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Authors Posts by Melissa Dehoff

Melissa Dehoff

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Melissa Dehoff is responsible for all medical rehabilitation and brain injury service issues. Ms. Dehoff attends multiple state-level meetings to advocate on behalf of members on brain injury and rehabilitation issues and is a member of the Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an MLN Matters publication reiterating how beginning January 1, 2022, payments will be reduced for physical therapy and occupational therapy services when they are provided in whole or in part by a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or an occupational therapy assistant (OTA). Members are encouraged to review the article to learn more, including information on the changes to payments due to the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018. The article also provides additional information on the payment reduction and the modifiers that will be required on the claims.

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Due to a scheduling conflict with a national conference, the decision has been made to reschedule RCPA’s Physical Disabilities & Aging (PD&A) Division webcast, which was originally scheduled for December 9, 2021. The new date for this meeting is Monday, January 10, 2022, from 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. The meeting will be held via webcast. If you have any suggested agenda topics, please send them to Melissa Dehoff.

PLEASE NOTE: If you previously registered for the December meeting, you WILL need to re-register for the January meeting. Please register here.

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A Financial Management Services (FMS) Stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for December 3, 2021 from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. The purpose of this public meeting will be to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under Community HealthChoices (CHC), the OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living and CHC Managed Care Organizations will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. The meeting agenda is outlined here. Meeting details are below:

Meeting Link

Meeting Number:
Meeting Number (Access Code): 2634 089 4999
Meeting Password: Stakeholder

From a Mobile Device (attendees only):
+1-408-418-9388,,26340894999## United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110,,26340894999## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

By Phone:
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

By Video System or Application:
Dial 26340894999@pa-hhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) shared information about a new program administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) as a resource for those who may benefit. This initiative, called the Student Loan Relief for Nurses (SLRN) Program, will benefit nurses who have worked and continue to work to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals eligible to participate in the SLRN Program are residents of the commonwealth and licensed by the PA Department of State to work as an eligible nurse at a qualified nursing facility within the commonwealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. More information about the SLRN Program is available on the PHEAA website.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the agenda for the December 2, 2021 Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting. The meeting will be conducted via webinar and remote streaming from 10:00 am–1:00 pm. The links and call-in number to participate in the call are provided in the agenda.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued their revised and final guidance on hospital co-location with other hospitals or health care facilities. The guidance provides clarification on how CMS and state surveyors will evaluate space and ‎service sharing arrangements for compliance with the Medicare conditions of participation (CoP). The guidance appears to loosen some restrictions relative to some past interpretations by ‎surveyors.

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The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) published a notice in the November 6, 2021 Pennsylvania Bulletin that announces a change in the fee schedule rates in the OBRA waiver and the Act 150 Program for Personal Assistance Services (PAS) procedure codes W1793, W1793 TT, W1792, and W1792 TU. Comments on these changes to the fee schedule rates will be accepted and should be sent to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025.

Comments can also be sent virtually. The public comment period ends on December 6, 2021. Comments received within the 30-day comment period will be considered in subsequent revisions to the fee schedule.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be conducting the hospital/quality initiative open door forum on November 17, 2021 from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. Agenda topics include the following:

  • Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule;
    • OPPS Payment;
    • Pass-Through Drugs and Devices;
    • ASC Payment;
    • Hospital Price Transparency;
    • Radiation Oncology (RO) Model;
  • Open Q&A.

*COVID-19 related questions are welcome*

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CMS Announces November 10 COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Call
Releases Links & Slides From Previous Call

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that another COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination National Stakeholder call (associated with the release of the November 4 emergency regulation) will be conducted on November 10, 2021 from 3:30 pm–4:30 pm. To participate in this call, registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email that contains information about joining the webinar. Members are encouraged to log in prior to the call beginning, as the call can only accommodate 10,000 participants.

The slides and video from the November 4, 2021 National Stakeholder call are available if you were unable to get into that call. CMS also released its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced an updated web-based training series on the assessment and coding of Section GG. This training is intended for providers in the following post-acute care (PAC) settings: inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), home health agencies (HHAs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs). The course contains four lessons, including an overview of Section GG, assessment and coding of Section GG, coding of self-care items, and coding of mobility items. Each course includes interactive exercises for providers to test their knowledge related to the assessment and coding of Section GG items.

Technical questions or feedback regarding the training should be emailed to the PAC Training Mailbox. Content-related questions should be submitted to the IRF QRP Help Desk.

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