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Authors Posts by Fady Sahhar

Fady Sahhar

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Fady is responsible for policy and regulatory matters related to Physical Disabilities and Aging, with primary focus on personal assistance, employment services, and service coordination. Emphasis is placed on engaging the Office of Long-Term Living and the Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations, coordination of care with Behavioral HealthChoices MCOs, and collaborations with other advocacy and provider associations. Fady is also the President / CEO of ProVantaCare, an RCPA-affiliated company focused on contracting with MCOs, and is the President of XtraGlobex, a consulting firm focused on Value-Based Payment contracting. He brings extensive experience in the advocacy and operations of human services providers in physical disabilities and aging, from his role at Liberty Resources, Inc., and his service with a number of nonprofit services providers. He earned an MBA in Marketing from The University of Tennessee and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Capella University.

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The purpose of this message is to advise that the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has announced the reopening of their Order of Selection effective 07-01-21.

The Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) Employment Bulletin details the process for accessing employment services when OVR is operating under an open order of selection. Referrals to OVR must be made before Medical Assistance waiver-funded employment-related services can be authorized unless the participant has already been deemed ineligible by OVR and/or has a closed OVR case. Also, if OVR has not made an eligibility determination within 120 days of a referral, then OVR services are considered to not be available to the participant, and OLTL employment services may be provided under an OLTL Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program.

If you have any questions, please contact Edward Butler in the OLTL Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management at 717-214-3718 or by email.

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Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

The purpose of this message is notify stakeholders of updates related to the transition of Financial Management Services (FMS) in the Community HealthChoices (CHC) program. During the FMS Stakeholder meeting held May 13, 2021, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) informed stakeholders that FMS was being transitioned from an OLTL-contracted vendor to an administrative function of the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).

At the most recent FMS Stakeholder meeting held June 28, 2021, the CHC-MCOs announced that Tempus Unlimited, Inc. will be the new statewide Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent (VF/EA), with HHA eXchange as the software solution, supporting FMS in the CHC program. The VF/EA will perform fiscal-related functions for the successful operation of participant direction under the CHC program. OLTL will continue to engage stakeholders as we move forward with the transition.

Please contact via email with any questions.

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Please find the agenda for the CHC Partnership Meeting that is scheduled for June 23, 2021, from 10:00 am–12:00 pm.

During the meeting we will:

  • Provide training on Hoarding
  • Discussing collaboration between providers and the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)
  • Provide information on Behavioral Health services available through the Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations to individuals in Nursing Facilities

We are excited to see you at the CHC Partnership Meeting.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Fady Sahhar, COO
M: 856-397-5040

HARRISBURG, May 25, 2021 — ProVantaCare is leading the way in managed care with its proven, innovative model for coordinating services in the fields of behavioral health, drug and alcohol addiction, long-term care services, physical disabilities, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Some of the state’s largest social service and human service providers are part of the provider-owned network, which began as the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Services Organization (RCPSO) in 2014. After a seven-year track record of success, RCPSO has completed its months-long transition into the newly named ProVantaCare.

With more than 80 owners, ProVantaCare specializes in partnering with managed care organizations to expand access by assembling quality care networks that perform to the highest standards in these social service and human service fields.

ProVantaCare’s innovative models drive enhancements through improvements with data management, streamlined contracting, and streamlined operations. Because of its expansive network and years of expertise, customers and clients can be confident about continuously improved outcomes, an area of intense focus among state and federal regulators.

“I’m excited about the new name and new direction,” said Susan Blue, President of Community Services Group and Board Chair of ProVantaCare. “We have an established track record of relationships with regulators, payers, and other stakeholders, and now we have a new identity that better defines what we do — and one that our customers and clients can relate to.”

RCPSO was started by members of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association, one of the largest and most diverse state health and human services trade associations in the nation, with more than 350 members serving well over 1 million Pennsylvanians annually. ProVantaCare is a fully separate, stand-alone organization with its own bylaws and board of directors.

About ProVantaCare:
Coordinating managed care services for patients and providers in the fields of behavioral health, drug and alcohol addiction, long-term care services, physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information, please visit ProVantaCare’s website.

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The purpose of this listserv message is to remind Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) Community HealthChoices (CHC) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver participants and HCBS direct care providers of the requirement to complete an annual reassessment. Because flexibilities were implemented due to the public health emergency, we wanted to clarify and remind providers and participants of the importance of completing the annual reassessment. The CHC waiver requires the CHC-MCOs to re-evaluate a participant’s level of care at least annually to determine if the participant continues to meet the level of care criteria to remain eligible for waiver services. Individuals who are assessed to be Nursing Facility Clinically Eligible (NFCE) at the time of their Medical Assistance (MA) application must be reassessed at least annually (within 365 days) thereafter. The needs assessment allows the CHC-MCO to understand what type of HCBS best fits a participant’s needs, resources, preferences, and goals.

On March 25, 2021, the OLTL issued updated guidance with information for the CHC-MCOs on how to move forward with annual reassessments. That guidance included a timeframe for the CHC-MCOs to complete participant’s annual reassessments. Annual reassessments, including the needs assessment, that were delayed beyond the 365th-day were to be completed no later than December 31, 2020, which is 6 months after the issuance of the June 26, 2020 transition plan.

The CHC-MCOs have been reaching out to participants to schedule their annual reassessments and have encountered challenges connecting with participants or have participants who refused the annual reassessment. OLTL is encouraging HCBS direct care providers who have regular contact with participants to educate and remind them of the importance of participating and completing the annual reassessment in order to continue receiving HCBS.

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Earlier this month, the Department of Human Services launched the We Can Work! campaign — an effort to educate the public about employment support and opportunities for people with disabilities and how DHS’ programs can help facilitate job connections and training programs.

The campaign also focuses on sharing the stories of people who use DHS services and have enriching employment while still maintaining supports through Medicaid. The campaign features Yasom and Josie, who both receive services and supports through DHS programs. Ads are running on social media and other digital platforms through early summer.

The We Can Work! website includes the following:

  • how people with disabilities can see if they qualify for Medicaid
  • employment supports for people covered by Medicaid
  • additional resources for people seeking employment
  • Josie’s and Yasom’s stories

If you have feedback or suggestions for the website, we welcome it so we can develop this resource further over time. If you have an employment story you’d like to share or other feedback, please email the DHS’ office directly.

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