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Obtaining a Referral
To "get started" with RTS, you must first contact the contract manager in the Bureau of Purchased Services to obtain a referral. One of the first things you will be asked is whether you have determined the "vendor type" you plan to use to conduct your business. There is no point going any further if the name and tax identification number you submit for your business is not a valid legal entity and/or cannot be used to enter into a contract to provide services. Once you have received clearance for your legal entity type and discussed other issues, the contract manager will know whether it’s appropriate to make a referral to licensing and/or certification.

If you are planning to provide family foster or group care services, Iowa law requires these sites be licensed. For sites located in Iowa, foster care programs require a child-placing license; group care programs require a residential facility license.

To seek a referral and obtain information related to the RTSS process, including legal entity and vendor type information, general contracting requirements and instructions for accessing the RTSS Provider Handbook, contact Eloise Gardner, Contract Manager, at 515-281-7556.

Identifying the Inter-related Steps
To help you visualize the process of becoming RTS-certified and -contracted with the Iowa DHS, we have developed a "Getting Started" matrix which will allow you to track your place through the interrelated steps in the overall process. It is divided into provider, certification and contracting sections, and can be downloaded as an Adobe portable document format (PDF) file.

If you do not have software for reading this file, an Acrobat Reader can be downloaded via the Internet free from Adobe.

Becoming Certified to Provide RTS
Once a referral has been made, you will be sent an "Application for Certification" and a certification specialist will be assigned to you/your agency.  More information about the application is available in the RTSS Provider Handbook, Chapter C (pages 17+), and in the cover letter that will accompany the application sent to you. The application is fairly self-explanatory, however a checklist can be downloaded which incorporates instructions and may prompt you to include required information, and avoid common errors/omissions which may delay the review process. Once a complete application has been submitted, the 90-day review/recommendation period will commence.

If you don't have Microsoft Word, a Microsoft Word viewer can be downloaded via the Internet free from Microsoft.

Becoming Contracted to Provide RTS
Shortly after a provider receives a Notice of Decision approving RTS certification they are contacted by a project manager who will assist them in developing a contract for RTSS. Some of the areas the project manager will discuss with providers, include:

  • contract process and compliance

  • contract forms and supporting documents

  • rate negotiation process

More information on contracting can be found in the RTSS Provider Handbook, Chapter D.

Marketing for Referrals
All providers are encouraged to market their services by making contact with local and area DHS offices, referral workers, families, or juvenile court officers.

Once rates have been negotiated, and your contract has been signed by all required parties, you will be eligible to provide rehabilitative treatment services.

 

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This page last updated: 3/31/2006

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