TEN 20-22 (Accessible PDF).pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 20-22DATE March 10 2023EMP LOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES FROM BRENT PARTON s Acting Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Announcement of the Fiscal Year FY 2023 National Benefit Accuracy Measurement BAM Paid Claims Peer Reviews and New Three-year cycle for Future Reviews 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Training And Employment Notice is to provide the logistic details for the 2023 BAM Paid Claims Peer Reviews and to announce the new three-year schedule for future BAM Peer Reviews. 2. Action Requested. The information and instructions in this TEN should be shared with all BAM and other appropriate state staff. 3. Summary and Background.a.Summary This TEN announces the 2023 BAM Paid Claims Peer Reviews and the new three-year cycle for future BAM Peer Reviews. b. Background Beginning in FY 2015 the BAM Peer Review process changed to a three- year cycle for the evaluation of the state BAM program. Using a national approach for conducting the reviews the BAM Peer Review process provides more uniformity in the review process and ensures that all the states are trained in a similar manner on BAM procedures. As a result of the cancellations of BAM Peer Reviews in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Department is resetting the review cycle. The new three-year cycle begins in 2023 as detailed in Section 5 of this document. 4. 2023 BAM Paid Claims Peer Reviews.a.Review Details The review will be conducted during two one 1 week sessions April 17 April 21 2023 September 18 September 22 2023. i.April Review. The review will be conducted at Crown Plaza 1480 Crystal Park Drive Arlington VA 22202 . 2 The review participants are authorized to travel on Sunday to ensure they are available to start the review Monday morning. The review will begin at 8 30 a.m. on April 17 2023 and conclude by 12 00 noon on Friday April 21 2023 . Travel arrangements should be made to facilitate participation for the entire review. ETA has arranged travel funds for two BAM staff per state to participate in the review. The staff selected to attend must have the knowledge and skills necessary to review the ten BAM Paid Claims Accuracy PCA cases. Since all case issues are resolved a nd finalized as part of the review process experienced state staff are needed to negotiate the final acceptance of any exception during the close -out of the review. ETA staff will provide the following materials on -site Exception Code Summary Sheets han douts Unemployment Insurance UI Database Data Collection Instrument DCI reports and Monitor Discussion Forms for us e during the review and how to record exception s . State BAM staff will provide the following One complete copy of each PCA case s selected for the review A short summary of state UI laws policies rules etc. as they relate to benefits eligibility and claimants responsibilities. The summary should contain o How case files are organized and where to find key information i.e. issue codes initial claims filing method claimed week filing method and appeal status information o Provide background information on any unique interpretation of the state law that may come up during the case review and o Copies of s tates policies and procedures manual Sample for this BAM Paid Claims Review should be pulled on March 27 2023. Copies of the BAM Paid cases and all supporting materials should be deliver ed to the National Office no later than April 10 2023. The case material should be sent to U.S. Department of Labor Attn Rhonda Cowie RM S -4519 200 Constitution Ave. N.W. Washington DC 20210 Please ensure that states send all packages using a tracking number. State participants also have the option to personally transport the BAM Paid cases and all supporting materials to the review. Participants should contact the hotel directly to guarantee room reservations with an individual credit card. The rate is 258 king plus 14.5 District of Columbia occup ancy tax from April 17 through April 21 2023 . The rate and room availability will be guaranteed until March 22 2023 . Individuals may call 703 416 -1600 and ask for group name US DOL BAM Peer Review 3 when making reservations or online at US DOL BAM Peer Reviews - April 2023 . Dress for the review is business casual. ii. September Review . The review will be conducted at Crown Plaza 1480 Crystal Park Drive Arlington VA 22202 . The review participants are authorized to travel on Sunday to ensure they are available to start the review Monday morning. The review will begin at 8 30 a.m. on September 18 2023 and conclude by 12 00 noon on Friday September 22 2023. Travel arrangements should be made to facilitate participation for the entire review. ETA has arranged travel funds for two BAM staff per state to participate in the review. The staff selected to attend must have the knowledge and skills necessary to review the ten BAM Paid Claims Accuracy PCA cases. Since all case issues are resolved and finalized as part of the review process experienced state staff are needed to negotiate the final acceptance of any exception during the close -out of the review. ETA staff will provide the following materials on -site Exception Code Summary Sheets handouts Unemployment Insurance UI Database Data Collection Instrument DCI repor ts and Monitor Discussion Forms for use during the review and how to record exception s . State BAM staff will provide the following One complete copy of each PCA case s selected for the review A short summary of state UI laws policies rules etc. as they relate to benefits eligibility and claimants responsibilities. The summary should contain o How case files are organized and where to find key information i.e. issue codes initial claims filing method claimed week filing method and appeal status information o Provide background information on any unique interpretation of the state law that may come up during the case review and o Copies of states policies and procedures manual Sample for this BAM Paid Claims Review should be pulled on August 2 8 2023. Copies of the BAM Paid cases and all supporting materials should be deliver ed to the National Office no later than September 11 2023. The case material should be sent to U.S. Department of Labor Attn Rhonda Cowie RM S -4519 200 Constitution Ave. N.W. Washingt on DC 20210 4 Please ensure that states send all packages using a tracking number. State participants also have the option to personally transport the BAM Paid cases and all supporting materials to the review. Participants should contact the hotel direct ly to guarantee room reservations with an individual credit card. The rate is 257 king plus 14.5 District of Columbia occupancy tax from September 17 through September 22 2023 . The rate and room availability will be guaranteed until August 23 2023 . Individuals may call 703 416 -1600 and ask for group name US DOL BAM Peer Review when making reservations or online at US DOL BAM Peer Reviews - September 2023 . Dress for the review is business casual. b. New Three -Year Cycle Beginning in 2023. For t he new triennial cycle the following schedule applies Host for Spring Reviews Host for Fall Reviews Year 1 FY 2023 Paid Claims All states will participate in the BAM Peer Reviews for Paid Claims Accuracy PCA . 1 One -half of all state workforce agencies 26 will attend the April BAM PCA Peer Review. 2 The second half of all state workforce agencies 26 will attend the September BAM PCA Peer Review. National Office National Office Year 2 FY 2024 Paid Claims The cycle repeats as indicated for Year 1 FY 2023 . 1 One -half of all state workforce agencies 26 will attend the Spring BAM PCA Peer Review. 2 The second half of all state workforce agencies 26 will attend the Fall BAM PCA Peer Review. Region 3 Re gion 2 Year 3 FY 2025 Denied Claims All states will participate in the BAM Peer Reviews for Denied Claim Accuracy DCA . 1 One -half of all state workforce agencies 26 will attend the Spring BAM DCA Peer Review. 2 The second half of all state workforce agencies 26 will attend the Fall BAM DCA Peer Review. Region 4 Region 5 Unlike prior years the upcoming scheduled peer reviews require all states to participate in the 2023 2025 reviews. This temporary modification of the Peer Review cyc le 5 allows full engagement of all states following the cancellation of reviews in 2021 and 2022. The Peer Review cycle will return to its regular schedule starting in 2026. 5. Inquiries . For further information please contact your Regional Office. 6. References . Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 PIIA Pub. L. 116 -117 enacted March 2 2020 20 C.F.R. Part 602 Quality Control in the Federal -State Unemployment Insurance System TEN 03 -15 Reengineering Unemployment Insurance UI Benefits Program Accountability Processes Update on Implementation Progress and State Impacts dated July 27 2015 https wdr.do leta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 6837 . Employment and Training ET Handbook No. 395 5 th Edition Benefit Accuracy Measurement State Operations Handbook November 2009 https www.dol.gov agencies eta advisories handbooks et -handbook -no -395 -5th -edition and Office of Management and Budget OMB Circular No. A -123 Appendix C Requirements for Payment Integrity Improvement March 5 2021 . 7. Attachment s . Not applicable.