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Revision 06-1; Effective April 10, 2006
5310 Alarm Calls
Revision 06-1; Effective April 10, 2006
Activated alarms received at the response center are responded to within 60 seconds. The provider keeps track of an incident from the time the alarm is activated to the time the individual receives assistance. Each activated alarm call must be considered an emergency, not an accident.
The provider immediately contacts the responder(s) and/or proper authorities when the individual activates an alarm. If the provider contacts the individual before a responder, the provider must talk to the individual to verify that an emergency exists.
Providers contact a responder whenever an alarm call is activated and the provider is unable to reach the individual.
A provider must document an alarm call at the time the call is received and after it is resolved. Documentation requirements are outlined in Chapter 52, Contracting to Provide Emergency Response Services.
A provider must submit written notification to the case manager by the next workday after an alarm call that results in a responder being dispatched to an individual's home.
5320 Monthly System Checks
Revision 06-1; Effective April 10, 2006
The provider conducts monthly checks during normal working hours, unless otherwise negotiated with the individual. The purpose of the monthly system check is to:
- ensure the individual can successfully make an alarm call;
- ensure that the equipment is working properly; and
- remind the individual how the system works and how to activate an alarm in an emergency.
The test involves contacting the individual and instructing him to press the call button to activate the alarm call.
If two individuals live in the same residence, the provider conducts a monthly system check for each individual. Be sure to document the system check. Documentation requirements are outlined in Chapter 52, Contracting to Provide Emergency Response Services.
The following procedures apply when the provider is unable to reach the individual to conduct a monthly system check.
| Calendar | Procedures |
|---|---|
| For three consecutive months |
|
| - | Note: If within three consecutive months a monthly system check is not successful, the provider may continue to receive payments if attempts to conduct system checks and convene an IDT meeting continue. |
Note: In each of the three months, the provider is eligible for payment if all the requirements are met. The provider is not eligible for partial payment for partial completion of procedures.
The provider documents the reasons why the individual is unable to participate in the monthly system check. The provider will contact the responder if no documented reason why the system checks have not been completed exists. The provider must ask the responder to find out why the individual is unable to complete the system check. The information must be documented in the individual's case folder or the monthly log of systems checks. Written notification is provided to the case manager as outlined in Chapter 52, Contracting to Provide Emergency Response Services.
5330 Service Breaks
Revision 06-1; Effective April 10, 2006
The provider must ensure that the equipment remains functional and that each individual receives services during the entire authorization period.
The following persons may report equipment malfunctions to the provider:
- individual;
- individual's family members;
- individual's responders;
- case managers; or
- providers (subcontractors or provider staff).
As equipment malfunctions are reported, the provider sends the installer to the individual's home to repair or replace the equipment.
The provider documents each equipment failure and low battery signal in the provider files.