Random Moment Time Study (RMTS) Training What is RMTS?

What is RMTS?

● A federally accepted and statistically valid random sampling technique that measures the participant’s time it takes to perform work activities.

● An RMTS “Moment” represents one minute of time that is randomly selected from all available moments within the time study period.

● The program is run 3 quarters per school year. Each district is responsible for supplying the state with a list of employed providers that could provide direct services to students at any given point in time during a quarter. What is RMTS?

The Purpose of RMTS

● Reasonably identifies the providers time spent on activities during the given quarter.

● Helps determine the percentage of time the ISD incurs assisting students in order to access medically necessary Medicaid funded services such as:

○ Direct Medical Services ○ Medicaid Outreach ○ Medicaid Eligibility Determination ○ Medicaid Referral, Coordination, and Monitoring ○ Medicaid Staff Training ○ Medicaid Transportation ○ Medicaid Translation ○ Medicaid Program Planning, Development & Interagency Coordination ○ Medicaid Provider Relations What is RMTS?

The RMTS Process for Each Quarter

● District Administrators submit employed providers to MSB/Fairbanks

● Providers and moments are randomly matched and notified via email

● The selected providers must respond to their random moment online within 5 business days. For example, if your moment takes place on a Monday it will expire the following Monday, regardless if there is a school holiday or not. Please note that providers may be selected multiple times within a quarter.

● State coders then review the responses and determine if direct “medical” services were being provided What is RMTS?

Participant Responsibilities

● If a provider is selected for a random moment, they must follow the instructions provided in an email from Fairbanks.

● The email will provide them with the website address and login information in order to answer their moment.

● The provider will be asked to answer three simple questions which must be answered in a timely manner. Answering Your RMTS

How to Answer Your RMTS You will be asked to answer three questions to identify what you were doing during your random moment in time. Describe your activities for just the one minute you were assigned. Please do not document multiple tasks.

1. Who was with you? 2. What were you doing? 3. Why were you performing this activity? Answering Your RMTS

Question 1 ~ Who was with you?

● If you do not select a predefined answer from the drop down menu, it will be necessary for you to describe who was with you during the moment such as a student, parent, co-worker, or indicate that you were alone, if appropriate.

● Do not use proper names in your answer. For example, “I was with Jane Doe” is too specific. “I was talking on the phone with a student’s parent” includes an appropriate level of detail.

● It is important that the state knows who was with you, without specific names, so that the response may be coded properly. Answering Your RMTS

Question 2 ~ What were you doing?

● This question requires a typed response. Document exactly what issues, ideas, or services were being conveyed at that time.

● For example, “I was in a meeting” is too vague. “I was in a meeting explaining a special education student’s annual goals to the student’s parent” includes an appropriate level of detail.

● It is important that you record what was being discussed (or being done) so that the response may be coded properly. The state must know if the topic was focused on academic, behavioral, administrative, or medical concerns. Answering Your RMTS

Personal Care Activity Examples

● Eating/feeding ● Mobility ● Dressing ● Positioning ● Meal preparation ● Personal hygiene ● Transferring ● Redirection of behavior ● Respiratory assistance ● Bathing ● Ambulation ● Assistance with self grooming ● Toileting ● Administering medication Answering Your RMTS

Question 3 ~ Why were you performing this activity?

● If you do not select a predefined answer from the drop down menu, it will be necessary for you to describe why you were performing the activity. Be as specific as possible when writing your response.

● For example, “It is a requirement of my job” is too vague. “I was in a meeting to provide information to a parent about an assessment for health related services” includes an appropriate level of detail.

● It is important that you record why the activity was performed so that the response may be coded properly. The state must know if the topic was focused on academic, behavioral, administrative, or medical concerns. Answering Your RMTS

RMTS Example (No Audio) Answering Your RMTS

Things to Remember

● DO NOT use acronyms or specific names in your response.

● Indicate if the service/activity is anywhere in the student’s IEP. If you are unsure, please contact your Special Education Department for clarification.

● Make sure you understand what the Medicaid to Schools Program recognizes as a “medical” service/activity or an “educational” service/activity.

● You will have 5 business days to complete your assigned moment. Email reminders will be sent if moments are left unanswered.

● Answering a moment as soon as possible is extremely important! It assists your district in obtaining reimbursements for school health & outreach activities. An unanswered moment can affect your districts eligibility. RMTS Training

Your RMTS Training is Complete!

If you have any questions please contact your local administration or Texas Health & Human Services’ Time Study Unit for technical support.

Hotline: (512) 490-3194 Email: [email protected]

To watch our training video on insufficient responses visit the RMTS section of www.msbconnect.com/videotutorials