Our Services
Enhancing interRAI
Enhancing interRAI is a multi-state collaborative effort to build infrastructure to support states implementing interRAI instruments in the US. The program helps states collect more accurate information with the least amount of burden and take full advantage of these data to improve program operations. Hence, our tagline: Using Better Data, Better.
ADvancing States acted as an incubator for creating the initiative, which was originally called ADvancing interRAI. It evolved to Enhancing interRAI once it became sustainable. Enhancing interRAI now operates exclusively through HCBS Strategies, in collaboration with interRAI Fellows. Enhancing interRAI is committed to providing states with technical assistance, best practices, and resources to successfully implement and optimize the use of interRAI assessment instruments.
HCBS
What is interRAI?
interRAI is an international nonprofit organization that develops and validates scientifically valid assessment systems. interRAI assessments provide a comprehensive, data-driven approach to evaluating the needs of individuals in HCBS programs. These tools support:
Person-Centered Care
Evidence-based insights allow the creation of person-centered care plans that meet individuals' needs and facilitate care coordination.
Consistency
Standardized assessments ensure that data are collected objectively, meeting federal requirements and informing effective program operations.
Efficiency
Streamlined assessment processes reduce administrative burden, improving workflow for assessors and the assessment experience for participants.
Continuous Quality Improvement
interRAI data and algorithms enable data-driven performance monitoring and program evaluation.
Data-Driven Decision Making
interRAI assessments are backed by extensive research and generate actionable data to support program evaluation, policy development, and service improvements.
What support does Enhancing interRAI offer my state?
The Enhancing interRAI Core Package is designed to provide the most essential supports to help states adopt the interRAI Home Care (HC) or to better utilize their current interRAI HC data.
Cross-State Collaboration
Participating states meet bimonthly to discuss interRAI implementation challenges and successes, share strategies and best practices, and provide input on the Enhancing interRAI initiative.
Onboarding Support and Recommendation Development
Each participating state receives a high-level operational review to assess how integrating the interRAI HC tool will affect HCBS program functions. The review identifies operational impacts and provides recommendations for leveraging interRAI to drive broader system improvements.
Operations and Policy Guidance
Participating states gain access to a growing library of implementation support materials, such as algorithm explainers and software vendor responsibility guides. These materials translate case studies and academic research into practical, actionable tools for state staff and policymakers.
Training Support
High quality training is essential for data to be collected accurately. Enhancing interRAI offers:
- Assistance in developing or updating training plans that ensure staff are engaged, educated, and ready for implementation.
- One on-site assessor training in each state’s first year, delivered by experienced interRAI trainers.
- Participation in the Training Consortium, which hosts informational webinars and office hours monthly.
- The option to add access to the self-paced online training Mastering the HC, developed by interRAI Fellows and hosted on the Relias platform.
Data Analysis and Reporting
With interRAI’s unique cross-state standardization, participating states can compare participant characteristics in a scientifically valid way. Enhancing interRAI provides technical support to ensure data encoding aligns with interRAI standards and annual reports featuring non-PHI cross-state profiles, offering valuable insights into populations served.
Technical Assistance (TA)
Each participating state receives basic TA, with the option to arrange for additional enhanced TA if more in-depth support is needed. TA may cover topics such as enhancing No Wrong Door systems, translating and testing Level of Care criteria, developing prioritization and waiting list frameworks, using interRAI data for budgeting or resource allocation, and more.
Most states also select to have additional support tailored to meet state-specific needs. Many different types of assistance is available, including supporting the automation of the instruments, assisting with stakeholder input, and replicating or restructuring eligibility/level of care (LOC) criteria, resource allocation approaches or other state-specific algorithms.
While Enhancing interRAI primarily focuses on implementing the interRAI HC assessment, our project team has extensive experience in supporting the adoption and integration of interRAI assessments across diverse age and disability groups, including the interRAI Contact Assessment (CA), Early Years (EY), Pediatric Home Care (PEDS-HC), and Intellectual Disability (ID) instruments. We welcome discussions on unique challenges and opportunities to customize solutions that best serve your programs.
Reach out to discuss how we can help enhance your assessment processes and improve outcomes for individuals receiving HCBS.
