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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Hi all,

1. OSHA has created a web page for materials to help with the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (which applies to the ICF-IID program) compliance. COVID-19 Healthcare ETS | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov) I found the plan template to be especially helpful. Of note, most of the standards require compliance by July 6, 2021. For the training, physical barriers, and ventilation sections compliance is required by July 21, 2021.

2. On 6/21/21, CMS released a revised version of QSO-20-41-ALL Revised – Guidance related to Emergency Preparedness-Exercise Exemption based on A Facility’s Activation of their Emergency Plan (cms.gov) which states that if a facility is still operating under an activated emergency plan for COVID-19, it may be exempt from the 2021 full-scale exercise.

If the facility is still operating under its currently activated emergency plan, any currently-activated emergency plan will be recognized by surveyors as having met the full-scale exercise requirement for 2021 (even if it claimed the exemption for the 2020 full-scale exercise).

If the facility claimed the full-scale exercise exemption in 2020 based on its activated emergency plan and has since resumed normal operating status, the inpatient provider/supplier is expected to complete its required full-scale exercise in 2021, unless it has reactivated its emergency plan for an actual emergency during its 12-month cycle for 2021.

Reach out if you have questions.

——————————
Catherine Thibedeau
Orono, ME
(207) 866-3769 (103)
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From the Department of Human Services (DHS):

As you may know, on Monday, June 14, DHS submitted a preliminary spending plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that serves as a foundation for Pennsylvania’s planning efforts by outlining our principles and overarching priorities for expanding and enhancing home and community-based services (HCBS). The preliminary plan encompasses many of the stakeholder recommendations that have been made to date. The overarching priorities include:

  1. Increasing access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS);
  2. Enhancing HCBS provider payment rates and benefits;
  3. Protecting the health and well-being of direct care workers and direct support professionals through the provision of supplies and equipment;
  4. Recruitment and retention efforts to support the workforce;
  5. Supporting caregivers;
  6. Assistive technology and other supports to improve functional capabilities of persons with disabilities;
  7. Supporting the transition of individuals to community-based living arrangements;
  8. Investing in activities to address Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder treatment and recovery needs of Medicaid beneficiaries; and
  9. Building HCBS capacity and rebalancing Long-term Services and Supports.

The Department of Human Services has already heard from many stakeholders about Pennsylvania’s plan to use the increased Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages (FMAP) available under the American Rescue Plan, but for those who are unable to submit feedback via email, you are able to do so by participating in Wednesday’s virtual public comment session beginning at 10:00 am. To ensure all who register are able to speak, each individual will have 5 minutes to provide their feedback.

Click on this link to register for the session. You can click here to view Pennsylvania’s preliminary spending plan.

Thank you for your continued collaboration and for all you do to serve Pennsylvanians.

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Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are one of the critical groups at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. To show our appreciation, MITC is giving away $5,000 to 13 hardworking and dedicated DSPs who are nominated by someone from their agency.
– 1 prize of $1,000
– 2 prizes of $500
– 10 prizes of $300

MITC values the hard work put forth by DSPs every day and is hoping to show our appreciation through these prizes! The deadline to nominate a DSP is Saturday, July 31, 2021. MITC will share the awardees’ stories during DSP Recognition Week in September 2021.

Nominate Your DSP here.

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Attached are the resources that were issued during last week’s virtual office hours regarding changes to the Enterprise Incident Management (EIM) system that will be effective July 1, 2021.

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Please see the letter below published jointly by the Office of Developmental Programs and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services regarding the hiring of Donald Clark as the new Project Director for the Pennsylvania START Program:

June 25, 2021

Colleagues and Stakeholders,

It is with pleasure that we announce the hiring of Mr. Donald Clark as a Project Director to lead our dual systems initiative of the highly anticipated pilot of PA START. Don holds a Master of Education from Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. He served as the Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Office of Intellectual Disabilities for more than 20 years, the Acting Deputy Mental Health Administrator for Allegheny County on an interim basis and has worked closely with the behavioral health and hospital systems in the western region. In addition, he has experience in the management of Community Residential Programs, along with numerous recognitions and awards.

The START model is a crisis intervention and prevention program designed to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and co-occurring mental health challenges. National data surrounding this program demonstrates significant outcomes and cost-effective system improvements.

Funding for the pilot is being provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Money Follows the Person (MFP) program which offered a unique opportunity to apply for supplemental funding for capacity building efforts. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) partnered to present the PA START pilot. Pennsylvania was one of the first states to apply and receive this award.

In his role as the Project Director for START, Mr. Clark will be working with diverse stakeholder groups, the University of New Hampshire/Center for START Services and Allegheny County.

Please join us in a warm welcome to Don to the ODP/OMHSAS team!

Sincerely,


Kristin Ahrens
Deputy Secretary
Office of Developmental Programs

Kristen Houser
Deputy Secretary
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

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This webinar will discuss vaccine hesitancy among direct service workers (DSWs), explore barriers they face, including access to information and transportation, and offer strategies to help increase vaccination rates.

Panelists:

  • Cory Nourie: Director of Community Services, Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
  • Ramu Iyer: National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals Advisory Council Member
  • Robert Espinoza: Vice President of Policy, PHI
  • Trudy Rebert: Federal Policy Counsel, National Domestic Workers Alliance

This webinar will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 3:00 pm–4:30 pm ET.

Click here to register.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is happy to announce the publication of the next online Visual Gestural Communication (VGC) training module! Over 8,000 individuals supported in the ODP system have VGC listed as their primary mode of communication.

The first module previously published went over the basics of VGC. The next module will review visual schedules. To take this module, you will first need to complete module 1. These modules can be found on MyODP.org under Trainings > Special Populations > Non-traditional Communication.

*Please Note: Closed captioning and transcription available.

For questions, email ODP Deaf Services.

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The RCPA IDD Committee met to discuss Pennsylvania’s plan for use of the American Rescue Plan funds. The comments gathered at this meeting will be used to develop RCPA’s comments that will be submitted to the Department of Human Services (DHS). The recording is available to members only here. If you have comments you would like added to our response, please contact Carol Ferenz, Director of IDD Division.

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ODP Announcement 21-048 is intended to supplement — not replace — any federal, state, or local public health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which providers of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) home and community-based services must comply. Additionally, there may be instances where there are differences in CDC guidance from PA Department of Health (DOH) guidance. In these instances, PA DOH guidance should be followed as the lead agency of the COVID-19 response for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

All direct support professionals (DSPs) should follow risk mitigation recommendations, which include, but are not limited to, infection prevention strategies for universal masking, screening, and handwashing as outlined in the guidance included in this communication.

This announcement includes a chart outlining obsolete guidance and new guidance to be followed by service type, with links to the applicable documents.

ODP encourages any provider who has a question to reach out for clarification and support. The following resources can provide support as appropriate:

  1. Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCAT)
  2. PA DOH at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258)
  3. Health Care Quality Units (HCQUs)
  4. ODP Regional Offices Questions about this announcement may be directed here

 

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) UPDATE: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Modifications to Medication Administration Course Requirements as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic

ODP Announcement 20-114 informs stakeholders that due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, staff can continue to take the Modified Course in place of the Standard Course until December 31, 2021. Also, the Department previously required that staff who took the Modified Course in lieu of the Standard Course complete the Standard Course no later than June 30, 2021. Please be advised that this deadline has been extended to December 31, 2022.

Beginning July 1, 2021, staff who have completed the initial requirements to begin administering medications using the Modified Course as above are required to complete additional medication administration observations and Medication Record Reviews as part of the Annual Practicum. This enhanced requirement applies to any staff who have at any time trained with the Modified Course and have not yet completed the Standard Course.

The enhanced Annual Practicum requirements are:

  1. Observations of staff administering medications must occur four times annually by a Certified Medication Administration Trainer or Qualified Medication Administration Practicum Observer. It is recommended that one medication administration observation be completed each quarter. Observations of the medication administrations may be conducted in-person or remotely using video telecommunication technology. Remote observation is encouraged to maintain social distancing; and
  2. Medication Record Reviews for the medication administrator must occur four times annually by a Certified Medication Administration Trainer or Qualified Medication Administration Practicum Observer. It is recommended that one Medication Record Review be completed each quarter. Medication Record Reviews of the medication administrations may be conducted in-person or remotely using video telecommunication technology. Remote reviews are encouraged whenever possible to maintain social distancing.

The full document, including frequently asked questions relating to medication administration requirements that were modified as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, can be accessed here. These questions and responses apply to both new and current staff unless otherwise indicated.

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