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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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Self-advocates joined RCPA, several legislators, and other associations and provider organizations at a press conference to support ID/A funding in the state budget on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. As part of his 2024/25 budget proposal, Governor Josh Shapiro called for investing $483 million in state and federal funds into the network of care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A). If enacted, the funding would allow more individuals to access professional support and services as well as relieve families of around-the-clock caregiving duties. ID/A providers across Pennsylvania have long called for increased state investments, and this allocation will allow providers to recruit and retain more direct support professionals (DSP) who have cared for these individuals at low wages. The lack of DSPs and funding have caused thousands of Pennsylvanians to wait months or more for services and support.

Sherri Landis of the Arc of PA spoke, as did Representatives Kinsey and Heffley.

In addition, many self-advocates, including DSPs and family members of those with ID/A, attended and spoke about the need for funding.

 

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-060. This announcement informs ODP stakeholders that the 2024 Everyday Lives: Values in Action — Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Recommendations & Strategies document, with new and updated strategies, is now available on the MyODP website. View the announcement for details.

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Pennsylvania has launched a new website for the Enterprise Licensing System (ELS) project, designed to streamline and modernize the licensing, permitting, registration, certification, and incident management systems across four state agencies: the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Aging, and the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs. The ELS will be implemented in stages over the next two years, with the aim of improving interagency collaboration and operational efficiency.

For more information and to stay updated on the ELS project, subscribe to the ELS ListServ. If you need additional information or have questions, you can reach out to OCYF through the Contact Us form.

If you have any other questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released a message providing advance notice of the 2024 pre-administration of the home and community-based services (HCBS) Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey.

OLTL has the HCBS CAHPS survey administered to participants who receive HCBS through the Act 150 Program as well as the OBRA and the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver Programs in the fall. The department then uses the responses received to assist them with improving the services participants receive. To increase response rates, OLTL is requesting Service Coordinators to begin having conversations with the HCBS participants in order to provide an introduction and encourage participation in the upcoming administration of the survey.

The HCBS CAHPS Survey will be administered from August 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024. This survey will ask questions about the services HCBS participants receive at home or in the community and how well the services meet their needs. Press Ganey, an independent firm, will conduct the survey. They will call participants to set up a time to talk. Member’s participants may also call Press Ganey toll free at 1-800-588-1659 (TTY: 711) if they would like to take the 30-minute survey. The number can also be used to make an appointment to take the survey at a time that works for them. Participants are randomly selected to participate in the survey from a list of all participants receiving HCBS through either the Act 150 Program, the OBRA Waiver, or the CHC Waiver Programs. Language Services can be provided to HCBS participants at no cost.

Members are encouraged to remind participants that their privacy is important. If they choose to participate, any information that they provide will be kept confidential. Participants will not be identified in any report that is released, and their answers will not be shared with their providers, Service Coordinator, or anyone else who assists them. It is the participant’s choice whether to participate, and their decision to participate will not affect any HCBS received through OLTL.

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Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-058. This communication announces the start of Cycle 2, Year 3 (C2Y3) of the Quality Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) Process on July 1, 2024. All Administrative Entities, Supports Coordination Organizations, and Providers, regardless of receiving a full review or not, are required to complete a QA&I self-assessment of their performance on the provision of services and supports to individuals annually based on key quality metrics and implementation of “Everyday Lives: Values into Action.”

Please view the announcement for information and details.

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Thursday June 20, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) held the fourth Provider Preparedness Summit for residential providers. Additional discussion on specific performance standards for Performance-Based Contracting took place.

The PowerPoint can be viewed here, and a recording of the session will be posted shortly on the MyODP website.

ODP staff answered many questions submitted by providers and will take questions/comments into consideration for change. The discussion was primarily focused on an overview of the performance standards, including Competitive Integrated Employment, Community Inclusion, and use of Remote Support Technology.

ODP staff referenced the ISP Manual, which contains useful information on Remote Supports.

ODP also polled participants for questions such as the possibility of postponing Provider Tier assignments until March, and acceptable referral process for individuals in Needs Group 4.

No changes have been made at this time, but ODP is interested in feedback from stakeholders.

Providers are encouraged to attend all four sessions as well as watch a pre-recorded webinar. All of these recordings and resources can be found on the MyODP website.

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