Subject:  Provider Rate Increase

Source:  Joyce Jackman, Coordinator Early Intervention Services

Audience:  First Steps Providers, SPOE Directors, Service Coordinators, SICC

Date:  August 7, 2007

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is pleased to announce an increase in rates for providers working with the First Steps program.  This rate increase is effective for all dates of service beginning on July 1, 2007.  Providers will not see any changes to the current claims submission process as a result of this rate increase.  The central finance office (CFO) is working to update their claims processing program to reflect the new rate structure.  Providers with claims pending payment at the CFO will not see any interruption in the processing of those claims and the claims processing schedule posted on the CFO’s website is still accurate.

If a provider has already received payment for a date of service after July 1, 2007, that claim will be automatically recycled by the CFO and the difference between the original rate paid and the new rate for the procedure will be paid to the provider.  Providers DO NOT need to resubmit claims in order to receive the new rate.  The CFO will post the dates for recycling claims at www.mofirststeps.com – Provider Account Management – Communications – List Messages.  These dates will be posted within two weeks.

We are very excited about this rate increase and recognize that Missouri’s First Steps providers have waited approximately 17 years for this recognition of the work that they do.  Thank you all for your dedication to Missouri’s infants and toddlers and their families.

A summary of the new rate schedule is locate at: http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/SummaryofFirstStepsRateIncreasesbySpecialtyAugust2007.pdf