Pre-Admission Screening & Resident Review (PASRR)

Overview:

The South Dakota PASRR Program has recently implemented changes focusing on processes improvement, provider education, and quality assurance. This presentation will assist nursing facilities and other PASRR stakeholders in understanding the program’s requirements, expectations, and processes and how to make PASRR a meaningful tool for the residents served.

Objectives:

• Learn the PASRR programs regulatory requirements and the process in South Dakota
• Discuss the structure and purpose of PASRR
• Identify the nursing facility’s responsibilities to the PASRR program
• Understand the new PASRR Screening Form

Presenters: Ariel Ghanayem, Maximus & Emily Johnson, SD Medicaid

Emily Johnson is a nurse consultant with South Dakota Medicaid, serving in the role as the PASRR program manager. In this role, she provides a broad range of technical assistance to providers on the PASRR process, Medicaid compliance, and quality assurance. Emily is also working towards redesigning the South Dakota PASRR program to ensure alignment with Federal regulations, enhance provider education, and streamline the overall process. She has over 13 years of nurse consultant service with State Government specializing in policy development, grant management, informatics, and quality assurance. Before joining South Dakota Medicaid, Emily served as Nurse Team Lead for the Department of Health where she oversaw nursing practice and services provided by the Community Health field offices in Central South Dakota. She also has had prior experience in PASRR, serving as the nurse consultant for the State Intellectual Disability Authority. Emily has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South Dakota State University as well as a South Dakota Governor Leadership Graduate Certificate.

Ariel Ghanayem currently serves as the South Dakota PASRR Program Manager with Maximus. Ariel has worked with Maximus since 2018 in a variety of roles, including working as a Quality Coordinator, Operations Manager, and Program Manager. In addition to South Dakota, she has also worked on the New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Virginia PASRR programs and currently manages the North Dakota PASRR and U21 programs in addition to South Dakota. Throughout her tenure at Maximus, she has assisted in multiple program implementations and has worked collaboratively with states to enact change, provide education, and streamline their PASRR programs.  Ariel has worked extensively with individuals’ mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse disorders. Her understanding of these populations contributes to excellent oversight of PASRR services for South Dakota. She brings over ten years of clinical expertise in conducting mental health assessments, developing treatment plans, and supporting individuals’ integration into community settings. She is a Licensed Masters Social Worker and has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.