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The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) have secured a $250,000 grant as part of a national initiative to cultivate health policy and a care system that is more equitable and better meets the needs of individuals and families. The collaboration will focus on increasing access to care and developing a comprehensive policy framework and health care plan for consumers with the use of telehealth.

The two-year grant to RCPA and PACHC is among six spanning eight states. It was awarded by the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net, which brings together primary care associations and behavioral health state associations to advance policy and practice change. The Delta Center project is supported by the National Council for Behavioral Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Association of Community Health Centers. Read the full press release here.

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Sarah Meek, ANCOR’s Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, appealed to Secretary Xavier Becerra and Acting Administrator Liz Richter “to swiftly issue guidance on the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provisions of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan (ARP). Strengthening the Medicaid HCBS program is essential to saving lives in the disability community, which has been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.”

“States should be urged to closely work with stakeholders, including consumers, providers, and workers, on the investment of funds in a reasonably expediated approach to address the specific needs in their state. States should be encouraged to fund measures that include, but are not limited to, bolstering the direct care workforce, increasing access to and use of technology and remote supports, and promoting the safe provision of services with social distancing and PPE.”

The letter includes additional thoughts regarding recommended uses of the funds to support the administration, quality, and availability of HCBS.

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Deputy Secretary Ahrens presented information regarding the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) proposed budget recommendations for state fiscal year (SFY) 21/22 at the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) meeting on March 25, 2021.

Highlights included:

  • The budget for SFY 2021/22 provides $2.23B in state funds for ODP. Including federal participation and augmenting revenues, the total budget for ODP services is $5.04B.
  • The budget reflects an increase of $177.3M in state funding, a 7.95% increase from SFY 2020/21.
  • $13.9M to provide home and community-based services for an additional 732 individuals on the emergency waiting list during SFY 2021/22 in the Community Living Waiver, and an additional 100 individuals with emergency needs in the Consolidated Waiver. Includes reserve capacity for 20 children with medical complexities in each waiver (begins 3/1/2022).
  • $828K in savings associated with a new outcome-based payment for successful residential transitions from 6400 group homes to life-sharing or supported living for up to 20 individuals during SFY 2021/22 (begins 1/1/2022).

The full PowerPoint presentation is available here.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved temporary changes to the OBRA, CHC 1915(c), and Act 150 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 changes were not intended to apply to all participants nor to be considered across-the-board changes that must be implemented for each participant. These flexibilities were to be evaluated on a case-by-case in coordination with the CHC Managed Care Organizations (CHC-MCOs).

CMS recently approved an amendment to Appendix K which allows some flexibilities to continue until six months after the end date of the federal public health emergency. The federal public health emergency is set to expire on April 21, 2021; however, it’s possible the federal government will decide to extend the emergency beyond April. Please use this public health emergency website link to see the current and future public health emergency declarations related to COVID-19. The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) will issue guidance in the future when the Appendix K flexibilities are closer to expiring.

Attached are the documents that have been updated to reflect the new expiration date for the flexibilities:

If you have questions about the information in this Listserv email, please contact the OLTL Provider Helpline at 800-932-0939.

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