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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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A message from the Department of Human Services (DHS):

Attention Personal Care Services (PCS) and Home Health Care Services (HHCS) Providers:

DHS would like to announce that the Alternate EVV Technical Specifications and updated Sandata Alternate EVV Error Handling Overview and Reference Guide are available online for your review prior to the upcoming Alternate EVV Town Hall on April 11, 2022, at 1:00 pm ET (visit here to register). There will be a second session held May 27, 2022, at 12:00 pm ET for any additional questions that may arise.

All Alternate EVV vendors will need to be certified following the new Alternate EVV Technical Specifications published March 30, 2022. Vendors are expected to review the technical specifications document in its entirety and submit any questions during your registration to the Alternate EVV Town Hall.

If a vendor is not certified (due to being new to EVV) or recertified, the EVV visits will not be accepted for any provider agency the vendor supports. For PCS, the claims or encounters will deny because visit data would not be accepted as a result of the vendor not being recertified. 

DHS recommends providers work with their EVV vendor to complete system updates to allow for sufficient time to complete integration testing and the recertification process prior to the Sandata EVV Release. The deployment date is currently expected to be on June 15, 2022. Any changes to this date will be communicated in a future Listserv. The initial certification process can be lengthy, and vendors should prepare accordingly. The minimum recommended time is 7.5 business weeks.

Further contact information for recertification will be provided at the Alternate EVV Town Hall on April 11, 2022.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the message that the Provider Electronic Solutions software, commonly referred to as PES, will be sunset on June 15, 2022. PES was distributed free of charge to providers as a method of submitting HIPAA-ready transactions such as claims and eligibility to the PROMISe system.

Effective June 15, 2022, the software will not work with Microsoft Edge or other commonly used internet browsers. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will no longer upgrade PES due to the product’s age, limited configurability, and end-user experience. The Provider Assistance Center (PAC), which was maintained by Gainwell Technologies, will no longer provide user support for PES effective June 15. 2022.

Providers are encouraged to use the PROMISe Provider Portal to submit claims, validate eligibility, conduct claim inquires, and access their weekly remittance advice. The PROMISe Provider portal is available free of charge and allows single-entry interactive submissions. Additionally, users can purchase certified software from software vendors or contract with a clearinghouse to handle ongoing HIPAA transaction needs.

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DSPs are a vital part of agencies everywhere. MITC is awarding $5,000 in September to Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who stand out and go above and beyond to provide exemplary service.

MITC values the hard work put forth by DSPs every day and is hoping to show our appreciation through these prizes!

Your participation is important — it shows DSPs you appreciate their hard and, at times, dangerous work.

  • 13 Prizes Will Be Awarded
  • One Prize of $1,000
  • Two Prizes of $500.00 
  • Ten Prizes of $300.00

MITC will share the awardees’ stories with providers. The winners will be announced during DSP Recognition Week in September 2022.

The deadline to nominate a DSP is August 1, 2022. Nominate your DSP here.

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Join RCPA as we host the 2022 Annual Conference: Together, October 11–14, at the Hershey Lodge. RCPA staff and the Conference Committee are excited to release this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers brochure, with new opportunities to get in on the action. Booth self-selection will be back this year for the exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors who submit their contracts with payment by April 29. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Don’t miss your chance to be seen and to support the work of this dynamic organization! The event is a highlight for the Pennsylvania mental health, drug and alcohol, intellectual and developmental disabilities, children’s, brain injury, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities.

Connections Hall Brings Us Together

Exhibit activities take place during the two busiest days of the conference, with many networking opportunities throughout the event. Check out the Connections Hall web page for more details!

Exciting New Sponsorship Opportunities

The association is privileged to have the backing of the finest organizations in the field for our conference. Through the use of sponsorship circles, RCPA is able to honor all supporting organizations. Visit the Sponsors page to view opportunities and available sponsorship circles!

Sign Up Now

The deadline for inclusion in all digital materials is August 11. Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must adhere to that deadline. The association looks forward to welcoming you at the conference! Space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Sarah Eyster or Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinators.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible.

On March 29, 2022, the CDC updated its recommendations to allow individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, as well as people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago, to be eligible for another mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19.

It was also announced that adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

These updated recommendations acknowledge the increased risk of severe disease in certain populations, including those who are elderly or over the age of 50 with multiple underlying conditions, along with the currently available data on vaccine and booster effectiveness.

The CDC web page How Do I Find a COVID-19 Vaccine? offers additional guidance to locate a COVID-19 vaccine provider.

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Charting the LifeCourse: Applying Principles and Using Tools to Support a Good Life for Individuals and Families
Training Webinar
April 27, 2022
9:00 am–1:00 pm

“Charting the LifeCourse” was created to help individuals and families of all abilities and all ages develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.

This training webinar will act as an in-depth introduction to the LifeCourse framework. Two pre-requisite courses must be passed on MyODP before registering for the webinar:

  • Charting the LifeCourse: Overview of LifeCourse, Part 1
  • Charting the LifeCourse: Overview of LifeCourse, Part 2

Participants in this training will:

  • Learn about the National “Charting the LifeCourse” Community of Practice
  • Apply LifeCourse Principles and LifeCourse Framework
  • Practice Using LifeCourse Tools

Credit Hours: 4

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited.

View the course and register at MyODP.

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The Eastern PA Special Needs Association (EPSNA) will be hosting their next meeting TOMORROW, Thursday, March 31, 2022, from 10:00 am–12:00 pm.

Their presenter, Jill Grossberg, will be presenting on Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) 101. Per the PA.gov website:

“The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. The OVR counselor, during face-to-face interviews, assists customers in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services and service providers. An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed, outlining a vocational objective, services, providers and responsibilities. Certain services are subject to a Financial Needs Test (FNT) and may require financial participation by the customer. Counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referral, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters are provided at no cost to the individual.”

Join TOMORROW to learn more about how OVR can assist the lives of persons with disabilities!

This EPSNA meeting is open to caregivers and professionals interested in learning more about navigating the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) system.  This is a PA statewide training! This meeting will be held via Zoom.

Please feel free to share the attached Save the Date and forward the Zoom link for the EPSNA meeting. RSVPs are not mandatory but welcomed.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Missy Modesti.

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