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Brain Injury

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Text of March 18 press release.

Harrisburg, PA — Health care professionals licensed under any of the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) licensing boards can provide services to patients via telemedicine during the coronavirus emergency.

“Telemedicine provides health care professionals flexibility to continue treating their patients while following best practices on social distancing as outlined by the Department of Health,” Secretary Boockvar said. “The department requested, and Governor Wolf granted us, the authority to allow health care professionals from out-of-state to treat Pennsylvania residents using telemedicine, when appropriate, due to COVID-19.”

This new guidance applies to the following boards:

o Chiropractic
o Dentistry
o Medicine
o Nursing
o Optometry
o Pharmacy
o Podiatry
o Psychology
o Osteopathic Medicine
o Nursing Home Administrators
o Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure
o Physical Therapy
o Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors
o Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
o Veterinary Medicine

Currently, no Pennsylvania law prohibits the practice of telemedicine.

Additionally, the department is working with the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and Department of Human Services to identify regulations and requirements that can be suspended to give medical providers and facilities the flexibility they need to respond to the crisis. We will publish these notifications on our website as they become available.

Governor Wolf also granted the department’s request for a suspension to allow licensed practitioners in other states to provide services to Pennsylvanians via the use of telemedicine, without obtaining a Pennsylvania license, for the duration of the emergency. Out-of-state practitioners must:

o Be licensed and in good standing in their home state, territory, or country.

o Provide the Pennsylvania board from whom they would normally seek licensure with the following information prior to practicing telemedicine with Pennsylvanians:
• their full name, home or work mailing address, telephone number and email address; and
• their license type, license number or other identifying information that is unique to that practitioner’s license, and the state or other governmental body that issued the license.

Please submit the information requested above to the appropriate board resource account listed on the BPOA website.

All practitioners using telemedicine in Pennsylvania must remain informed on all federal and state laws, regulations and guidance regarding telemedicine, including a practitioner’s obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and recent guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Authorization to engage in telemedicine from a professional licensing standpoint is separate and apart from any insurance coverage/payment issues that fall under the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Insurance, or any other state or federal agency.

The Department of Human Services issued guidance for Behavioral Health Services Telemedicine here. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released Telehealth guidance for their programs and providers here.

Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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RCPA has been hearing from members regarding supplies they need to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. We have heard from members that they are running short on masks/respirators, hand sanitizers, gloves, etc. Regarding masks/respirators, RCPA understands there is a shortage of these items. Providers are in need of masks/respirators to take care of residents in group homes, inpatient facilities, etc. If a resident in one of these facilities is stricken with COVID-19, then staff will have to follow CDC protocol and be required to use masks/respirators. If providers do not have any to give to staff, then providers will have to transport the resident to the hospital. We understand hospitals would rather keep individuals in their current location.

In most instances, providers are working with their local hospitals to get masks/respirators, but there are limited quantities, if any. To try and combat this shortage, providers should contact their County Emergency Management office. RCPA understands that the mask/respirator issue is a major concern for providers and we are working with our state partners for assistance.

If providers are experiencing any other shortages such as medicine, food, or other supplies, please contact a member of the RCPA staff as soon as possible or as needs arise, so we can inform the applicable state agency. Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and pandemic, OLTL has granted permission for brain injury providers to conduct the following services via virtual therapy on a temporary basis:

  • In-home CRT;
  • Structured Day in the residence; and
  • Counseling and Behavior Therapy.

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The Community HealthChoices (CHC) Third Thursday webinar is scheduled for March 19, 2020 at 1:30 pm. Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) Deputy Secretary Kevin Hancock will be providing updates on COVID-19. To register for the webinar, use this link.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions, please contact the OLTL Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management at 717-857-3280.

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The April 1, 2020 Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting will now be held via webinar from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Public comments will be taken after each presentation. Questions can be entered into the chat box during the presentations and these questions will also be asked at the end of each presentation. There will also be a 15-minute period at the end of the meeting for any additional public comments.

To participate in the meeting via webinar, please register using the link below. A confirmation email will be sent containing information about joining the webinar. Participants are encouraged to register early.

Webinar Registration Link

The dial in number is: 415-655-0060 / Access Code: 201-740-620

Captionist Remote Streaming Link

If you have any questions about registering for the webinar or require a toll-free number to dial in, please contact the Office of Long-Term Living. For questions regarding this email, call 717-857-3280.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) issued the following notice regarding changes in the provider processes for the Act 150 Program and OBRA Waiver due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

TO: Service Coordination Entities in the OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is collaborating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to make emergency amendments to its Home and Community-Based Waivers in response to COVID-19. To address the concerns and questions that OLTL continues to receive, the following changes in provider processes for the Act 150 program and OBRA waiver may be implemented immediately.

Service Coordination Entities (SCEs)
OLTL is providing the following guidance to SCEs regarding SC Monitoring and Individual Service Plan (ISP) Team Meetings (i.e. annual reviews, revisions, and ad hoc planning meetings). Until further notice, OLTL is permitting SCEs the flexibility to choose to conduct SC Monitoring and ISP Meetings remotely, using phone or video conferencing solutions. In those instances where the participant does not have a telephone or other electronic means of communication, the SC will document that fact and include attempts made to contact the participant in the documentation. When either of these responsibilities are completed in place of a required face to face meeting, the SC should document the occurrence.

Additionally, SCs should be working with participants to implement their Emergency Back-Up Plans. Participants are required to have an emergency back-up plan for serious emergencies that might cause a disruption in routine services being delivered to the participant for an extended period of time. This may include identifying family and friends to assist during an emergency, or finding alternative ways to receive needed services. OLTL is asking that no reductions in service plans be implemented during this time of emergency. Service additions and updated authorizations will be expected when necessary.

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