SIS-A data supports State’s “Path for ME” Lifespan Waiver Initiative serving residents with disabilities

We were selected by the State of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) to independently administer SIS-A® 2nd Edition (Supports Intensity Scale for Adults) Assessments. Through the contract, Maximus administers SIS-A assessments for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and completes assessments that inform the development of the state’s “A Path for ME” Lifespan Home and Community-Based Services initiative. The state’s initiative supports individuals as their needs change during various stages of life with a primary focus on identifying the strengths of individuals with IDD, their families, and their communities.

“This is a transformational moment for Maine as state leaders implement a unique approach to meet the lifetime needs of individuals with IDD,” said Christa Ballew, Senior Vice President, Clinical Services, Maximus. “Maximus understands the need for high-quality, reliable, and consistent information about the support needs of adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. Our combination of innovative technology and decades of assessment experience will allow us to collect this important data in an efficient, effective, and empathetic manner.”

Watch this participant interview featuring Josh alongside his Maximus assessor, Donna. Josh shared his first-hand experience of the Maine SIS-A assessment, which informs planning across stages of life and supports person-centered care.

Developed and maintained by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), the SIS-A assessment is a comprehensive planning tool that measures support needs of members in the areas of home living, community living, lifelong learning, employment, health and safety, and social activities. One of Maximus’ goals through this new contract is to conduct the assessments with integrity to build stakeholder confidence in the state’s use of the SIS-A planning tool.

“Maximus was the first vendor certified by AAIDD to conduct the 2nd Edition of the SIS-A assessment, and we work with other states to conduct vital assessment services and help develop solutions specifically designed to promote fair, equitable outcomes for the populations we serve,” said Ballew. “Our focus is on accurately recording each member’s support needs and conducting the interviews to provide each state with a strong foundation of accurate data. In Maine, this information will help inform key decisions ahead of the formal launch of the ‘A Path for ME’ Lifespan Waiver initiative in 2025.”

For more information about the company’s assessment services work in Maine, along with the “A Path for ME” Lifespan Waiver timeline and member incentives, visit the Maximus Maine SIS-A resources site and the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services OADS Lifespan Project site and SIS-A Implementation site.