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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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ODP Announcement 21-057 “Individual Support Planning for Residential Services Review of Staffing Ratio Guidance and Upcoming Training” has been released to achieve the following:

  • Sustain the expectation that Administrative Entities (AEs), Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs), and providers of waiver residential services use the guidance provided in ODP Announcement 19-091 and the Annotated Individual Support Plan (ISP), dated 07-03-19, to document the staffing support that is needed and will be provided to replace residential habilitation service staffing ratios; and
  • Announce that additional training will be provided in the future to:
    • Standardize how risk factors and identified health and safety needs should be addressed using person-centered thinking skills;
    • Clarify documentation of supports and services in the ISP; and
    • Ensure there is a description of strategies (ex. technology, environmental, and staff supports) to mitigate risk(s) during specific activities and situations.

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Tablet on a desk - Questions and Answers

ODP Announcement 21-056 shares an updated version of Incident Management Frequently Asked Questions. The Incident Management (IM) Bulletin 00-21-02 was available for all stakeholders on March 1, 2021 with an effective date of July 1, 2021. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has received multiple questions from stakeholders through email, conversations, and dialogue during trainings, phone calls, etc.

The questions received from stakeholders have been collected and reviewed by ODP staff. The questions were then compiled into the FAQ document. This FAQ does not contain all questions received; ODP chose questions that were asked frequently by multiple stakeholders. ODP expects to continue to receive questions based on the IM Bulletin; therefore, this document will be updated on a routine basis. Stakeholders will be notified when there are additions added to this FAQ.

Please visit the following web page Incident Management/Risk Management and click on the link Incident Management Bulletin 00-21-02, which will include links to the IM Bulletin and attachments, related information, resources, ODP announcements, and ODP IM training.

For questions, please contact your ODP Regional Office or send to Incident Management.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

A message from ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens:

On February 3, 2021, pursuant to authority granted through an approved Appendix K, the Department announced temporary enhanced rates for Community Participation Supports and Transportation Trip services for services rendered January 1 through June 30, 2021. The end dates for the temporary rates were programmed in HCSIS consistent with the timeframe announced in the PA Bulletin; therefore, rates effective July 1, 2021 reverted to the previously published rates for these services.

In May 2021, CMS published SMD# 21-003 RE: Implementation of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Section 9817: Additional Support for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) during the COVID-19 Emergency. The SMD addresses requirements to receive the increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) rate for certain Medicaid expenditures for HCBS, including that federal funds attributable to the increased FMAP must be used to supplement existing state funds expended for Medicaid HCBS in effect as of April 1, 2021.

CMS has advised the Department that it must continue the temporary enhanced rates until the end of the approval of its Appendix K for the Commonwealth to receive the increased FMAP. Accordingly, subject to further CMS guidance, the enhanced rates will continue through the approval of the Appendix Ks. The Appendix Ks for the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), Community Living and Adult Autism Waivers are authorized for 6 months after the federal Public Health Emergency ends.

ODP anticipates that the temporary enhanced rates will be loaded in HCSIS during the week of August 1, 2021. Additional information for handling individual plan authorizations will be transmitted via an ODP communication prior to the rate load in HCSIS.

RCPA, along with the other ID/A Coalition members, requested that CMS require ODP to continue these enhanced rates, so we are pleased to share this news.

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Update from ACCSES:

Yesterday, the House Education and Labor Committee Subcommittees on Workforce Protections and Civil Rights and Human Services held a joint hearing on “Phasing out Subminimum Wages: Supporting the Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment for Workers with Disabilities.”  This hearing was actually one of the best Congressional hearings we have watched on this topic — and we have seen many. We want to give a special shout-out to Dr. Matthew Putts, CEO of Employment Horizons in New Jersey for taking the time to serve as a witness and for bringing his expertise and eloquence to the table. It was a very interesting two hours. You can watch it here.

RCPA submitted a statement of our view of Community Rehabilitation Programs, and both Representative Keller and Congressman Thompson submitted RCPA’s statement into the record.  Congressman Thompson also spoke positively regarding RCPA members Venango Development and Training Center, Cambria County Association of the Blind, ICW and Progressive Workshop. We are certainly grateful for their support.

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ODP Announcement 21-055 describes how the ending of the Harry M. settlement agreement on July 29, 2021 impacts stakeholders. The Harry M. settlement agreement was approved by a federal court judge on August 20, 2013. This settlement agreement was created to ensure Pennsylvanians who are D/deaf and receive services/supports from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) are provided with necessary communication assistance services. The settlement also includes a requirement to provide communication assessments and reassessments to evaluate expressive and receptive language skills and make recommendations.

ODP will continue to meet all requirements that were imposed by the settlement; however, new D/deaf individuals that enroll in the Consolidated, Community Living, or Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers will not automatically be scheduled for an assessment. Class Members who previously received a Communication Assessment Report that recommended a reassessment will still receive their reassessment automatically.

Beginning July 30, 2021, when a D/deaf individual is enrolled in the Consolidated, Community Living, or P/FDS waiver, the Supports Coordinator (SC) is to check the “Harry M. Litigation” checkbox in the demographics screen in HCSIS. This indicator alerts the Deaf Services Coordinator of the individual.

Within 30 days of the individual being enrolled in an applicable waiver, the SC should contact the Deaf Services Coordinator for a consultation. This consultation will allow the Deaf Services Coordinator to recommend specific trainings and resources and an assessment, if applicable.

Note: Communication assessments are available in the waivers for adults age 21 and older through the Speech/Language Therapy service. For individuals age 20 or younger, communication assessments are available through Medical Assistance.

Please see the revised Supports Coordinators’ Guide to the Communication Assessment and Reassessment.

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On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, the Workforce Protections Subcommittee (under the Education and Labor Committee) will hold a hearing to discuss H.R. 2373: Phasing Out Subminimum Wages: Supporting the Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment for Workers with Disabilities.

The hearing will be held at 10:15 am and includes the Workforce Protections Subcommittee and the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee.

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Last week, Relias and ANCOR shared key findings from the 2021 Direct Support Professional (DSP) Survey Report, including how supervision, appreciation and recognition, and career growth influence DSP turnover and retention. One way leaders can improve retention at their organization is through training, specifically the Certificates of Achievement training plans.

Created in partnership with ANCOR, the Certificates of Achievement consist of ten training plans, with each certificate focusing on a strategic area identified to be most impactful for improving both organizational and employee health, well-being, and development. The full list of certificate tracks are:

  • Emerging Leader
  • Peer Mentor
  • Community Employment Specialist
  • Safety Specialist
  • Aging Population Specialist
  • Employee Wellness Specialist
  • Customized Self-Employment Specialist
  • Human Resources
  • Professional Behavior Specialist
  • Community Inclusion Specialist

Learn more about the Certificates of Achievement and how they can improve DSP retention at your organization today.

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