Community Support Network, Inc. and Area Agencies Implement Conflict Free Case Management

CSNI

On January 7, 2015 the board of directors for Community Support Network Inc. (CSNI) voted to adopt a “Protocol to Remove Conflict” in the provision of case management services for its member agencies. With this, the Developmental Services system in New Hampshire can insure that each area agency uniformly conforms to an approved process for the administration of the protocol for removing conflict as required by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Conflict Free Case Management is one of the three structural change requirements that apply to all states that have accepted grant funds from the Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Balancing Incentive Program (BIP). New Hampshire’s developmental services system revised its regulations more than a decade ago to provide its consumers with choice and control over all aspects of their services, including selection of providers.

Although NH regulations clearly articulate case management responsibilities, current organizational arrangements of case management services can give the impression it is not “conflict-free” in all cases. Developing and adopting stronger conflict of interest standards for the State’s Developmental Services System could provide greater assurances to individuals and their families regarding the disposition, transparency, and integrity of the advocacy that their case managers would provide.

“Adopting the protocol to remove conflict will help individuals across New Hampshire receive the highest quality care,” says Dotty Treisner, PhD, Managing Director of CSNI. “We have seen strong support and involvement of area agencies who’ve signed certificates of agency compliance with New Hampshire protocol to remove conflict in case management.”

For more information on the protocol to remove conflict, please visit http://www.csni.org/conflict-free-case-management/

Dotty Treisner, PhD.

603-455-6773 Community Support Network Inc.