THE Challenge! Cognition Issue Now Available
Melissa Dehoff
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.
OIG Report Focuses on How COVID-19 Has Strained Hospital Health Care Delivery
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released a report titled “Hospitals Reported That the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Significantly Strained Health Care Delivery.” The report focuses on the continued strain that COVID-19 has placed on hospitals and their ability to deliver care to patients and provides an overview on the many challenges they are facing clinically, administratively, and financially due to the pandemic. The report also highlights problems hospitals have raised concerning COVID-19 patients who they have been unable to discharge to post-acute care facilities due to a shortage in bed capacity or because the post-acute care facility did not want to risk the further spread of COVID-19 infection.
Funding Opportunity for TBI Model Systems National Data & Statistical Center
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) recently announced the availability of funding through a grant that was posted on March 22, 2021 by the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center. The intention of this program is to advance medical rehabilitation by increasing scientific efforts to longitudinally assess the experience of individuals living with a TBI. The deadline to apply for the funding opportunity is May 21, 2021.
BIAPA Conference: Save the Date and Call for Posters!
PA Long-Term Grant Program – Request for Applications
The Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services (DHS), Health, and Aging have announced their joint collaboration to operate Pennsylvania’s Long-Term Care (LTC) grant program for use of federally imposed civil money penalty (CMP) funds. Applications for the LTC grant program will be accepted from April 1, 2021 through May 31, 2021. Applications will not be accepted outside of these dates.
Additional information on this grant program, guidelines for applicants, the application and selection process, and how to apply for the nursing care facility Federal CMP program, are located on the Long-Term Care Grant webpage on the Department of Health (DOH) website. Applications should be submitted to [email protected].
Questions should be directed to the Office of Long-Term Living at [email protected] or call 1-800-932-0939, option 1, Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
New IRF-PAI Guidance Released by CMS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released and published the quarterly (June 2020 to March 2021) Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI) question and answer (Q&A) document. The document also includes new guidance on how to properly submit information (patient height and weight), along with coding guidance for items in Section GG, K, and M.
Xavier Becerra Confirmed as New Secretary of HHS
Today, Xavier Becerra was confirmed, with a narrow approval (50-49), as the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra, currently serving as California’s Attorney General, was also a former member of Congress. He will play a part in the Biden Administration’s plans to create a Medicare-like public health care option, health care reform, and take on a major role with HHS helping to facilitate COVD-19 vaccinations and testing efforts. Read more.
PA Council on Aging to Host Social Isolation Symposium
The Pennsylvania Council on Aging (PCoA) has announced that they will host the first-ever Social Isolation Symposium on March 23 and 24, 2021. The symposium will feature nationally-known speakers focusing on the impact of social isolation, and how to get older adults to ensure their continued health and wellbeing. In addition to older adults, individuals who work with older adults, including caregivers and health care staff, stakeholders, and the public are encouraged to participate.
The two-day virtual event offers attendees a chance to participate in more than a dozen workshop sessions or select those of particular interest. Session topics include older adult suicide prevention; how to prevent social isolation among LGBTQ older adults; engaging, supporting, and empowering family caregivers; using partnerships and collaborations to reduce social isolation; staying social in a socially distanced world; getting seniors online, and more. To view the various sessions and to participate in the symposium, use this registration link.
CMS Issues Revised Nursing Home Visitation Guidance/DHS Updates PA Guidance
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a revised nursing home guidance that provides updated guidance for visitation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination. As a result of this guidance, the Department of Human Service issued a notification to long-term care facilities, personal care homes, and assisted living residences in Pennsylvania to implement this guidance immediately.
Continuation of Appendix K Temporary Changes to CHC, OBRA Waiver & Act 150
Background: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved temporary changes to the OBRA and CHC 1915(c) waivers beginning March 6, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approval of these changes is covered under Appendix K, Emergency Preparedness and Response, which states may use during emergency situations to request amendments to their approved waivers. These changes addressed potential staffing shortages and the need for service provision not included in approved service descriptions to ensure participant health and safety needs could be accommodated for the duration of the COVID-19 statewide emergency. The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) extended the same flexibilities to the Act 150 Program. CMS approved an amendment to Appendix K which allowed some flexibilities to continue until March 5, 2021.
In January 2021, OLTL submitted another amendment to request extension of the Appendix K flexibilities until six months after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). CMS has not yet approved the amendment; however, they recently instructed OLTL to assume that any previously approved flexibilities will continue to be approved in the interim.
Until further notice, the Appendix K flexibilities can continue in the CHC waiver, the OBRA waiver, and the Act 150 program. For additional details on the flexibilities, please go to the OLTL COVID19 Provider Resources web page to view the guidance updated for the CHC waiver on January 4, 2021 and updated for the OBRA waiver and Act 150 Program on January 15, 2021.
Additional questions should be directed to the OLTL Provider Helpline at 1-800-932-0939.
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