1. Webinars WITS TRAINING for STR/ATR PROVIDERS www.ma-atr.org
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

2. Welcome to STR/ATR! Who is on the Phone?? Introduce agencies
Hello and Welcome to the MA Access to Recovery (ATR) Provider Training webinar. My name is Christine Porter and I am the ATR Technology Project Analyst here at Advocates for Human Potential (AHP).
Some housekeeping items – if you aren’t speaking please mute your line in order to minimize any background noise. However, please feel free to ask questions as we go along.
On the phone we have Rebecca Starr, who is our MA-ATR Program Director and is also from AHP. Rebecca will be our first presenter. Our attendees today include [introduce the agencies and attendees]. Is there anyone on the phone that I missed? No? Okay great!
So at this time, I will hand the meeting over to Rebecca. Please go ahead.
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

3. What is Access to Recovery?
Opioid STR grants are administered through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act. The program aims to address the opioid crisis by providing prevention, treatment, and recovery activities.
The Commonwealth of MA has designed their program with many different components. One component of the Opioid STR grant funding is Access to Recovery (ATR), which funds recovery support services for individuals This program is known as the STR Access to Recovery program (“STR-ATR”). 
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

4. Basic Premise of ATR
The Government realized that traditional clinical interventions may not be sufficient to aid the individual in the recovery process
There are multiple pathways to recovery
Non-traditional organizations can also provide vital support for people in recovery
Therefore, a combination of both clinical treatment and a system of recovery support services – the wrap around services – is crucial to supporting the recovery of people with substance use disorders
DPH/BSAS
George W. Bush was an alcoholic who received help from his faith-based support group. When he became president he had his cabinet figure out a way to help people the way he had been helped – Access to Recovery.
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

5. What is Recovery?
Recovery is the experience through which individuals, families, and communities impacted by alcohol and other drug problems utilize formal and informal resources to resolve these problems, heal the wounds inflicted by alcohol and other drugs, actively manage their continued vulnerability to such problems, and develop a healthy, productive, and meaningful life (William White 2007)
ATR is designed to support individuals in early recovery. Although recovery is a lifetime process, ATR is not intended, nor appropriate, for people who have maintained long term recovery.
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

6. Recovery Support Services
ROSC- Recovery Oriented System of Care
An integrated and comprehensive service delivery system that combines clinical treatment and recovery support services under one umbrella.
Examples of Recovery Support Services
Basic needs of clothing, hygiene products, etc.
Transportation
Employment
Recovery Coaching
Health and Wellness
Identification cards
Cell Phones
ATR will pay for many services not currently covered by 3rd party health insurance or BSAS and/or other government funded programs.
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

7. A Recovery Plan is at the heart of ATR
ATR Principles
ATR is Client Centered –
Individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in their recovery process and be active agents of change in their lives.
They will take personal responsibility for their own recovery, and will develop an individualized recovery plan to follow as a map.
A Recovery Plan is at the heart of ATR
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

8. A Recovery Plan is at the heart of ATR.
ATR is Client Centered
A Recovery Plan is at the heart of ATR.
What is a Recovery Plan?
A document that lists a person’s plan for how to achieve a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle
Health 2. Home 3. Purpose 4. Community
It includes goals and identifies services that will help improve the life for the person in recovery
Has realistic time frame for meeting goals and how to avoid triggers for relapse
Is continually adjusted to meet changing needs and make sure the plan stays relevant
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

9. Who are we? SAMHSA- is the funder
The Commonwealth of MA- BSAS- is the grantee
AHP- is the Administrative Services Organization responsible for implementing the grant. AHP has a small team working on ATR:
Rebecca Starr- Project Director
Kristin Miller- Data and Quality Assurance Manager
Brita Loftus- Program Manager
Christine Porter- Technology Project Analyst
Joey Conte- Technology Assistant
Steve Keller- Research Associate
Carole Goldberg- Program Auditor

10. Who is Eligible? Target Population:
Individuals who recognize that they have a problem with alcohol or other drugs and it is negatively impacting on their life. They know they need to address this issue and are motivated to change.
Individuals in the early stages of recovery.
Individuals who are age 18 or over.
Individuals who live in Greater Boston or Greater Springfield and plan to stay for at least the next 6 months.
In one of these target groups:
Incarcerated in a Massachusetts facility in the last two years
Involved with a Massachusetts Drug Court
Served in the U.S. Military
A woman who is pregnant, post partum, or parenting a child under age 18 who lives with her.
Involved in a substance use treatment program
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

11. Who authorizes the vouchers?
ATR Coordinators will meet with every client to:
Do an initial enrollment
Collect data at enrollment and disenrollment (6 months later)
80% follow-up rate is required
Assist the client to develop a Recovery Plan
Explain the voucher process and how to access the services
Vouchers good for 30 days- why?
GPRA = Government Performance Requirement Act
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

12. ATR Coordinator Information
Clients enter STR/ATR through this process:
Individuals must be referred to an ATR Coordinator
The ATR Coordinator works with each individual to develop a Recovery Plan
Helps the client choose the services that will be most helpful in client’s recovery and choose the providers of those services from amongst providers in the STR/ATR Provider Network
Authorizes the ATR vouchers
Call to schedule appointments with ATR Coordinators that are located in your area:
Greater Boston:
South Boston area:
Kathy Curley –
Danielle O’Brien
Rebecca Reilly –
Downtown Boston area:
Danny Colindres –
Patricia Exilus–
Greater Springfield:
Paul Alves –
Jackie Segarra –
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

13. STR/ATR Participant Targets
We have targets to meet for both the number of participants we enroll in the program and how much money we have to expend on services for those participants
Grant Year 1- is from now until April 30, 2018.
Grant Year 2- 5/1/18-4/30/19 - hoping to be funded but not guaranteed
Grant Year 1- Target number of participants = 2,622
- Target amount of money to expend on vouchers = $4 million
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

14. Questions?

15. Responsibilities of Providers
Confidentiality:
42CFR
Protect people’s privacy rights - those seeking or receiving Substance Use Disorder Treatment or assessment Services
Enhance the quality and attractiveness of SUD treatment by furthering a community wide perception that it is safe to enter treatment because an individual’s substance abuse will not be revealed.
Reduce the stigma of seeking, receiving and remaining in treatment
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

16. 42CFR Continued Who is considered an ATR Client?
Anyone who has ever applied for, participated in, or received an interview, counseling, or any other service
A former client
A deceased client
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

17. 42CFR Continued What does Disclosure mean?
The transfer, dissemination, or release of any information to any outside person or entity
Any communication of information about an identified client
Information that would identify someone as a client including verification of information that is already known by the person making the inquiry
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

18. Confidentiality Exceptions to the General Rule Prohibiting Disclosure:
There are nine exceptions –
written consent
internal communications
no-client identifying information
medical emergency
court order
crime at program/against program personnel
research/audit and evaluation
child abuse
Qualified Service Organization Agreement
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

19. Confidentiality Consent Forms: A written consent must include:
The specific name or general designation of the program or person permitted to make the disclosure
The name or title of the individual or the name of the organization to which disclosure is to be made
The name of the client
The purpose of the disclosure
How much and what kind of information is to be disclosed
The signature of the client
The date on which the consent is signed
A statement that the consent is subject to revocation at any time
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

20. Confidentiality The data in WITS is sensitive.
It is confidential information about ATR clients.
Therefore, to protect the client’s confidentiality:
Only access WITS from work
Log off when you leave your office
Never use client’s full name in an
Every provider must:
Take responsibility for training staff on these confidentiality laws
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

21. Additional Provider Responsibilities
All providers are expected to download the Provider Manual from the ATR website, review it, and be informed about its contents
Providers are expected to bill once a week (through the WITS system) for services rendered during the past week (retroactively)
Providers should have a Grievance Process
Documentation and record keeping – refer to the Provider Manual
Audit site visits to make sure you are complying with documentation and confidentiality requirements
Mandatory call to Christine Porter ( ) or Joey Conte ( ) when you are ready to work on your first “real” ATR clients in WITS
You must go through the process of your first 5 clients with Christine or Joey on the telephone
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

22. How does ATR pay for the services?
Everything is processed via the computer through an electronic Voucher Management System called WITS (Web Infrastructure for Treatment Services)
Services are paid for by electronic vouchers
No paper vouchers or money ever changes hands
Vouchers are authorized for specific services and for a specific number of units of service
Vouchers are good for 30 days only
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

23. ATR Information Website: www.ma-atr.org Provider Help Line:
(Toll Free)
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

24. Contact Information
WITS Related questions/issues contact: Christine Porter via the Provider Help Line ( Toll Free) or , OR Joey Conte, ,
Payment/Financial related questions/issues contact Jordan McCarthy of our fiscal department at or by to
Electronic payment functions have begun. For new providers your first reimbursement will be via paper check and a test ACH will be made to the bank to ensure everything is correct. From then on the payments will be via electronic transfer. Direct questions to: Jordan McCarthy
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

25. Questions?
Hit List:
No service given without an authorized voucher in WITS for that participant
Bill on a weekly basis
Explain the flow through ATR
Rules – only use the WITS unique ID number – no names, no SSN, and no DOB
Fax Rules – you can fax the above information between agencies and AHP but ONLY when you have called and know the person you are faxing to is there and will pick up the fax immediately. You cannot just fax and let it sit at the fax machine where anyone can look it over. This would be a breach of confidentiality.
WITS Confidentiality Rules – when you are working in WITS all data is confidential – if someone comes into your office you can click the browser down to icon level until they leave. If you need to leave the office for any reason, e.g., meeting, restroom, lunch or leaving for the day, click on the “Logout” in the upper right hand corner and answer “Yes” to the confirmation screen. This will log you out of WIT. If you only close the browser window by clicking on the Red ‘X’ it will not log you out of WITS and the next time you try to log into the system it will indicate that your user account is either locked or Disabled. You will have to call me to release the lock or enable your account.
Our auditor will make a training appointment with you to review how to keep your files and receipts so that you are compliant. This will help you later on when she returns to do an audit. The auditor will call you directly to set up a convenient date and time.
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)

26. ATR Information Website: www.ma-atr.org Provider Help Line:
(Toll Free)
Provider Help Line: (Toll Free)