PA APSE to Host Day on Employment October 28
Reminder: HCBS Rate and Wage Study Survey Reopened, Now Due November 15, 2024
In order to gather responses from providers that were not able to submit previously, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has reopened the Calendar Year (CY) 2023 rate study survey for the following Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS):
- Adult Day;
- Structured Day Habilitation;
- Employment and Training;
- Personal Assistance (Agency);
- Personal Assistance (Participant Directed); and
- Residential Habilitation.
Please complete the survey for CY 2023, which spans from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, unless otherwise specified. Please only complete the survey if you did not previously participate. The reopening of the survey will ensure every provider has ample time to offer input to broaden and improve the resulting analysis. The survey will remain open until Friday, November 15, 2024.
This survey is one piece of the targeted rate review and is intended to collect current provider rate and wage data as well as general feedback on the challenges of providing these services. The information collected in this survey will be used to assist in developing a point of reference for the rate range to evaluate current payment rates. In addition to results from this survey, the review will include payment rate information from Managed Care Organizations (MCO) in OLTL claims data, recent legislative policies, department expectations, and other data obtained from publicly available sources.
HCBS providers that delivered multiple service categories during CY 2023 should fill out this survey separately for each service category you delivered. HCBS providers that did not deliver any of the service categories listed above should disregard this survey. OLTL is partnering with Mercer to perform a rate study exclusive to the service categories listed above at this time.
The information collected for this survey will be used for both this rate study and to meet the requirements of HB 1300 from the 2023–2024 Pennsylvania General Assembly regular session. The information you provide will remain confidential and private and will only be shared publicly through high-level summary reports that do not include provider-level detail. Please comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and do not share any protected health information (PHI) within your survey responses.
Please note the survey tool does not allow individuals to save and go back to answer questions. Please have all your agency information such as wages, employee information, and financial statements readily available. This will help you to submit accurate information when answering the questions.
HCBS providers can access the survey here.
OLTL and Mercer appreciate your time and this valuable feedback. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out via email.
Video Tutorials for Electronic Fee Payment For Personal Care Homes, Assisted Living, and ODP Application for Compliance Now Available
The Division of Licensing Administration has created tutorials to assist with the electronic payment of application, certificate, fines, and appeals fees. A different tutorial has been designed for each program office and payment type. The tutorials give step-by-step instructions for completing the payment of fees for each office.
A new applicant tutorial has also been created. This tutorial will give applicants step-by-step instructions to complete and submit the Application for a Certificate of Compliance (HS633) to become a licensed provider of a human services setting. The HS633 has been revised, and the updated version is available here.
The following tutorials can be accessed on the Application for Human Services License website as well as viewed below:
- New Human Services Applicant Tutorial
- Personal Care Home Application Fees Tutorial
- Assisted Living Residence Application Fees Tutorial
- Personal Care Home and Assisted Living Residence Fines & Appeals Payment Tutorial
- Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Certificate Fees Payment Tutorial
- Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Certificate Fees Payment Tutorial
OVR’s The Story, 3rd Edition, Now Available, Celebrating Teachers & Nurses!
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has shared their success story publication, The Story, highlighting teachers and nurses. We hope you enjoy reading about these individuals’ journeys!
Make sure you check out the social channels (OVR on Facebook; OVR on X; OVR on LinkedIn; and OVR on Instagram) in the coming weeks for highlights of these stories as well!
PA DOH Notifies Citizens of Possible Measles Exposure
The Office of Developmental Programs has shared this important announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) related to possible exposure to an individual positive for measles.
On October 11, the Pennsylvania DOH was notified by the New Jersey DOH that Pennsylvania residents could have been exposed to measles.
The New Jersey Health Department’s confirmed measles case is a resident of Monmouth County who presented with measles following recent international travel. The individual developed a rash and was subsequently confirmed to have measles via positive measles PCR results. He visited several healthcare facilities and public venues while infectious for measles.
DOH notes that anyone who visited the following New Jersey locations during the specified dates and times may have been exposed and should contact a health care provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing the illness.
- Location: Livoti’s Old World Market, 200 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold, NJ 07728;
Date & Time: September 30, 2024, between 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm - Location: El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, 28 W Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728;
Date & Time: October 1, 2024, between 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm - Location: International Longshoreman Association Strike, Elizabeth Chassis Depot, 1510 S. Bay Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07201, and the area near the “Welcome to Elizabeth Terminal;”
Date & Time: October 1-3, 2024, all day - Location: Atlantic Health Immediate Care, 479 Route 520, Suite A103, Marlboro, NJ 07746;
Date & Time: October 6, 2024, between 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm - Location: Jersey Shore University Medical Center – Emergency Department, 1945 NJ-33, Neptune City, NJ 07753;
Date & Time: October 7, 2024, between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Potentially exposed individuals, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as October 29, 2024.
When to Suspect Measles
Consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone with a febrile rash illness lasting three days or more, a temperature of 101ºF (38.3ºC) or higher, and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza, and/or conjunctivitis), particularly if the patient was potentially exposed to a case of measles or has recently traveled to an area with an on-going measles outbreak and are not fully vaccinated.
PennWATCH: Resources Available to Help Eligible Pennsylvanians With Disabilities Vote
RCPA Celebrates Success of 2024 Conference — Save the Date for the 2025 Conference!
RCPA staff and Conference Committee members are grateful to all of our attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors for a great experience at the Hershey Lodge this past September. We are happy to report that we had 800 people in attendance throughout the week!
Participants were able to hear from over 150 speakers, and RCPA was able to record many of the workshops as well as the keynote and plenary sessions. The recordings are available to attendees who previously registered for the conference in the mobile app. For those who are interested in earning CEs, you can earn over 110 credits!
We were honored to host 86 exhibit booths in our Connections Hall, representing a variety of services and products from pharmacy initiatives to technology, furniture to HR services, insurance and electronic health record systems to education, and so much more.
Our conference in 2025 will be held in September once again! We ask you to save the date — the 2025 RCPA Conference will be held September 9 – 12, 2025.
Department of Aging Announces Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Virtual Forum
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has released information about the 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) virtual forum. The forum, “Brain Health and Beyond: Taking Care of Your Brain as You Age,” is scheduled for November 7, 2024, from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm.
The agenda for the forum is located here. To participate in the virtual forum, registration is required.
Questions regarding the virtual forum should be directed to Heidi Champa, Aging Services Specialist, via email.
OLTL Announces Webinar Series on Affordable, Accessible Housing
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is presenting a live, interactive, 6-session webinar series on housing issues from November 5, 2024, to December 10, 2024, every Tuesday, from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. The webinars will include targeted content as well as Q&A sessions with housing experts and OLTL staff.
The webinar series targets Service Coordinators, Managed Care Organizations, and Service Coordination Entity support staff who assist program participants in securing and maintaining affordable, accessible housing through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The target audience for these webinars includes individuals and organizations who provide long-term services and supports for older Pennsylvanians and people with physical disabilities.
Presenters
- Leigh Howard, President of DMA, Inc.
- Carolyn Steinhofer of Housing Equality Center of PA
- Wendy Davis of PATF
Brain Injury Advisory Board to Convene on November 1
The Department of Health’s Brain Injury Advisory Board, established under section 1252 of the Federal Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 300d-52), will hold their next public meeting on Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held in person at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 in the Cambria conference room.
Meeting materials will be sent out before the meeting and will also be available on the Board’s website and at the meeting location. Questions should be directed to Nicole Johnson.
The Department of Health’s Head Injury Program (HIP) strives to ensure that eligible individuals who have a traumatic brain injury receive high quality rehabilitative services aimed at reducing functional limitations and improving quality of life. The Board assists the department in understanding and meeting the needs of persons living with acquired brain injuries, both traumatic and nontraumatic, and their families. This quarterly meeting provides updates on a variety of topics, including the number of people served by HIP. In addition, meeting participants will discuss budgetary and programmatic issues, community programs relating to traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries, and available advocacy opportunities.
For additional information or for persons with a disability who wish to attend the meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to do so, contact Nicole Johnson, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach, 717-772-2763. For individuals with speech and/or hearing impairments, contact V/TT 717-783-6514 or the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at 800-654-5984. This meeting is subject to cancellation without notice.
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