2nd Annual Labor Symposium: Labor Issues of the Home Healthcare Worker to Be Held September 10
Carol Ferenz
Everybody Needs a Coach — RCPA Member Webinar to Be Held Sept. 16
RCPA Member Emmaus Hosts Press Conference to Thank Legislators and Governor for Budget (Video)
Reminder: RCPA Member Webinar on Using Behavioral and Safety Analytics for Financial Sustainability August 28
RCPA Submits Comments Advocating for SOC Code for Direct Support Professionals
Yesterday, August 12, RCPA submitted comments to the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on why direct support professionals (DSP) need their own Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. Without one, the unique work that DSPs do will not be captured, and the historically low wages that DSPs make will remain the norm. An SOC will allow for the gathering of legitimate data around wages and for the professionalization of the DSP workforce.
In June, OMB published the Federal Register notice announcing review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for possible revision in 2028 and soliciting comments. This notice started the process of reviewing and possibly changing the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for 2028. OMB is analyzing items such as how jobs are classified, the rules for coding them, the main groups of jobs, specific jobs such as public safety tele-communicators and care workers, and adding new types of jobs to the classification system.
We hope that these efforts produce an SOC that captures the essence of the multifaceted work that a DSP does on a daily basis. If you have any questions regarding the comments, contact Carol Ferenz.
2024 DSP Recognition Week is Sept. 8– 14
RCPA Member Webinar on Enhancing Staff Wellbeing to Be Held Sept. 12
RCPA Member Webinar on Using Behavioral and Safety Analytics for Financial Sustainability August 28
ODP Submits PBC Waiver Amendments, Shares PBC Resources
ODP Announcement 24-071 informs stakeholders of the submission of the Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) 1915(b)4 Waiver and 1915(c) Waiver amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has included with this announcement multiple documents and resources that are essential for understanding and implementing PBC. The documents are:
- PBC Residential Services Implementation Guide
- PBC Residential Services Provider Self-Assessment Toolkit, which includes:
- Residential Performance-Based Contracting Attestation (fillable form).
Submitted amendments for Consolidated and Community Living 1915(c) and 1915(b)(4) Selective Contracting Waiver for Residential Services are available online. All significant changes resulting from public comments can be found in the PBC Implementation Guide under Appendix A, titled, “Significant Changes to Performance-Based Contracting Proposal as a Result of Public Comment April 20-June 4, 2024.”
As a reminder, all residential providers must sign and return the Residential Provider Agreement to ODP by July 31, 2024. Please direct any questions about this information to ODP electronically.
ODP Publishes Performance-Based Standards and Documents for Residential Providers
ODP Bulletin 00-24-01 Performance-Based Standards for Residential Services has been published, providing detailed information regarding the standards that will be utilized to evaluate performance of residential providers in PA. An expected timeline for implementation of residential performance standards and tier assignment and the evaluation standards that will be used to assign tiers to providers have also been published.
ODP submitted waiver amendments for the 1915(c) waiver and the new 1915 (b)(4) waiver to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 26, 2024. RCPA anticipates the fee schedule rates will be published in the PA Bulletin on August 31, 2024. Implementation of the new rates will happen October 1, 2024, with an effective date of July 1, 2024.
All non-residential services, including participant directed services, will receive an 8% increase. All residential services will receive a 6% increase. Implementation of PBC will include rate add-ons of:
- Select Providers: 3%
- Clinically Enhanced Providers: 5%
Pay for Performance will also be available.
ODP will hold a webinar on Monday, July 29, to provide an overview of these changes. You can register for the meeting here. Please direct any questions about this information to ODP electronically.
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