LOC process.

1.2 RFP General Definitions.

When appearing as capitalized terms in this RFP, including attachments, the following quoted terms (and the plural thereof, when appropriate) have the meanings set forth in this section.

“Agency” means the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

“Bid Proposal” or “Proposal” means the Bidder’s proposal submitted in response to the RFP.

“Bidder” means the entity that submits a Bid Proposal in response to this RFP.

“Contractor” means the Bidder who enters into a Contract as a result of this Solicitation.

“Deliverables” means all of the services, goods, products, work, work product, data (including data collected on behalf of the Agency), items, materials and property to be created, developed, produced, delivered, performed, or provided by or on behalf of, or made available through, the Contractor (or any agent, contractor or subcontractor of the Contractor) in connection with any contract resulting from this RFP.

“Invoice” means a Contractor’s claim for payment. At the Agency’s discretion, claims may be submitted on an original invoice from the Contractor or may be submitted on a claim form accepted by the Agency, such as a General Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.

Definitions Specific to this RFP.

When appearing as capitalized terms in this RFP, including attachments, the following quoted terms (and the plural thereof, when appropriate) have the meanings set forth in this section.

“AIDS/HIV” is defined as a medical diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome based on the Centers for Disease Control‘s revision of the CDC Surveillance Case Definition for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome“. August 14, 1987, Vol. 36, No.1, Issue of “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” OR medical diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection based on a positive HIV-related test. Waiver eligibility requirements listed in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.41.

“Assessment Tool Questionnaire” means a brief screening survey designed to identify Members' needs and determine the most suitable interRAI assessment tool for them. There is a separate Assessment Tool Questionnaire for new Members and current waiver Members. Members aged 0 to 3 and aged 65 and older do not complete the questionnaire, as there is only one assessment tool designated for each of those age groups.

• The CSA scheduler completes the questionnaire for current fee-for-service waiver Members and new applicants, including those for whom a waiver slot has been released and accepted (if that waiver has a waitlist).

• The Case Manager completes the questionnaire for all Members currently enrolled with a Managed Care Organization (MCO).

“Brain Injury” or “BI” is defined as clinically evident damage to the brain resulting directly or indirectly from trauma, infection, anoxia, vascular lesions or tumor of the brain, not primarily related to degenerative or aging processes, which temporarily or permanently impairs a person’s physical, cognitive, or behavioral functions. The person must have a diagnosis from the list of delineated diagnosis published in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.81.

“Business Hours” means 8:00 AM thru 5:00 PM Central Time (CT), excluding state holidays.

“Case Manager” or “CM” means the person designated to provide Medicaid case management services for the Member.

"CASH" means Comprehensive Assessment and Social History. This tool is completed by Case Managers for Habilitation Members.

“Child and Adolescent Level of Care Utilization System” or “CALOCUS” means the comprehensive functional assessment tool utilized to determine eligibility for the Habilitation program and service authorization for the home-based Habilitation service for individuals under the age of 19.

“Children’s Mental Health” includes children under the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance that meet the eligibility requirements listed in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.121.

“Conflict-free Assessment” means an assessment process in which clinical and non-financial eligibility determinations are conducted independently from the provision of direct services. When a single entity is involved in assessment, case management, or service delivery functions, appropriate safeguards and organizational firewalls must be in place to mitigate and prevent potential conflicts of interest and ensure the integrity of assessment results.

“Core Standardized Assessment” or “CSA” means a standardized assessment instrument used uniformly across service populations statewide to support: (a) determination of eligibility for non-institutional long-term services and supports; (b) identification of a Member’s functional needs and need for training, support services, medical care, transportation, and other services; and (c) development of an individualized, person-centered service plan to address those needs.

“Elderly” is defined as people 65 years of age and older who are in need of nursing facility or skilled nursing facility Level of Care as determined by completion of Form 470-4392 and certified by medical professionals as listed in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.22(1)(a-d).

“Emergency Needs Assessment” or “ENA” is a review that takes place immediately following an incident in which a Member’s health or safety or the health or safety of individuals in the Member’s near environment appeared to be at risk, to determine if a change in the Member’s service plan is warranted.

Emergency needs criteria are as follows:

• The usual caregiver has died or is incapable of providing care, and no other caregivers are available to provide needed supports;

• The applicant has lost primary residence or will be losing housing within 30 days and has no other housing options available;

• The applicant is living in a homeless shelter and no alternative housing options are available;

• There is founded abuse or neglect by a caregiver or others living within the home of the applicant, and the applicant must move from the home; or

• The applicant cannot meet basic health and safety needs without immediate supports.

"Habilitation" services are provided to maintain persons with functional deficits typically associated with chronic mental illness in their own homes and communities. Services are limited to Medicaid Members who have income at or below 150% FPL and who meet the needs-based eligibility criteria listed in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-78.27(2).

“Health and Disability” includes people under the age of 65 and blind or disabled as determined by the receipt of Social Security Disability benefits or by a disability determination made through the Agency. Disability determinations are made according to Supplemental Security Income guidelines under Title XVI of the Social Security Act and according to additional provisions dictated by Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.2.

“Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) Programs” means Medicaid-funded programs that provide long-term services and supports to individuals with disabilities and older Iowans who require assistance to live safely and independently in their homes and communities rather than in institutional settings. HCBS Programs are authorized under federal Medicaid authorities, including waivers and State Plan options, and are designed to support person-centered care, community integration, and choice while meeting established eligibility and level of care requirements.

More information can be found at this link: Iowa Medicaid HCBS .

Current HCBS Waiver Programs. Under HCBS waiver programs, Iowa can waive certain Medicaid program requirements, allowing the State to provide care for people who might not otherwise be eligible under Medicaid. Through the following 1915(c) waivers, Iowa targets services to people who need LTSS:

• AIDS/HIV • Brain Injury • Children’s Mental Health • Elderly

• Health and Disability • Intellectual Disability • Physical Disability

Future HCBS Waivers Proposed under the HOME Waiver Redesign:

Pending CMS and Iowa legislative approval, Iowa HHS intends to implement two new age-based waivers to target services to people who need LTSS. The Children and Youth waiver will serve everyone under age 21, and the Adults with Disabilities waiver will serve Members ages 21 and older. The current Elderly waiver will stay as is and serve people 65 and older. The other six 1915(c) waivers will be terminated upon implementation of the two age-based waivers.

HCBS Non-waiver Programs applicable to this RFP include:

• Habilitation Services – State Plan 1915(i) program

• Money Follows the Person (MFP) program

"Institution and Waiver Authorization and Narrative System" or "IoWANS" is the Agency’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workflow and waiver slot management system used to process, track, and manage applications, authorizations, and related actions through approval or denial. IoWANS supports facility, HCBS waiver, and targeted case management programs by providing authorized users structured workflows and access to Member-specific information. For purposes of Core Standardized Assessments (CSAs), IoWANS is used to initiate and manage assessment-related workflows, including tracking assessment referrals, scheduling activity, and downstream authorization actions informed by CSA results. IoWANS is used by Eligibility Benefit Specialists, Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) contractor staff, CSA contractor staff, child health specialty clinics, transition specialists, financial management service authorization staff, Iowa Medicaid Member Services and Provider Services representatives, and Agency policy staff. The system also maintains information on provider types and enrolled services to support waiver administration and service authorization.

“Intellectual Disability” or “ID” means a diagnosis of Intellectual Disability (intellectual developmental disorder), global developmental delay, or unspecified Intellectual Disability (intellectual developmental disorder) which shall be made only when the onset of the person’s condition was during the developmental period and shall be based on an assessment of the person’s intellectual functioning and level of adaptive skills. Waiver eligibility requirements listed in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.60.

“Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with an Intellectual Disability” or “ICF/ID” means an institution that is primarily for the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of persons with an intellectual disability or persons with related conditions and that provides, in a protected residential setting, ongoing evaluation, planning, 24-hour supervision, coordination and integration of health or related services to help each person function at the greatest ability. This population can also include those Members participating in the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program.

“interRAI” for purposes of this RFP, means a suite of standardized assessment instruments developed and maintained by an international research consortium to assess the functional needs, strengths, and support requirements of individuals receiving health and long-term services and supports. interRAI instruments are designed to support consistent, objective assessments across populations and settings and are used by states and other jurisdictions to inform level of care determinations, service planning, resource allocation, and program oversight. More information is available from interRAI at http://www.interrai.org/instruments/ .

“Inter-rater Reliability” means the relative consistency of the judgments that are made of the same stimulus by two or more raters, or interviewers in the case of Core Standardized Assessments. Here, interviewers would observe the same behavior independently (to avoid bias), and recorded data would be compared. If the data is similar then it is reliable. Results obtained by the persons trained to administer the instrument would be consistent with the results obtained by the developers of the assessment tool, respecting its original intent in measuring the support needs of an individual. Once reliability is established, any trained interviewer who administers the tool will obtain comparable results (plus or minus an acceptable error rate). This is especially true in situations where multiple people are needed to assess large numbers of individuals. In these instances, establishing the Inter-rater Reliability of each interviewer becomes essential to the overall interview process. The more people trained to administer the assessment tools, the clearer the strategies are for assessing the Inter-rater Reliability of those individuals. Only in this way can the integrity of the data obtained from assessments be assured, and by doing so, resources and services to HCBS Members are allocated in a fair and accurate manner.

“Iowa Medicaid Portal Access” or “IMPA” means the Agency system that provides access to a range of Medicaid business functions, including viewing remittance advices and uploading documents related to provider enrollment, Core Standardized Assessment (CSA) reports, and critical incident reporting. Managed Care Organizations and Iowa Medicaid Member Services use IMPA to view Member-specific eligibility, enrollment, and long-term services and supports (LTSS) information. For CSA administration, IMPA serves as the Agency’s secure submission portal and system of record for completed assessments and required supporting documentation, supporting review, eligibility determination, and downstream program operations. Data accessible through IMPA originates from Agency systems including OnBase, the Iowa Automated Benefits Calculation (IABC) system, the Data Warehouse, IoWANS, and the Worker Information System Exchange (WISE).

“Level of Care” or “LOC” means the medically necessary level of assistance, supervision, and supports required by a Member, as determined through established assessment criteria and consistent with approved Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver applications, the Iowa Medicaid State Plan, and applicable provisions of the Iowa Administrative Code. LOC determinations are used to establish eligibility for HCBS programs and to inform service planning, authorization, and budget development.

“Level of Care Utilization System” or “LOCUS” means the comprehensive functional assessment tool utilized to determine eligibility for the Habilitation program and service authorization for the home-based Habilitation service for individuals age 19 and older.

“Long Term Services and Supports” or “LTSS” means services and supports provided to Medicaid Members of all ages who have functional limitations and/or chronic illnesses that have the primary purpose of supporting the ability of the Member to live or work in the setting of their choice, which may include the individual's home, a worksite, a provider-owned or controlled residential setting, a nursing facility, or other institutional setting.

“Managed Care Organization” or “MCO” for purposes of this RFP, means an entity that has entered into a comprehensive risk contract with the Agency to deliver Medicaid services to enrolled Members, in accordance with 42 C.F.R. Part 438. An MCO is responsible for arranging, providing, and managing covered Medicaid services for enrolled Members and must meet applicable federal and state requirements related to access to services, member protections, advance directives, and financial solvency, as administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. MCOs may receive and use assessment results, as authorized by the Agency, to support care coordination, service planning, and ongoing management of covered services.

“Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory” or “MPAI” is used in post-acute assessments to increase understanding of outcomes and evaluate rehabilitation programs providing services to people with brain injuries. The tool is in its fourth revision.

“Member” for purposes of this RFP, means either an individual enrolled in Iowa’s Medicaid program, or an individual for whom an application for Medicaid has been received and a waiver slot has been made available and accepted by the individual applying.

“Money Follows the Person” or “MFP” for the purposes of this RFP, means Iowa’s Partnership for Community Integration Project, a grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Grant funds are used to assist adults and children with a diagnosis of an Intellectual Disability or Brain Injury who have lived in a qualifying facility for at least 60 consecutive days in transitioning to more integrated settings in the community. Once the transition is complete, these Members are typically enrolled in either the ID or BI waiver.

"Off-year Assessment” means an abbreviated assessment completed in the two years between every third year that is shorter assessment used to determine LOC and budget.

“Physical Disability” means a severe, chronic condition that is attributable to a physical impairment that results in substantial limitation of physical functioning in three or more of the following areas of major life activities: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Waiver eligibility requirements listed in Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-83.101.

“Respondent” is an individual who knows the Member and is able to provide information regarding the supports needed for the Member being assessed at the assessment interview.

1.3 Scope of Work.

1.3.1 Deliverables.

The Scope of Work for this RFP is set forth in Attachment H, Sample Contract, which details:

• Section 1. SPECIAL TERMS

• Section 2. GENERAL TERMS FOR SERVICES CONTRACTS

• Section 3. CONTINGENT TERMS FOR SERVICE CONTRACTS

• Section 4. SPECIAL CONTRACT ATTACHMENTS

...

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541618Other Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 611430Professional and Management Development Training

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.