Not sure what DMAS is expecting to accomplish with the removal of Service Facilitators, but the old saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" sure sounds like it could be in play here. Why would you remove a layer of long term care patient advocates and replace them with what is sure to be a bunch of programmed robots that will check boxes on a form to determine care plans for these members? How will that be beneficial to anyone other than the financilal department overseeing funding for long term care.

These service facilitators work independent of the payroll companies and also independent of the insurance companies in charge of Medicaid waiver services. If these patients lose this layer of advocacy, this will leave only the members family to fight against these large entities...not really knowing how to do that very thing.

Be smart and dont let the world of AI and automation be the dominant source of patient care going forward. The human element in determining the patient's needs is a critical role. These brokers will have to answer to the payroll company, and the payroll companies will never have the best interest of the patient in mind...only clicking a box to make sure DMAS is satisfied.

You may accidentally get rid of something valuable and important while trying to eliminate something unwanted. Think over this proposal very carefully before you act.