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2020 and 2021 have been stressful and traumatic for some communities, yet transformative and motivating for others. This year at the PA Community Alliance Summit, we will discuss and explore the theme of “Recover, Rebuild, and Reform,” covering topics such as:

  • What does it look like in your community to recover?
  • How can we rebuild communities to move forward?
  • What reform is needed to improve the community system?

This summit is a day of networking, discovering alliances, and collaboration building among diverse organizations throughout Pennsylvania led by and/or supporting populations who experience marginalization and oppression.

Click Here For More Details & To Register!

American Sign Language (ASL) and captioning will be included in this summit.

This event is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council; in part by grant number 2001PASCDD-02, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is still in discussions with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the ID/A waiver amendments. As a result, the webinar originally scheduled for July 26, 2021 from 10:00 am–11:30 am will be postponed. ODP will be releasing a communication in the next week providing information regarding the delay in the waiver amendments and when the rescheduled event will occur.  You will need to reregister for this event.

For questions please email ODP Outreach.

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RCPA has been notified that a proposal was recently delivered to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and the designated standing committees of the PA House and Senate for review.

Specifically, the Department of Human Services (DHS), under the authority of section 403.1(a)(6) of the Human Services Code (code) (62 P.S. § 403.1(a)(6)), proposes to amend §1101.51 (relating to ongoing responsibilities of providers). The proposed rulemaking will amend §1101.51 by rescinding subsection (c)(3), which prohibits providers from leasing or renting space, shelves, or equipment within a provider’s office to another provider or from allowing the paid or unpaid staff of a provider to be placed in another provider’s office (i.e. co-location).

The proposal can be viewed on IRRC’s website. The proposal was also published in the June 26, 2021 edition of the PA Bulletin.

The rulemaking has a 30-day public comment period that closes on July 26, 2021. If IRRC has any comments on the proposal, they must be submitted to DHS by August 25, 2021. Below are instructions for submitting comments to DHS.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions, or objections regarding this proposed rulemaking to the Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, c/o Regulations Coordinator, Room 515, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, within 30 calendar days after the date of publication of this proposed rulemaking in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Reference Regulation No. 14-549 when submitting comments.

Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments by using the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users). Please note that any comments submitted to the Department will be shared with IRRC and the committees and will be posted to IRRC’s website.

If you have any questions, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

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The Clinical Advisory Team at IntellectAbility has created a bulletin to help supporters recognize early signs of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in people. As we know, the incidence of these conditions is higher due to recent events, and they often present differently in people with disabilities. You can freely download and share this document with staff and families as well as use it for in-service training purposes. Here’s the download link: Depression, Anxiety and Loneliness in People with IDD – IntellectAbility.

With much appreciation for the work you do,
Craig Escude, MD
——————————
Craig Escude, MD, FAAFP, FAADM
President
IntellectAbility
——————————

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Message From Relias: 

Relias, in partnership with ANCOR, is excited to share the second edition of our DSP Survey Report with you. The 2021 DSP Survey Report dives deeper into themes uncovered in the 2019 survey, while also taking into consideration the impacts COVID-19 had on DSPs and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) services.

The 2021 DSP Survey Report highlights feedback from 679 direct support professionals (DSPs) across 43 states on job satisfaction, supervision, career advancement opportunities, and appreciation and recognition. Using this data, organizational leaders in IDD services can inform policies for better working conditions that will increase DSP satisfaction and, ultimately, positively affect the individuals whom DSPs serve.

In the report you’ll learn:

  • Overall trends and insights on DSP job satisfaction.
  • The difficulties DSPs faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The impact appreciation and recognition have on overall DSP job satisfaction, in addition to the ways DSPs want to be recognized.
  • The benefits of creating career advancement programs and how they can help retain DSPs.

Download Your Copy

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Friendly nurse cares for an elderly woman in a nursing home.

During one week in September, the human services field sets aside time to acknowledge the important work of direct support professionals. National Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week is often celebrated through employee luncheons, award events, raffles, and more. While these efforts are very admirable and certainly make DSPs feel appreciated, the systemic issues affecting this essential workforce also demand longer-lasting initiatives that make a more deep-rooted impact on DSPs — beyond just the one week.

To help facilitate this need, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership are partnering once again to share programs that have far-reaching effects on DSPs and aim to confront the most critical concerns, such as turnover, retention, wages, benefits, and professional development.


Similar to our 2020 National DSP Recognition Week Campaign, NADSP and CQL are seeking out detailed examples of organizational initiatives that provide solutions to these types of topics:​

  • Improving recruitment
  • Reducing turnover
  • Increasing wages
  • Implementing professional development
  • Promoting career advancement
  • Soliciting DSP feedback
  • Including DSPs in organizational leadership
  • Responding to DSP needs

During 2021 National DSP Recognition Week, which takes place from September 12–18, 2021, NADSP and CQL will share these programs on our websites and social media. Our hope is to help other organizations replicate your best practices and elevate the status of DSPs around the country.

Submit Your DSP Program

After clicking the ‘Take Survey’ link below, you will be directed to a survey for submitting your organization-wide program that positively impacts DSPs. You can submit multiple entries, but please only submit one program per survey. Before submitting your program, please be sure that you can answer “Yes” to the following questions:

  • Is this a specific program or initiative? (vs. a mission/vision statement)
  • Does your initiative/program have a long-lasting impact?
  • Has there been a positive effect on the lives/work of DSPs?
  • Are you able to provide DSP testimonials/quotes about that impact?
  • Could other organizations replicate your efforts?

Take The Survey Here

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released an updated COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payment (CAAP) Repayment & Recovery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. Members are encouraged to review this document to learn more about how recoupment works and how it affects Medicare claims payment amounts.

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Photo by Leon on Unsplash

During yesterday’s Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee (MLTSS) meeting, a presentation was provided by Dr. Howard Degenholz from the Medicaid Research Center at the Health Policy Institute of University of Pittsburgh, which focused on the outcome/feedback of a Community HealthChoices (CHC) Evaluation and the participant experience. This group evaluated the participant experience and their satisfaction with CHC. A variety of participants utilizing CHC were selected; however, specific diagnoses were not included in the selection process.

This group is now planning follow-up CHC 2021 Innovation focus group meetings with providers that will focus on three specific areas: Housing Issues, Employment Issues, and Transportation Issues. Providers/members are encouraged to sign up for these meetings that are scheduled for the end of July/beginning of August.

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A message from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP):

On February 3, 2021, the Department announced temporarily enhanced rates for Community Participation Supports and Transportation Trip services applied for services rendered January 1 through June 30, 2021. The end dates for the temporary rates were programmed in the Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) as per the timeframe published in the PA Bulletin; therefore, rates effective July 1, 2021 reverted to the previously published rates for these services.

In May 2021, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published SMD# 21-003 RE: Implementation of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Section 9817: Additional Support for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) during the COVID-19 Emergency. The requirements outlined in this SMD include the use of the federal funds attributable to the increased federal medical assistance percentage rate for certain Medicaid expenditures for HCBS to supplement existing state funds expended for Medicaid HCBS in effect as of April 1, 2021. The Department is meeting with CMS to discuss the impact this guidance has, if any, on the temporary enhanced rates.

Information will be shared with providers as soon as possible.

Thank you.

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