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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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ODP Announcement 23-024 states that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Columbus Organization are pleased to announce the release of a new Incident Management (IM) training series on the MyODP website. The course, “Leadership’s Role in Reporting, Investigating, and Responding to Incidents,” focuses on the responsibility of leaders for the overall implementation of a high-quality Incident Management system that effectively protects the health and safety of individuals and aligns with the requirements set forth in Incident Management Bulletin 00-21-02.

You can access the course, which contains the webcast series, here.

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Resources for Integrated Care (RIC) recently released a brief on telehealth and its impact on dually eligible people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). As noted by RIC, people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as people with I/DD, are diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions at higher rates than the general population and often face barriers with access to healthcare.

Telehealth services have been increasing in popularity and usage and have the potential to positively impact people with I/DD. Health plans can utilize this information to further their understanding of how telehealth modalities can improve access to person-centered care for people with I/DD.

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RCPA has partnered with other organizations representing intellectual disability and/or autism (ID/A) providers to send a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro asking him to invest an additional $430 million for IDD services in the 2023/24 state budget proposal. Governor Shapiro needs to hear from providers, families, individuals, and advocates for the IDD system that we are in critical need of this additional funding. This investment would enable providers to improve the wages for the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide care to individuals with ID/A. Improving wages will help to ensure services are available to the individuals and families who rely on these services.

Currently, thousands of Pennsylvanians with ID/A are not receiving the supports they are entitled to through Medicaid, and those individuals who are currently receiving services are in danger of losing them. The current rate system does not support the ever rising costs of providing services and paying the DSPs a wage that is reflective of their duties. Our workforce is not sufficient to meet the needs of everyone who requires care.

The additional investment into the Home and Community-Based Services rates will enable providers to give their DSPs a raise and a better starting wage to compete with other employers.

Please reach out to our Governor and ask for his support today! You can reach Governor Shapiro via this online form.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is reaching out to organizations to highlight the ID Connect consultation resource. Community organizations have expended significant effort to develop COVID-19 policies to support the safety of individuals during the pandemic. This effort has created an important base of knowledge, which can serve as the foundation for broader infection control policies and practices.

ID Connect consultations can help with difficult policy development and implementation related to infectious diseases. Some examples:

  • ID Connect can consult to develop policy in support of an individual’s informed choice to assume more or less risk than their peers, while striving to meet the potentially conflicting needs of other residents and staff.
  • ID Connect can support the COVID-19 policies implemented and transform them into broader infectious disease policies to prevent duplicative effort.
  • ID Connect can provide subject matter expertise on infectious diseases, not limited to just COVID-19, when developing and implementing policies that address future concerns.

ID Connect can be contacted through regional Healthcare Quality Units (HCQU) to set up a consultation. For more information, please contact your regional HCQU.

HCQU Website Counties Served
KEPRO Southwest HCQU Westmoreland, Allegheny, Bedford/Somerset, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Washington
Milestone West HCQU Butler, Armstrong/Indiana, Beaver, Clarion, Venango, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence
Central PA HCQU Northumberland, Blair, Centre, Columbia/Montour/Snyder/Union, Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata, Lycoming/Clinton, Schuylkill
Eastern PA HCQU Carbon/Monroe/Pike, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton
Northeast PA HCQU Lackawanna/Susquehanna, Bradford/Sullivan, Luzerne/Wyoming, Tioga, Wayne
Philadelphia Coordinated Health (PCHC) Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery
South Central PA HCQU Cumberland/Perry, Adams/York, Dauphin, Franklin/Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon
Milestone Northwest HCQU Clearfield/Jefferson, Forest/Warren, Cameron/Elk, McKean, Erie, Potter

 

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ODP Announcement 23-023 provides a high-level summary of how the notice that the Federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023 will impact services rendered through the Consolidated, Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS), Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers (AAW).

Two documents that provide a brief description of flexibilities available during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including the date that the flexibilities end, are included as Attachment A (related to the Consolidated, P/FDS, and Community Living Waivers) and Attachment B (related to the AAW). Additional guidance regarding how to return to regular operations (requirements in the current waivers and policies) once each flexibility ends will be published in the future. Questions about this communication should be directed to the appropriate ODP Regional Office.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2023 — 1:00 pm ET
Register for Free

General Overview
A webinar offered by the National Association of State Treasurers’ ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN) with guest speakers from the Social Security Administration.

You are invited to attend this special webinar to hear from ABLE state program administrators and Social Security Administration (SSA) experts. During this inaugural webinar of the ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN), participants will be equipped with the following:

  • General knowledge about the benefits of owning an ABLE Account;
  • Knowledge of the relationship between ABLE Accounts and Social Security Disability Benefits;
  • Understanding of ABLE-related information that must be provided to SSA; and
  • Resources on SSA benefits and ABLE Accounts.

Who will benefit from this webinar?
People with disabilities, their family members and legal representatives, SSA field office staff and leadership, disability advocacy and service provider organizations, and state ABLE program administrators.

The National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) hosts the only national working alliance for all ABLE Programs, called the ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN). ASPN is a working alliance of state ABLE program administrators and industry stakeholders substantively coordinating on industry issues, advocacy, and outreach. Additionally, the National Association of State Treasurers Foundation launched ABLE today, which supports national outreach for ABLE Programs, directly engages the disability community, and provides resources on ABLE Accounts.

Together, ASPN and ABLE today work to empower individuals with disabilities towards more independent and secure futures by offering tools and resources on the benefits of ABLE Accounts. ABLE Accounts can be used for disability-related expenses without losing access to federal means-tested benefits.

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ODP Announcement 23-022 is to inform all interested parties that the recording of the General Stakeholder Waiver Renewal webinar is available on MyODP. Major changes approved in the Consolidated, P/FDS, and Community Living waiver renewals are discussed within the recording. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the waivers effective January 1, 2023. The webinar recording and accompanying PowerPoint are now available here.

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ODP Announcement 23-021 reports that the 2022 Information Sharing & Advisory Committee (ISAC) Annual Report is now available. ISAC, working with the PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), developed a series of recommendations and strategies to support achievement of the vision in Everyday Lives. This publication provides 2022 updates related to those recommendations and strategies. Stakeholders are encouraged to use the information contained in this report in their work supporting people with disabilities.

Access the 2022 ISAC Annual Report here. Access the ISAC Recommendations and Strategies supplemental document from inside the ISAC Annual Report here. Both documents can also be found by visiting MyODP and following this path:

Everyday Lives > Everyday Lives Publications > Recommendations, Strategies, and Performance Measures.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is pleased to announce the release of the 2020–2022 Employment First report. ODP created this report to share data with individuals, families, advocates, providers, government officials, and taxpayers. ODP is committed to supporting individuals with an intellectual disability or autism to achieve their goals towards competitive integrated employment.

The 2020–2022 ODP Employment First Report, along with a fully accessible version of the report, is available at MyODP Employment Page.

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