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ODPANN 21-006 – COVID-19 – Guidance for Individual Support Plans that are Effective through June 30, 2021 communicates guidance for services included in individual support plans (ISPs) that are effective through June 30, 2021. It also includes guidance for individuals enrolled in the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) or Adult Autism Waiver programs.

On December 22, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter directed to state health officials informing states that they may complete a new Appendix K if they want to continue waiver flexibilities. Waiver flexibilities may be continued for no longer than six months after the end of the public health emergency. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will be submitting a new Appendix K to enable the flexibilities specified in the Operational Guide to remain in effect through at least June 30, 2021.

  • For current ISPs that contain an end date of March for any flexibility that continues to be allowable and is needed by the participant, revisions should be completed to extend the end date as needed, but it may go no later than June 30, 2021. For new ISPs or ISPs where participants need to utilize the flexibilities for the first time, the flexibilities specified in the Operational Guide may be included in the ISP with an end date of no later than June 30, 2021.
  • For current ISPs that contain services that the ISP team agrees will not be utilized between now and June 30, 2021, these services should be removed or end dated in the ISP. Pursuant to CMS guidance, participants must not be disenrolled from the Consolidated, Community Living, or P/FDS Waiver if this causes the participant to have an ISP with no services authorized except supports coordination through June 30, 2021.
  • The total number of day units of residential habilitation for participants enrolled in the Consolidated Waiver should not exceed 400 in the ISP for the year. Allowing the ISP to contain more than 365 day units per year minimizes critical revisions related to calculations of residential habilitation “with day” and “without day” caused by unanticipated circumstances.
  • For the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers, ODP encourages ISP teams to delay completion of ISPs for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 until guidance is published regarding the development of ISPs that will cover this time frame. For the Adult Autism Waiver, annual review plans (ARP) should continue to be completed in the established time frames.

Questions or comments can be directed to the appropriate ODP regional office.

ODP Announcement 21-007 provides written notification of the requirement to submit qualification documentation for providers who have a Master Provider Index (MPI) number ending in zero, one, or two. Providers within this group are due to become requalified in 2021 and must submit documentation no later than 61 days prior to the expiration of provider qualification.

Specifically, supporting documentation must be submitted starting on February 1, 2021 but no later than March 31, 2021. Documentation must include a completed DP 1059 form and/or DP 1088 form, an updated Provider Qualification Documentation Record, and any required supporting documentation. Please note that the updated Provider Qualification Documentation Record now has new tabs that pertain specifically to Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) providers.

Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2021

Harrisburg, PA – As part of the Wolf Administration’s effort to roll out the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Tom Wolf has approved a temporary waiver that allows pharmacists licensed by the Department of State to order and administer COVID-19 vaccines without a physician’s order when vaccines are available to the public. Adding pharmacists to the health-care professionals administering COVID-19 vaccines expands options for Pennsylvanians to be immunized once the vaccine is widely available from the federal government.

“Pharmacists, as well as pharmacy interns and technicians, are critical partners in the commonwealth’s plan to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine,” Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said. “Many Pennsylvanians will go to their local pharmacy for vaccination. This waiver will enable pharmacies to offer the COVID-19 vaccines without a physician’s order.”

Pennsylvania pharmacists, who meet certain training and other requirements, can obtain authorization to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and immunizations. If a pharmacist has that authorization, he or she can administer any immunization, including COVID-19 immunizations, to persons 18 years of age or older.

Historically, some pharmacies have entered into arrangements with physicians in order to receive reimbursement for flu shots and other vaccinations. Many pharmacies, however, do not have an arrangement with a physician, and even those that do have not had time to incorporate the COVID-19 vaccination into that relationship. This waiver would allow pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 vaccine without such a provider agreement.

“We are working on ways to increase access to the vaccine, and pharmacists already play an important role in making sure Pennsylvanians are protected,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Pennsylvanians continue to play an essential role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by masking up, washing up, and socially distancing.”

This waiver applies solely to COVID-19 vaccines for the duration of the Governor’s Disaster Emergency Declaration plus 90 days.

For more information about the Department of State’s COVID-19 response, visit the Department of State website.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Wanda Murren, 717-783-1621

April Hutcheson