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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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ODP Announcement 22-068 is intended to provide guidance to all stakeholders who participate in the process of transitioning an individual from residential habilitation service to supported living or lifesharing. ODP is pleased to announce the availability of transition to independent living payments. These payments are directed towards providers of residential habilitation, lifesharing, and supported living programs to incentivize exploration and movement to supported living or lifesharing living programs.

Macro of burning candle isolated on black background

Curtis and his wife, Lisa

Final Acts of Love

Curtis Upsher is remembered for his many years of service as a pioneer as an original, founding member of The Black Student Union at Millersville University, and as an avid supporter of the autism community.
His legacy continues in his final acts of love as an organ donor.

Read About Curtis Here

The Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) met this week. Deputy Secretary Ahrens reported that CMS has extended the timeline for states to spend the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to March 2025. This allows for better planning and coordinating of the expenditures.

Providers have until the end of this month to submit proposals for use of these funds for training and credentialing of staff, technology (SCOs have a particularly good opportunity in this area), and development of business associates in industries.

ODP Announcement 22-067 is to provide information about processing gross adjustments for paid promise claims. ODP is processing these claims with a date of service from January 1, 2022 thru February 28, 2022. These adjustments will be visible on provider Remittance Advices on June 27, 2022 at the provider’s highest billing service location.

The adjustments will reflect the difference in the current (effective January 1, 2022) fee schedule rates and the previous fee schedule rates (which were still active in HCSIS/promise thru March 1, 2022) times the number of service units billed and paid as of 5/30/2022.

Providers are encouraged to review their payment/trade files for the relevant time period in order to validate the gross adjustment amounts. Instructions on how to download payment files from promise can be found in the HCSIS learning management system (LMS), under the heading “ODP-ID/A: FM300J Payment File.”

Our legislators are now determining whether to invest in DSP wages or place funds in the Rainy Day fund. Tell lawmakers to increase #DirectCarePA funding in the #PaBudget!

If you haven’t done so already, please reach out and urge lawmakers to increase funding to support human services professionals, so individuals and families in need get the support and care they deserve. Ask your networks to do the same.

Be sure to share our video on your social media pages, too. To share the video, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages where we have the videos posted. Be sure to “like” it and share it with your followers. Don’t forget to tag @directcareworks and use the #DirectCarePA and #PABudget hashtags so we can ensure as many people as possible see it.

It’s so important for us to share the story about how this workforce crisis is affecting individuals and families in need, as well as the providers and professionals who want to serve them.

Most importantly, TAKE ACTION TODAY. Tell lawmakers to increase funding to address the workforce crisis facing Pennsylvania’s health and human services. Thank you for your continued support.

ODP Announcement 20-114: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ODP currently allows staff who are required to take the Standard Medication Administration Training Course (“Standard Course”) to take the Modified Medication Administration Training Course (“Modified Course”) until December 31, 2021. Because the effects of the pandemic are ongoing, staff can continue to take the Modified Course in place of the Standard Course until July 31, 2022.

The Department previously required that staff who took the Modified Course in lieu of the Standard Course complete the Standard Course no later than December 31, 2022. Please be advised that this deadline has been extended to June 30, 2023.

ANCOR initiated a letter to Majority Leader of the US Senate Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader of the US Senate Mitch McConnell, to share our support for the inclusion of an investment for expanded access to Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), and recruitment and retention of direct care workers that support people who rely on HCBS, as part of the budget reconciliation legislation. RCPA was one of 462 organizations who signed on in support. The final letter was sent to the Senate earlier this afternoon.