';
CLOSE
Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

3037 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

0 734
Medical insurance and Medicaid and stethoscope.

Advocacy organizations ACCSES, ANCOR, APSE, The ARC, Easterseals, United Cerebral Palsy, and Goodwill International joined forces to send a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, to express concerns regarding the difficulties providers are experiencing in applying for funds to assist with COVID related impact on their financial stability.

The Medicaid & CHIP Provider Relief Fund Portal closes on August 3, 2020, and as long as a provider inputs their TIN by the end of the day August 3 and is awaiting confirmation, that provider will still be able to submit the completed application when the TIN is approved. The FAQ document continues to be updated, so it is recommended that providers who have not yet applied review the FAQs again. ACCSES provided highlights of some of the relevant language:

“Patient care” means health care, services and supports, as provided in a medical setting, at home, or in the community to individuals who may currently have or be at risk for COVID-19, whereby HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19.

What is meant by “applicant type” in field 5 on the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Portal? (Added 7/22/2020)
An Applicant Type Code is a two-character series of letters that generally summarizes an organization’s purpose. Enter the single code that best describes your organization from the following list:

Applicant Type Code Description
AG Agencies (ex. foster care, PACE, developmental disabled services, etc.)
BE Behavioral Health (Outpatient)
CA Case Management
CL Clinic/Center
CO Community-based Social Support Providers
DE Dental Services
EM Emergency
HO Home Health
HS Hospital
NO Non-emergency Medical Transport
NU Nursing Service Providers
OB Obstetrics / Gynecology
OP Other Physician
PE Pediatrics
PP Primary Care Physician
RF Residential Facilities
RB Residential Facilities (Behavioral)
SA Substance Abuse (Rehabilitation)
OT Other

Home- and Community-Based Service (HCBS) provider applicants should categorize personal care services as “Other,” code OT. Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) applicants should categorize their services as “Residential Facilities,” code RF.

Are healthcare providers that only bill Medicaid or CHIP through a waiver eligible for the Medicaid, CHIP, and Dental Providers Distribution? (Added 6/30/2020)
Yes. Healthcare providers that bill for services in Medicaid or CHIP that are covered under either a waiver or state plan are eligible for the Medicaid, CHIP, and Dental Providers Distribution if they otherwise meet the other eligibility criteria.

Additionally, ANCOR has developed an Infographic that outlines the process for applying for the grants. We will continue to advocate for clarity for providers to assist in accessing the available resources.

0 1345
Friday, August 7, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

During emergency situations, Appendix K may be utilized to request amendments to any or all of the state-approved Medicaid waivers. The requested amendments are used so that the state may respond to the emergency. Appendix K may also be applied retroactively, if needed. This webinar provides information on the 2nd Appendix K Amendment that was approved on July 23, 2020.

REGISTER

0 948

Dear Colleagues,

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly created numerous challenges in service delivery. It has also been a call to creativity in that many of you in a very short period of time initiated new and innovative ways to serve people in a remote environment, by leveraging technology and other solutions. We applaud you for the work you are doing!

In the coming weeks and months, we will certainly continue to push the status quo aside so we can create new structures that will emphasize new ways of supporting people and safety with return to community for the vulnerable people that we serve. We are interested in hearing from you. If you would like to share, please take 15 or 20 minutes out of your day and summarize example(s) of the service delivery options you have initiated since the pandemic.

That is, please detail any practices that you have designed that go above and beyond to provide necessary proactive and reactive behavioral support despite the current circumstances (e.g., ways to train supporters remotely; engage with the individual; collecting, analyzing, and sharing data). To complete the survey, follow this link: https://odpinnovations2020.questionpro.com.

Responses should be submitted by August 14, 2020.

Our management team will review these and, as time allows, schedule a series of webinars. We believe the innovative models and structures you have been creating will add a new dimension to the work we do together and want to share these broadly with others providing behavioral services in an effort to encourage replication of these innovative practices more broadly. As I think you have heard, we are in this together!

Kristin Ahrens Signature

Kristin Ahrens

0 926

ODP has released the ID-46 cost report forms and instructions to be used for the 2019–2020 fiscal year. Highlights of the changes from the prior year are noted on the ‘2020 Changes to ICF Cost Report ID-46’. The majority of the changes were made as a result of ODP’s approach to reimburse providers for their costs incurred as a result of COVID-19.

A checklist has not yet been developed for FY 2019–2020. ODP did not want to delay getting the cost report forms to you; therefore, the checklist will be issued at a later date.

The cost report is due by September 30, 2020. As noted in Rick Smith’s email titled ‘Cost Based Rate for FY 2019–2020’ dated 6/22/20, ODP has made the decision to eliminate the waiver process for FY 2019–2020 and set funding levels equal to the costs per this cost report, as well as use the costs determined by the cost report as the starting point to set funding levels for FY 2020–2021. ODP will issue gross adjustments to reimburse extraordinary COVID-19 expenses when their review is completed. They will review cost reports in the order received, but please note that not responding to any questions in a timely fashion may significantly delay your payments.

If you have questions regarding the approach being taken this year by ODP, please contact Steve Evitts. If you have any questions or problems with the cost report template, please contact Pam Gilbert.

0 1489

The Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Special Education is now accepting applications for Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) grants for the 2020 – 2021 school year. CIE Grants help schools fund programs that offer expanded competitive employment opportunities for students with disabilities. Eligible schools include school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, approved private schools, and chartered schools for the deaf and the blind.

CIE Grants can assist schools in:

  • Implementing or supporting previously established school-based career readiness programs;
  • Partnering with local businesses;
  • Collaboration with one or more of the following: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), County/Community-Based Behavioral Health, Office of Developmental Programs, Centers for Independent Living, and other disability-specific support organizations; and
  • Developing and/or enhancing virtual employment/pre-employment experiences given the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding for each successful grant applicant will be available from the date of the award through August 15, 2021. An informational webinar regarding the grant application process will be hosted by the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) on Friday, July 31, 2020, at 10:00 am. Use this link to join the webinar at the specified time.

Grant applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm on Friday, August 28, 2020.

0 922

Families Together Inc. has curated a wonderful resource list for teaching transitional skills during COVID-19. The list includes links to a variety of transition-related resources including, life skills, self-advocacy, employment, and education. There is also a general COVID-19 resource section that includes many of the resources we have already shared on this topic. Many of these resources are compatible or easily adaptable for use with individuals of any age. There’s a lot to explore on this page, so we hope you can find the time to peruse! Please email any suggestions, questions, or requests for additional resources.

0 1105

Pennsylvania’s DRAFT Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Performance Reporting Policy is posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry website for public review and comment. Public comment is open through Friday, August 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm. Please submit comments via email.

This policy identifies the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or WIOA, primary indicators of performance, and how they apply to the programs delivered under WIOA titles I and III. This policy establishes procedures for local workforce development boards to negotiate and reach agreement with the commonwealth on LWDA levels of performance for the primary indicators of performance for Title I and Title III. This is a new Pennsylvania workforce system policy.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this correspondence, please contact the Bureau of Workforce Development Administration Policy Coordination Unit. Comments received during this period will be addressed before the policy is finalized, published, and placed into effect.

Prev1...221222223...304Next Page 222 of 304
© 2021 - Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association