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Governor Shapiro is directing all state agencies, boards, and commissions to compile a catalog of the licenses, certificates, and permits they issue – including the statutory authority governing the length of time they must process applications and the application fee charged by each agency. Commonwealth agencies will have 90 days to send this information to the Governor’s Office, which will then review, analyze, and establish efficient application processing times for all occupational permits or licenses based on agency recommendations. Once those recommendations are put in place, if an agency does not respond to an applicant before the date-certain, the agency will be required to refund the application fee.

Under this Executive Order, the Governor’s Office will also conduct a review of the existing digital services that Pennsylvanians use to apply for licenses, certificates, and permits and work to modernize those application platforms and services to better serve Pennsylvanians.

Unpredictability and long wait times for Commonwealth-issued licenses, certificates, and permits can create unnecessary barriers for Pennsylvania workers and businesses. For example, an NPR analysis from 2021 found that Pennsylvania had some of the longest wait times in the country for issuing nursing licenses. More than half of the nursing applicants who applied in Pennsylvania that year waited at least three months to hear back.

In addition to nursing licenses, the Commonwealth issues hundreds of licenses, certificates, and permits, from barber and salon licenses to teacher certifications to business permits. Under the direction of the Governor, the Administration will work expeditiously to ensure Pennsylvanians get responses in a timely manner — and the Shapiro Administration will have real skin in the game. Governor Shapiro is making clear his Administration will be customer-service oriented and that state government will work harder to get them a response, so that they can pursue their dreams.

Read Executive Order 2023-07, Building Efficiency in the Commonwealth’s Permitting and Licensing Processes, here.

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ODP Announcement 22-108 serves as an update to “Required Provider Qualification (PQ) Training on Common Health Conditions That May Be Associated with Preventable Deaths.” ODP added a new provider qualification to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers for residential services. All provider staff who will spend any time alone with a participant during the provision of residential services must complete a “Department approved training on the common health conditions that may be associated with preventable deaths in people with an intellectual or developmental disability.” This applies to provider staff that are direct employees of an agency, contracted employees of an agency, or volunteers.

A list of Department approved trainings to meet this requirement is available at MyODP. This page lists each organization with currently approved training(s). The approved training(s) that must be completed for the organization are listed next to the “details” bullet underneath the organization. To meet the qualification requirement, staff are required to complete approved training(s) through one organization listed.

ODP will now allow Fatal Five trainings developed by residential provider agencies to be used if the training has been reviewed and approved by their regional Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU). To ensure content is clear, comprehensive, and adequately covers each condition, the HCQU Registered Nurse (RN) for that specific provider agency will review the training according to the guidelines provided by ODP.

Questions relating to this announcement may be directed to the ODP Provider Qualification Unit for Consolidated and Community Living Waiver providers. Adult Autism Waiver providers should send questions here.

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The PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has developed a draft of the Driving & Vehicle Services policy. The draft will be posted on OVR’s website for public review beginning January 30, 2023. Virtual meetings will also be held via Zoom at 10 am and 3 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2023, to provide an overview of the policy and take questions and comments (content will be the same in both meetings).

The public is invited to comment on the draft policy for 30 days. Comments may be directed via email through February 28, 2023.

Meeting information:

  • Register in Advance for One of the February 16, 2023 Meetings:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. CART and sign language interpreters will be available for this meeting via the Zoom link. Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please send your request electronically.

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Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash

The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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The Finance & Reimbursement Committee would like to remind members that recipients of Federal Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 payments must report on the use of those funds by March 31, 2023.

Per the HRSA website, PRF Phase 4 is under the following timeframes:

  • Payments Received Period: 7/1/2021 – 12/31/2021
  • Period of Availability: 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2022
  • Reporting Time Period: 1/1/2023 – 3/31/2023

For further information, please visit the HRSA website.

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Image by Shotkitimages from Pixabay

LRA Consultants is offering two online classes. Registration and additional information for all classes may be found on their website. The classes are:

  • Mortality Review and Death Investigations: LRA Consultants is offering a 2-day training opportunity for State Oversight, Licensing and/or Survey Agencies, Protection and Advocacy Organizations, Provider Organizations, and Mortality Review Committee Members.
  • Conducting Serious Incident Investigations: This three-day program is designed to teach participants the fundamental principles of investigation.

In addition to open registration classes, LRA Consultants can schedule online or in-person classes for your organization, usually at a per person cost savings. For more information about their courses, including self-paced options, contact Laura Nuss at 202-355-0799 or visit their website.

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The agenda for the February 1, 2023, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee has been released. The meeting will be held in person at the PA Department of Education Honors Suite, 1st Floor, 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. There is also the option to participate via webcast. The link to register to participate via webcast, as well as the remote streaming link, is available on the agenda.

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