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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 Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that the Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for September 3, 2021 from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. This public meeting will focus on the upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from OLTL and the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. The meeting details are below:

Join from the meeting link

Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 132 810 8394
Meeting password: wyB6SHMKn33

Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-408-418-9388,,1328108394## United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110,,1328108394## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

Join by phone
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
Global call-in numbers

Join from a video system or application
Dial 1328108394@pa-hhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be conducting the next hospital/quality initiative open door forum on August 31, 2021 from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. Listed below are the tentative agenda topics:

  • Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 IPPS/LTCH PPS Final Rule
  • IPPS Payment Updates
  • LTCH Payment Updates
  • Implementing Legislation Imputed Rural Floor
  • Market-Based MS-DRG Data Collection/Policy Repeal
  • Medicare Shared Savings Program Changes
  • Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Update
  • Hospital Quality Updates
  • Open Q&A (COVID-19 related questions are welcome)

This call is conference call only:

Dial: 888-455-1397 & Reference Conference Passcode: 8604468

Instant Replay: 866-347-5805, Conference ID: No Passcode Needed

Instant Replay is an audio recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 866-347-5805 beginning 1 hour after the call has ended. The recording expires after September 2, 2021, 11:59 ET.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released the agenda for the upcoming Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting. The meeting is scheduled for September 1, 2021 from 10:00 am–1:00 pm and will be held via webinar and remote streaming.

The call information, including links to the webinar and remote streaming, are provided below:

Conference line- Bridge Number: 415-655-0060 PIN: 512-693-809
Webinar link
Remote streaming link

Comments and questions should be sent here.

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The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) will be offering a free webinar on September 1, 2021 at 3:00pm. The webinar, titled “The Cutting Edge of Brain Injury Evaluation in the ED: Using Biomarkers for Objective Assessment of Suspected Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI),” will provide the latest research into blood-based biomarkers and their potential to predict the absence of intracranial injury. Jeff Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H., Paul Jarvis, M.D., and Jesse M. Pines, M.D. will also provide information on how two proteins, Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), have emerged as promising biomarkers that can be used in conjunction with other clinical information to aid in the evaluation of suspected mTBI patients in the Emergency Department (ED).

The deadline to register is August 31, 2021.

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The next Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting will take place via webinar on September 1, 2021 from 10:00 am–1:00 pm. To participate in the meeting via webinar, please register by visiting on the link below. Those participating via webinar are encouraged to register early. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Webinar Registration Link
(If you have trouble accessing the webinar registration through the Internet Explorer or Safari web browsers, please try accessing it through a different web browser, such as Chrome or Edge.)

Dial In Number
The dial-in number is: (415) 655-0060
Access Code: 512-693-809

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On August 6, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s (DOH) Holly Simpson, Infection Preventionist in the Bureau of Epidemiology, conducted a webinar titled “PAHAN 569 Update: Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Exposure to COVID-19.” This webinar provided a lot of great information, and a recording of the webinar is now available to view.

Included in the presentation was a review of the information contained in PA HAN 569. This review included topics such as defining a “high-risk” exposure for healthcare personnel (HCP), how and when work exclusion for HCP should occur, testing strategy for HCP, and criteria for reducing work exclusion for HCP to mitigate staffing shortages.

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The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) issued the following time-sensitive information that includes links to very important surveys regarding COVID-19 vaccine access and vaccination rates. Please take a few minutes to complete these. Additional instructions are included in this handout.

COVID-19 cases are increasing around the country and in Pennsylvania due to the Delta Variant. In order to continue to support our long-term and congregate care facilities and keep residents and staff safe, the Departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) need to understand current vaccination rates for people receiving care and staff in licensed residential setting as well as providers’ abilities to access vaccines for staff and residents.

Please complete both surveys linked below by Friday, August 20:

  • DOH Vaccine Access Status
    • If you have any questions about the survey or how to access COVID-19 vaccines, please email DOH with the subject of the email “Long-Term Care Facility Survey Questions.”
  • DHS Vaccination Rate Survey (instructions here):
  • Both surveys are brief and will provide the most up-to-date information of how your facilities access vaccines as well as current vaccination rates at your facilities.

Your response to these surveys will help us ensure that your staff and residents can get a COVID-19 vaccine if they have not yet received one or, if necessary, receive a booster if they are recommended. We know that unvaccinated individuals are most at-risk of infection and complications related to the Delta Variant. DOH, DHS, and our partners strongly urge that all people who are eligible protect themselves and all around them by getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Please continue to encourage your staff and residents who are not yet vaccinated to protect themselves and get their shot.

Thank you for your support in our fight against COVID-19.

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Today, Governor Wolf announced that Commonwealth employees in state health care facilities and high-risk congregate facilities will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 7, 2021. Individuals who are not vaccinated will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Additionally, beginning September 7, 2021, all new external hires in these facilities must be vaccinated before commencing employment.

In addition to the ​”vaccine or test​” requirement, Governor Wolf announced a vaccine incentive for state employees under the governor’s jurisdiction. Starting October 1, 2021, ​all vaccinated state employees under the governor’s jurisdiction are eligible for an additional 7.5 or 8 hours paid time off. The Office of Administration will work with employees and agencies to develop a mechanism for employees to confirm proof of vaccination.

Currently, more than 63​% of Pennsylvanians 18 and older are fully vaccinated, with the state ranking fifth among all 50 states for total doses administered. Members are encouraged to review the vaccine outreach letter to help in promoting vaccinations to those in your facilities. Additional free resources are available on the PA Unites Against COVID website.

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