Dear Providers:

Credentialing, credentialing, credentialing!

We know it can sometimes be difficult and very expensive to meet all the First Steps credentialing requirements. We also know that to feel connected in First Steps, you need to have communication and information that help you do your job.

We, at the LPCC, want to be able to provide you with a forum that helps you gain valuable information while at the same time providing you with credentialing points in the 6 different category requirements. But, most importantly, we want to provide you with a solution that is inexpensive and convenient for your busy schedules! (i.e. just think credentialing points while in the comfort of your own home. No mileage or childcare required.)

The LPCC would like to continue to present information and credentialed trainings to you this way, but our grant does not allow us to continue to fund the meetings. Therefore, the trade-off for the convenience is that we have to ask providers to pay toward the technology of these meetings. So, please read below for the details:

1. There will be 4 provider meetings a year. Each meeting will take place on a Friday afternoon, most likely between 12-3pm.

2. Each meeting will be worth 3 hours of credentialing and we will have presentations throughout the year that qualify for credentialing points in the 6 different categories.

3. There will be three ways to participate/get credentialing for meetings:

a. Attend the meetings in person at Goshen College in Goshen (south Elkhart County).

PROS: Able to dialogue with the speakers and other providers. Do not have to pay for meeting.
CONS: The time commitment, mileage, etc.

b. Attend the meetings live via the web in your home, at specific sites throughout the cluster, or any other place with web access.

PROS: Able to ask questions of the speakers and other providers (via the web). Do not have to drive to site. Can participate at home, etc.
CONS: Cannot dialogue with the speaker as easily. Will have to pay for meetings.

c. Watch the recorded meetings at any time after the meeting is over either via the web or by the DVD recording.

PROS: Able to watch the meeting at any time. Able to pause meeting and restart. Can participate at home, etc.
CONS: Can not interact with speakers. Will have to pay for meetings.

4. If you choose to watch the meetings via web (either live or recorded), you will have to pay for the credentialing points. You can choose two options:

a. Pay $50.00 for year. (This saves you $10.00!) This gives you 12 hours of credentialing points and access to meetings either live or recorded. You will have to pay the money one time a year. After we receive proof that you watched each meeting (you just email us the code), we will send you your certificate.

b. Pay $15.00 per meeting. This gives you 3 hours of credentialing points. You can pay at any time before or after a meeting. After we receive payment and proof that you watched the meeting (you can email or mail us the code), then we will send you your certificate.

All checks need to be made out to: 1st Kids/Cluster B. Please put in the Memo: Provider Meeting(s) and send to:
First Steps LPCC
700 AE Beardsley Ave. Ste 14A
Elkhart, IN 46514

Please do not hesitate to contact me or the other LPCC staff if you have any questions or suggestions – 1-866-725-2398 (x25) or jhiggins@neccfs.org.

Thank you.

Jennifer Higgins 
LPCC Coordinator

LPCC Staff: Pam Deetz, Tammy Kell

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS: Provider Meeting/Trainings Webcast 2/16/07

1. Why is the LPCC offering webcasts?

We are offering this because we want to have a forum to communicate to our providers – everyone hears the same information from the same source - and we want to do all we can to help support providers with resource information and to meet credentialing criteria. We are the only cluster in the State who is providing meetings this way, and we continue to look for ways to be creative and improve communication.

2. Why do providers have to pay for this?

The LPCC is funded through a grant from the State, and there are requirements for how the money is spent. Since providers usually have to pay for other trainings, etc. to receive credentialing points, the LPCC feels that this fee is reasonable especially since it requires no mileage, childcare, and you can watch the meetings at your convenience (you can even watch an hour and then come back and watch the rest later, etc.).

The LPCC is NOT looking to make any money off this activity. We only want to be able to cover the technology costs of the meetings.

3. What happens if you do not collect enough monies to cover the costs?

If we do not collect enough money by March 22, then we will be unable to provide meetings/trainings this way past the March meeting. However, we will still offer on-site provider meetings. (If we do not collect enough monies, we will refund those who paid for the year - minus the March meeting fee.)

4. What if I don’t want to participate in provider meetings?

The meetings are voluntary. But, the biggest provider complaint I hear is - lack of communication (“I don’t feel like I know what’s going on.‿) We are trying to provide a forum to improve communication both from us to providers; and from providers to us. We also are trying to get you pertinent information and community resources. If providers do not take advantage of this service, then we are open to other ideas of how to improve communication.

Also, there are many other ways to get credentialing points but again we are trying to do it inexpensively and conveniently for our providers. The subjects of the presentations are always chosen as a direct result of provider suggestions. If you want us to address a certain topic, just email or call Deidre. We want to make sure we are giving you what you need and making it worth your money!

5. What happens if I don’t pay the $50.00 now, but then later decide that I want to do that?

Because we have to plan ahead of time, we only offer the $50.00 special one time a year (March) to encourage providers to pre-pay. If you do not take advantage of this offer by March 22, then you will have to pay $15.00 per meeting for the rest of the grant year (April – March).

6. What if I pay the meeting fees for the year and then decide to attend one or more of the meetings live?

Then please call and talk with Jennifer at the LPCC office. We want to encourage you to attend the on-site meetings, so we can discuss it further.

7. If I pay the $50.00 meeting fee, then how do I get my credentialing certificate?

If you watch the meeting live, then via your web sign-in, we will document that you watched the meeting and we will send you a certificate a few days after the meeting. If you watch the meeting at a later date, then you will email Jennifer the particular meeting’s “code words. and then we will mail you a certificate.

8. If I pay the $15.00 meeting fee, then how do I get my credentialing certificate?

Same answer as #6, except we have to have your payment before we will send you your certificate. You are welcome to pay before or after the meeting.

9. If I don’t pay, can I still watch the meetings on the web?

Yes, the meetings are open to anyone and I will send the web address for the meetings to all providers. We just won’t give out credentialing points if you have not paid. (Remember: If you attend the meeting on-site, you do not have to pay and you will get credentialing points.)

10. Why wouldn’t providers want to take advantage of this service?

I DON’T KNOW!?! All the feedback we have gotten is extremely positive! I haven’t heard any negatives. The only initial issue was that the sound was a little off for the first meeting, but we fixed that.

Please direct any other questions to Jennifer at the LPCC office, jhiggins@neccfs.org  or 1-866-725-2398 (x25).