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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is reminding providers of the importance of completing the 2020 Staff Stability Survey for your organization. We are particularly interested in having a robust response rate this year due to the impact of the pandemic on your workforce. We expect to use the data from this survey to help inform the rate-setting work.

If you are one of the 200 or so who have already completed the survey or determined that your agency is not eligible to complete it, thank you. There is nothing further to do. We have reached a statistically significant response but would like to have as many as possible in order to have the best data possible. Many providers have not yet clicked on the survey to open it or have started but not completed it.

Responses are due by Wednesday, June 30, 2021. You should have received an invitation and the personalized survey link from HSRI. Please be sure to check your spam folder or contact Rick Smith if you cannot locate the message. Thank you for your attention to this important survey.

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From ANCOR:
You may have received this information and related links already, but posting here for ease of access! HRSA continues to encourage providers to establish their PRF Reporting Portal accounts now by registering here. Registration will also allow providers to receive updates closer to the official opening of the portal for their reporting submissions.

HRSA landing page for reporting portal here.

PRF Reporting FAQs here. I found the FAQs extremely helpful and suggest you review before registering for the portal!

Provider Relief Fund General and Targeted Distribution Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements (revised June 11, 2021).

Full “User Guide” available here.

Link to HHS resources and additional information here.

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Donna Martin
American Network of Community Options and Resources
Alexandria, VA
(401) 965-9411
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Join this webinar, hosted by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center (MHDD-NTC), to learn how unemployed individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism and traumatic brain injury, can benefit from a job in the workforce. The webinar will present instructional videos and case studies that illustrate how networking and mentorship can encourage independence among these individuals.

After attending the webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe how work empowers individuals with mental health conditions and developmental disabilities;
  • Learn how service providers can locate and utilize resources in the community for competitive employment opportunities; and
  • Understand how workplace supports can increase job satisfaction and overall health.

This webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm ET.

Visit here to register.

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From ACCSES:

Please see the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that will apply to healthcare employers and additional OSHA guidance issued to protect workers in workplaces not subject to the ETS.

We had a number of calls asking about the ETS and to what businesses it applies. OSHA prepared this chart to help employers determine if they are subject to the ETS rule. Footnote number 1 is probably the most helpful part of the chart. In addition, the law firm of Troutman Pepper prepared an analysis, which may assist in determining whether your organization is subject to the ETS. We encourage anyone who is unsure whether the ETS applies to their organization to consult with legal counsel.

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June’s Money Talks webinar will wrap up the series by discussing StudyMoney.us and Other Financial Education Resources for People with Disabilities — scheduled for Wednesday, June 23, 2021, from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm. Learn more and register here.

Join us to learn about StudyMoney.us, an exciting new financial education website for people with disabilities and families that makes learning about money management fun, effective, and engaging!

StudyMoney.us was originally created in 2017 as a companion to Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation’s book, Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management, the first comprehensive financial education curriculum developed specifically for people with disabilities. The newly rebuilt StudyMoney.us, launched in May 2021, features new content, a new look, full accessibility, and activities and quizzes to motivate and challenge learners.

Attendees will learn about:

  • The content covered in StudyMoney.us and why this information is important for the disability community;
  • How StudyMoney.us can best be used by both learners and instructors;
  • Fun, informative, and interactive activities available on StudyMoney.us;
  • Additional financial education resources available for both learners and instructors; and
  • A case study using StudyMoney.us and Cents and Sensibility with college students with disabilities.

This webinar is part of Money Talks, a free series hosted by Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation on financial empowerment for people with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability, a family member of someone who has a disability, an advocate, an educator, or a service provider, this series is for you. Sessions will include 30-45 minutes of interactive learning and 15 minutes for questions. Each session will be fully accessible, and recordings and slides will be made available.

Learn more, view previously recorded webinars, and register for this month’s webinar at PATF — MoneyTalks. 

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Post-Pandemic Re-Integration and Assessment of Community Interactions

June 22, 2021 from 1:30 pm–3:00 pm ET

The purpose of this training is to assist states to successfully re-integrate individuals receiving home and community-based services (HCBS) and supports into their communities by redefining the baseline for community access as the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic are relaxed or eliminated. In this training we will:

  • Share pertinent CMS guidance from the State Health Official Letter of December 22, 2020: Planning for the Resumption of Normal State Medicaid, CHIP and Basic Health Program Operations Upon Conclusion of the Public Health Emergency and the January 15, 2021 General Transition Planning Tool;
  • Review some of the changes that will need to occur as the flexibilities approved for use during the pandemic begin to unwind including identifying flexibilities used by states which could potentially be incorporated into 1915(c) waivers going forward; and
  • Identify the key strategic factors included in a state’s assessment process to ensure that individuals can re-connect with their communities in accordance with their own choices and preferences taking into account the dignity of risk and including the most current, appropriate methods for delivery of HCBS based on those individual preferences.

Following the presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session receiving feedback from CMS.

Register here.

Beyond the Pandemic: How Technology Influences and Ensures an Integrated Life in the Community PART 2 of 2

July 14, 2021 from 1:30 pm–3:00 pm ET

This training is the second session of a two part presentation on how technology can influence and ensure an integrated life in the community. The use of technology to support the ongoing delivery of services during the COVID-19 pandemic has been widespread. This training will explore how to take lessons learned and consider the use of technology in supporting reintegration with in-person services and assist home and community-based services (HCBS) participants to re-engage with their communities.

Part one of this presentation discussed the importance of person-centered planning, self-determination and informed choice when considering the use of technology, balancing the use of technology with in-person services, technology solutions during and beyond the pandemic, types of technology solutions and data and research findings from across the nation.

Part two of this training will address critical considerations for states as they explore incorporating technology into HCBS waivers prior to or when the Appendix K flexibilities have ended. The presentation will explore the concepts of Technology First vs. technology only, offer examples from two Technology First states, address the use of technology across populations to mitigate social isolation, discuss rate methodology and payment considerations for technology supports, provide suggestions for how to plan for and implement increasing uses of technology with a focus on community reintegration and considerations for innovation, evaluation and research.

Following the presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session receiving feedback from CMS and the presenters.

Register here.

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Donna Martin
American Network of Community Options and Resources
Alexandria, VA
(401) 965-9411
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Dear ANCOR Members:

Sarah Meek on our GR team is engaged in conversations with key congressional offices about the importance of investing in the DSP workforce in the context of several legislative proposals around long-term funding for, and/or possible structural changes to, the HCBS program — including but not limited to proposals responding to President Biden’s call for Congress to invest $400B in the DSP workforce. We need to hear your experiences with how challenges recruiting and retaining DSPs — which we understand to be harder than they have been in years — are affecting the supports you offer and the well-being of individuals supported. While we welcome and will use feedback from all states, we are particularly targeting members of Congress from AZ, CA, DE, ME, NY, OR, and WV. Some of you in those states have already received direct emails from me on this topic — this is an expansion of that request, so you do not need to worry about this post if we are already corresponding.

For anyone interested in sharing their experiences:

  1. Please directly email Sarah Meek (smeek@ancor.org), with me cc’d (dparfaite-claude@ancor.org).
  2. Please share as many details as possible, such as: the number of vacancies you have, the specific type of supports affected (e.g. day services, residential, employment, etc.) and how those supports are affected (e.g. having to consolidate individuals into one location, close lines of services, etc.), and last but not least, how that has affected the individuals you support.

We appreciate any time you can give us on this topic, and hope everyone has a good rest of the week.

Sincerely,

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Doris Parfaite-Claude
Federal Advocacy and Research Manager
American Network of Community Options and Resources
Alexandria VA
(703) 535-7850 (108)
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The RCPA IDD Committee will host a call on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 to discuss the plan that was recently released by the Department of Human Services (DHS). The purpose of this call will be to gather input for our comments regarding the proposed plan. Please join the call to share your thoughts regarding the use of the 10% FMAP funds. Register for this call here.

If you are unable to join this call but wish to give your feedback, please send your comments to Carol Ferenz, IDD Division Director, by close of business on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The deadline to submit comments is close of business on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. We encourage you to submit your organization’s comments to the email listed below, as well.

Please visit the DHS’ public comment overview as well as Pennsylvania’s preliminary spending plan for further information. Your comments can be submitted via email. Additionally, a live virtual public comment session will take place on Wednesday, June 30 at 10:00 am for those who are unable or prefer not to submit written feedback. More information about how to RSVP for this session will be available soon.

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