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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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Harrisburg, PA — Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh recently published two opinion pieces highlighting the historic investments for intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) services and the ID/A workforce in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024/25 proposed budget. At events across the Commonwealth, Secretary Arkoosh has met with advocates, families, caregivers, and direct support professionals to talk about what these investments would mean to them and why they are vital to Pennsylvanians with ID/A so they can live with the dignity and independence they deserve.

The Governor’s proposed $483 million in federal and state funding would provide more resources for home and community-based service providers, so they in turn can pay competitive rates to attract and retain the staff who provide these essential services. The proposal includes a $78 million investment of federal and state funds to serve an additional 1,500 Pennsylvanians with ID/A currently on the waitlist in the next fiscal year.

Governor Shapiro and Secretary Arkoosh recently met with Pennsylvanians with ID/A, caregivers, and advocates to hear how the proposed investments in his 2024/25 budget would address the needs of Pennsylvanians with ID/A by expanding access to support home and community-based services and addressing the shortage of direct support professionals.

Watch Secretary Arkoosh’s visit to Vision for Equality in Philadelphia. 

Watch Secretary Arkoosh’s visit to Penn-Mar Human Services in York County. 

Read additional materials below:

Read what Pennsylvanians are saying: 

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared a revised edition of ODPANN 21-073. The purpose of this announcement is to continue promoting awareness of pressure injuries as part of ongoing efforts to assure participant health and safety. ODP is working in conjunction with the state’s Health Care Quality Units (HCQU) and Support Coordinators (SC) to implement a Skin Integrity Initiative.

The goals of this pressure injury initiative are to raise awareness about pressure injury occurrences, to assist in the identification of resources, and to identify appropriate preventive measures that will reduce associated health risks and death. See the announcement for implementation, data collection, and reporting methods that will be used going forward in this initiative.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-044 and the accompanying instructions. The purpose of this announcement is to outline criteria and provide instructions for requesting a SIS-A 2nd Edition reassessment for individuals who receive residential services and whose 2023 SIS-A assessment resulted in a Needs Group (NG) decrease of two or more levels.

Please view the announcement and accompanying instructions for information and details.

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The Regional Collaboratives for Supporting Families Summit will be held virtually this year. The Regional Collaboratives for Supporting Families connect diverse individuals, families, and community partners to identify what people and families need to be supported, to develop and implement strategies to meet these needs through local collaboration and partnerships, and to participate in the conversation to improve systems. This objective allows all people to best nurture and support their loved ones in having full, meaningful everyday lives in their communities. This year’s summit will bring together Regional Collaboratives from across the Commonwealth, sharing experience and knowledge and developing strategies with a focus on Family Matters! What does it mean to support families?

What is the Regional Collaborative Summit? Watch the video to learn more!

Join the summit this August to learn from peers and professionals about how to bolster your Regional Collaboratives for Supporting Families. Registration information is to follow.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make one-time payments for workforce recovery efforts. Payments will be calculated at 6% of the fee schedule revenue received for services rendered between July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, for the waiver services listed in the announcement. Don’t miss this opportunity for additional funding for your organization!

The intent of these funds is to assist providers in covering costs related to staffing programs and services. Other than the restriction that payments may not be used to increase or supplement compensation for agency executive staff, there are no specific restrictions, timeframes, or reporting due for these funds other than completing the ODP Workforce Recovery Supplemental Payments survey. ODP has indicated that this revenue would be considered similar to any other service revenue and advises providers to keep a record of how funds were used in the event that they are reviewed as part of the normal claim review process.

As of the morning of May 6, 2024, ODP has received requests from 350 providers. If your MPI is on this file, this will serve as confirmation that your agency’s request has been received. ODP will release a similar file next week prior to the deadline. Late requests will not be accepted. Providers must request the subject payments no later than May 15, 2024. See ODP Announcement 24-041 for additional information.

For any questions, contact Carol Ferenz.

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The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated the regulations that prohibit discrimination based on disabilities to clarify obligations in several critical areas. Specifically, the rule:

  • Ensures that medical treatment decisions are not based on negative biases or stereotypes about individuals with disabilities, judgments that an individual with a disability will be a burden on others, or dehumanizing beliefs that the life of an individual with a disability has less value than the life of a person without a disability.
  • Prohibits the use of any measure, assessment, or tool that discounts the value of a life extension on the basis of disability to deny, limit, or otherwise condition access to an aid, benefit or service.
  • Defines what accessibility means for websites and mobile applications and sets forth a specific technical standard to ensure that health care and human service activities delivered through these platforms are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
  • Adopts the U.S. Access Board’s standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, like exam tables and mammography machines.
  • Details requirements to ensure nondiscrimination in the services provided by HHS funded child welfare agencies, including, but not limited to, reasonable efforts to prevent foster care placement, parent-child visitation, reunification services, child placement, parenting skills programs, and in- and out-of-home services.
  • Clarifies obligations to provide services in the most integrated setting, like receiving services in one’s own home, appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, the Final Rule updates existing requirements to make them consistent with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), as many HHS recipients are also covered by the ADA. This consistency will improve and simplify compliance.

View the full press release here. If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

 

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-043. This announcement’s purpose is:

  1. To announce changes in the Medication Administration Training course and possible impacts of those changes:
    • Written Documentation — Part 1: Pharmacy Label/Medication Record Comparison (Exam); and
    • Lesson Quizzes (1–9).
  2. To announce changes in the Practicum Observer materials. which can be found in Trainer Resources.
  3. To announce the availability of an in-person Face-to-Face class for New Trainers. This class will be held at Temple University – Harrisburg, on June 27, 2024. New Trainers may register for this class on the Medication Administration site after successfully completing the Train-the-Trainer course.

Please view the announcement for information and details.

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