Sec. 10.09.40.03. Conditions for Participation

A. General requirements for participation in the Program are that providers shall do the following, either directly through staff or by agreement:

(1) Meet all conditions for participation as set forth in COMAR 10.09.36.03; and

(2) Maintain a file on each participant which meets the Program's requirements and which includes for each contact made by the case manager:

(a) Date and subject of contact,

(b) Person contacted,

(c) Person making the contact,

(d) Nature, content, and unit or units of service provided, and

(e) Place of service.

B. Specific requirements for participation in the Program as an early intervention services case management provider are that the provider shall do the following, either directly or indirectly by agreement:

(1) Be the State agency, that is, Children's Medical Services, administering a program of services for children with special health care needs, authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act, acting in conjunction with its local health department designees;

(2) Use qualified individuals as case managers;

(3) Have demonstrated expertise in providing family-centered, community-based, coordinated care to children with disabilities, with an emphasis on early intervention services;

(4) Be selected by the participant's parent from among the local health department designees;

(5) Contact the participant's family within 2 working days of the receipt of a referral for early intervention services case management, unless client-related extenuating circumstances are documented;

(6) Develop the IFSP within 45 working days of referral, unless client-related extenuating circumstances are documented;

(7) Have formal written policies and procedures, approved by the Department, which specifically address the provision of early intervention services case management to participants in accordance with the requirements of this chapter;

(8) Be available to participants and their families for at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, except on State holidays;

(9) Designate specific qualified individuals as early intervention services case managers;

(10) Maintain on file an initial Individualized Family Service Plan for each participant, and any subsequent revised IFSPs;

(11) Be knowledgeable of the eligibility requirements and application procedures of federal, State, and local government assistance programs which are applicable to participants;

(12) Maintain a current listing of medical, social, mental health, financial assistance, education, training, counseling, and other early intervention and support services available to infants and toddlers with disabilities; and

(13) Strictly safeguard the confidentiality of a participant's records, so as not to endanger the participant's and the family's legal rights, family relationships, and status in the community.

C. A case manager shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Be a professional who:

(a) Has a current license or certification, according to Regulation .02 of this chapter, in the profession most immediately relevant to a participant's needs,

(b) Has demonstrated training or experience in providing case management or other early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities,

(c) Meets by October 1, 1995 the personnel standards for early intervention services case managers issued by the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program, and

(d) Participates in ongoing training offerings, as specified in the interagency training plan for early intervention services; or

(2) Be a nonprofessional who:

(a) Has a high school diploma or its equivalency,

(b) Has demonstrated training or experience in providing case management or other early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities, and

(c) Participates in ongoing training offerings as specified in the interagency plan for early intervention services.