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Registration is now officially open for the 2024 RCPA Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success! By registering, you will gain access to over sixty workshops, live updates from both state and national partners, and the ability to interact with exhibitors and sponsors in our Connections Hall! You’ll also gain access to the mobile app, which will contain CE information, a detailed agenda, and more!
View our registration brochure for complete details on the conference schedule, current sponsors and exhibitors, and a word from RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley. You can also register directly here.

If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference, you can complete our Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers Brochure or contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator. Spaces are filling up, so don’t delay!

We look forward to sharing more details in the near future and would like to extend a thank you to those organizations who have already pledged support for the conference! View our current sponsors and exhibitors on the RCPA Conference website!

Happy July! Share these important workshops and Good Life Groups with your network! Register for upcoming events on the PA Family Network website.

Support Groups

LifeCourse Workshops

Waiver Workshops

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!

Understanding Trauma: From Theory to Practice

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal addresses the approach to trauma and its role in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental illness from a variety of perspectives. Just as trauma arises from a variety of sources and experiences, addressing it in a meaningful, accessible way requires that each voice is heard, valued, and respected.

There are foundational principles that are vital in determining the best path forward in a trauma-informed manner, and we can and should learn from and leverage these principles and best practices. The goal of this issue of the Positive Approaches Journal is to present diverse, expert voices in understanding trauma from theory to practice.

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP’s website.

To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.

Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP by selecting the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP electronically.

After reviewing hundreds of comments from stakeholders, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has made some initial adjustments to the proposed Performance-Based Contracting waiver for Residential Services. Areas with high volumes of comments included:

  • Select/Clinically Enhanced Tiers being reserved for agencies serving 10 or more individuals;
  • Competitive Integrated Employment standards;
  • Populations served with average Needs Level 4.5+ and average Health Care Level 3.5+ (HCL is established using the Health Risk Screening Tool);
  • Primary providers being limited to Needs Group 1-3;
  • The number of measures; and
  • The timeline for implementation.

ODP is now offering Residential providers a choice of when they are assigned into a tier. This will be based on which data they chose for ODP to review and make a tier determination upon. The choices will be:

  • Calendar year 2023 data reviewed with notification of tier assignment occurring in November, to be effective January 1, 2025 – June 2026; or
  • Review of Calendar year 2024 data with notification of tier assignment occurring in May, to be effective July 2025 – July 2026.

ODP plans to continue their review of public comments and intends to publish additional information. On July 19, ODP hopes to submit amended the 1915(c) waivers and 1915(b)4 waiver as well as publish the following supporting documents:

  • Performance Standards;
  • Implementation Plan;
  • Attestation; and
  • Provider Data Submission Tool.

On January 1, 2025, ODP intends to begin Performance-Based Contracting (pending CMS approval).

ODP will conduct a webinar for residential providers on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, to review publications, changes made as a result of public comment, and instructions for tier determination and data submission. Register here. This webinar will be posted on the PBC Resource Page located on the MyODP website.

ODP Announcement 24-064 is to inform trainers and learners of an upcoming system upgrade for the Medication Administration system. The system will be undergoing an upgrade starting Thursday, July 25, 2024, and ending Friday, August 2, 2024. During this time, it will be completely unavailable to learners and trainers. Please finish any self-paced learning by Monday, July 22, 2024, including online lessons, quizzes, activities, post multiple choice, and post written documentation exams.

If you have questions about this upgrade or if you need assistance during this transition, you may contact the Medication Administration Help Desk website to log a ticket. The help desk will be available to address any concerns during this transition.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that they will be hosting a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider call on July 18, 2024, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm that will include a presentation from Mercer providing an overview of the HCBS rate and wage study.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) contracts with Mercer Government Human Services consulting for actuarial services, Medicaid policy and fiscal analysis, financial monitoring, and other technical support.

Mercer will evaluate the following services categories in this rate study:

  • Adult Daily Living;
  • Residential Habilitation;
  • Personal Assistance (Agency and Participant-Directed);
  • Structured Day Habilitation; and
  • Employment and Training Services.

Because this is an HCBS Provider Call, registration for the call will be limited to providers who are enrolled with DHS to provide any of these particular services to individuals. Participant-Directed Common-Law Employers are also encouraged to attend. If you are not a provider of these services or are unable to attend the July 18 HCBS Provider Call, you are welcome to attend the July 2 Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting to hear from Mercer about the HCBS Rate and Wage Study and ask questions.

Everyone is welcome to submit questions about the HCBS Rate and Wage Study electronically to OLTL in advance of the July 18 call. Questions submitted will be read during the call as time allows. Questions and Answers will be compiled into a Q&A document that will be available after the call.

A registration link for the July 18, 2024, HCBS Provider Call will be issued shortly. If you have any questions about the call itself, please contact Kristi Mundis.