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Brain Injury

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On March 14, 2016, the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee convened a forum on the state of the knowledge relating to the causes, effects, and treatments of concussions. The forum featured input from experts representing the medical, military, athletic, and research communities with a goal of building a collaborative body of knowledge to help improve the diagnosis and treatment of concussions. Included in the opening statement by Honorable Tim Murphy, Chairman of the Subcommittee: “Today, we begin a new chapter in the national dialogue on concussions. We are not here to re-litigate past actions, point fingers or cast blame. We are here to take a step back, to gain some perspective and to begin a conversation focused on solutions, not on problems.” And most importantly, “We are also here today to make one thing clear – this is not just a sports issue or a military issue. This is a public health issue…That is why we are here today – to ensure we are on the path, though it may be long, to providing the public the answers they deserve.”

The list of participants and webcast of the forum are available on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website.

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The next Community HealthChoices (CHC) Third Thursday webinar is coming up on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 1:30 pm. Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) Deputy Secretary Jennifer Burnett will offer an update on CHC, followed by information about the Commonwealth’s waiver documents. In addition, Virginia Brown will discuss the waiver authority Pennsylvania is pursuing to implement CHC. To participate in the webinar, please register online.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the long-awaited Request for Proposals (RFP) for Community HealthChoices (CHC). CHC is a new initiative that will provide managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) to older individuals, persons with physical disabilities, and physical health coverage to those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

The goals of CHC are to:

  • Enhance opportunities for community-based services;
  • Strengthen health care and LTSS delivery systems;
  • Allow for new innovations;
  • Promote the health, safety, and well-being of enrolled participants; and
  • Ensure transparency, accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency of the program.

The official release of the RFP is the first step in the procurement process for the selection of managed care organizations (MCOs). The Commonwealth plans to coordinate health and LTSS through MCOs. Participants will have a choice of two to five MCOs in each region. Responses to the RFP by the managed care organizations are due on Monday, May 2, 2016.

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The Department of Human Services Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) announced they will be submitting a renewal of the OBRA waiver, which expires on June 30, 2016. This announcement/public notice will be published in the February 27 Pennsylvania Bulletin, which seeks public comments.

Written comments regarding the OBRA Waiver renewal should be sent to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management, Attention: OBRA Renewal, PO Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025 or via email, using the comment forms that OLTL has provided. Please use OBRA Renewal as the subject line. The comment forms, as well as a side-by-side comparison of the current and revised language, and the renewal in its entirety (including the OBRA-specific HCBS Allowable Settings Transition Plan and the Community HealthChoices Transition Plan, which are contained in the main module), can be found on the “OLTL Waiver Amendment, Renewals and Accompanying HCBS Transition Plans” web page. The public comment period ends on Monday, March 28, 2016.

OLTL will offer two webinars for public input and discussion on March 9 and March 23, 2016. Please see the information below for further details on the scheduled webinars.

Title: OBRA Renewal
Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Join WebEx meeting
Meeting number:  644 892 538
Meeting password:  OBRA##1
Join by phone
1-877-668-4493 Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada)
1-650-479-3208 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
Access code: 644 892 538
Toll-free calling restrictions

Title: OBRA Renewal
Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Join WebEx meeting
Meeting number:  640 051 990
Meeting password:  OBRA##2
Join by phone
1-877-668-4493 Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada)
1-650-479-3208 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
Access code: 640 051 990
Toll-free calling restrictions

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This week the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced several new initiatives to reduce the use of psychotropic medication among our state’s most vulnerable children. Speaking at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, DHS Secretary Ted Dallas reported on the partnership of DHS with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society. A state-commissioned PolicyLab study that found that in 2012 in Pennsylvania, the use of psychotropic medications was nearly three times higher among 6-18 year olds in foster care than among youth in Medicaid overall. Based on this study and the collaborative effort mentioned above, Pennsylvania has initiated the following:

  • Best practice guidelines are being developed for clinicians regarding comprehensive assessments of behavior and treatment interventions;
  • Managed care organizations will be required to give prior authorization for antipsychotic medications for children;
  • A new electronic dashboard will make it easier for DHS to monitor what medications children are taking and improve care coordination;
  • In April, DHS will open a telephonic child psychiatric consultative service to help prescribing physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners appropriately prescribe psychotropic medication for children; and
  • In July, the department will begin training child welfare caseworkers and caregivers on the appropriate use of psychotropic medication.

“The inappropriate use of these powerful medications for children in the foster care system compounds the trauma experienced by children who have been the victim of abuse and neglect and is simply unacceptable,” Dallas said, “The recommendations and analysis from PolicyLab provide Pennsylvania with an invaluable roadmap to improve the safety and quality of life for foster children served by the Medicaid system.”

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced changes that are being made to the enrollment process for Home and Community-based Services (HCBS), including the Aging Waiver, Attendance Care Waiver, CommCare Waiver, Independence Waiver, OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 Program. Effective Tuesday, March 1, 2016, OLTL will enter into a new contract with MAXIMUS, the PA Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB). According to OLTL, the adjustments being made and expectations regarding this new contract will streamline the enrollment process, as well as ensure consistency across all home and community-based programs, in anticipation of the roll-out of Community HealthChoices (CHC), a Managed Long-Term Services and Supports program for older Pennsylvanians and adults with physical disabilities. CHC will move the Commonwealth’s home and community-based waiver system from fee-for service to a capitated Medicaid managed long-term services and supports delivery system. The changes OLTL is making to the enrollment process support the Commonwealth’s efforts to ensure that the enrollment process is conflict free, strengthening necessary firewalls between enrollment in services and the provision of ongoing service coordination and other services.

Changes made to improve the IEB process:

  • The enrollment timeframe requirement has been reduced from 90 days to 60 days. This change is effective March 1, 2016.
  • The IEB will assume the Aging Waiver enrollment process effective April 1, 2016.
  • Enrollments that are already in process before April 1 will remain the responsibility of the Area Agency on Aging. Aging Waiver applications initiated prior to April 1 must be completed by the AAA prior to June 30. Applications still pending on June 30 will revert to Maximus for completion. OLTL will provide additional information on this process in an upcoming webinar.
  • These changes, which affect all OLTL Home- and Community-Based Programs – Aging, Attendant Care, CommCare, Independence, OBRA and the Act 150 program administered through the Office of Long-Term Living – will be completed by the PA Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB), Maximus.

The tasks completed by the IEB (Maximus) include the following:

  • Coordinate with the County Assistance Office to ensure timely completion of the PA 600L Medical Assistance Applications.
  • Coordinate with the Area Agency on Aging to ensure timely completion of the Clinical Eligibility Determination (formerly known as the Level of Care Determination). Complete in-home visit with applicant to gather information for enrollment.
  • Complete the Program Eligibility Determination.
  • Provide applicant with choice of Service Coordination provider.
  • Enroll applicant in waiver upon receipt of PA 162.
  • Transfer record and enrollment documentation to the selected Service Coordination agency.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy High, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Participant Operations, at 717-787-8091.

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On January 27, 2016, a letter was sent to Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Ted Dallas, requesting reconsideration of DHS’ decision to raise the minimum age of eligibility for Community HealthChoices (CHC). RCPA was one of more than 35 organizations and individuals that signed this letter of support.

Currently, the minimum age of eligibility for the Attendant Care, Independence, and OBRA waivers is 18. However, the CHC Request for Proposal (RFP) states, “CHC will serve adults age 21 or older who require Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) (whether in the community or in private or county nursing facilities)…. and current participants in DHS’ (Office of Long-Term Living) waiver programs who are 18-to 21 years old.” This would change the minimum age for home and community-based services administered by OLTL to age 21.

Concern was noted in the letter of how raising the minimum age of eligibility for CHC will create large gaps in services. Many examples were elaborated on the services that keep young adults in their homes and communities and out of institutional care, including home modifications, vehicle modifications, assistive technology, respite, and residential habilitation. The letter urges DHS to fix this critical problem before the CHC RFP is finalized.

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In an effort to promote “Government that Works,” the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has made it a priority to integrate early childhood education services, so that providers can offer multiple OCDEL services to families without duplicating paperwork, and families can more easily access the services they need. To lead and promote this approach to improving and streamlining bureaucratic and operational challenges faced by providers and families, OCDEL has produced a short video overview with Deputy Secretary Michelle Figlar.

Providers are also being asked to share their experiences with OCDEL programs to help shape this work. It is critical for the RCPA Children’s Steering Committee and work groups to hear how OCDEL programs work for providers and families. Input from providers of early childhood care will significantly inform and influence this work. For RCPA members, it will be vital that providers of early childhood mental health, behavioral consultation, autism, and pediatric rehabilitation services, that need to be delivered in a coordinated and collaborative manner, help to inform this process. RCPA members who serve young children are encouraged to complete a short survey by Monday, February 8. The survey includes five pages of questions and should take an average of five minutes to complete. For more information, visit the PA Keys website.

OCDEL has made stakeholder engagement one of its priorities to assure high quality services for children and families. For a listing of all open stakeholder engagement opportunities, please visit the PA Keys website.

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