';

Message From Kevin Dressler, Bureau Director, Office of Developmental Programs (ODP):
Some recent updates:
CMS 1135 Waiver Discontinuation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an update on April 7, 2022, that will discontinue many of the 1135 waiver components over the next 30 and 60 days. This Quality, Safety, and Oversight (QSO) update returns many of the identified items in the 1135 waiver to their previous regulatory statuses, and the ICFs will need to be in compliance with the changes by the date specified. Please review the QSO carefully and assure that your ICFs are compliant by the dates specified.
Health Alert Network Updates
I have attached the four latest HANs regarding COVID related items. HAN 633 and HAN 635 address facilities that are testing people in-house and the new reporting requirements. HAN 634 addresses treatment recommendations for people that have contracted COVID-19. Lastly, HAN 632 addresses who is eligible for the vaccine boosters. Please review the recent HANs and adjust your policies and practices as you deem appropriate.
Emergency Exercises
Please see ‘Orchid Phoenix 2022 TTX Registration,’ as it has the registration information for an upcoming Emergency Preparedness Exercise that is available for ICFs to participate in if you would like to do so. This is a similar type of exercise as we completed last year, with a different emergency event as the topic. Please review for details on registration and participation requirements.
Kevin Dressler | Bureau Director
Department of Human Services
Office of Developmental Programs
Bureau of State Operated Facilities
Room 508 Health & Welfare Bldg | Harrisburg, PA 17120
Office Phone: 717-425-5686
Cell Phone: 570-809-3759
Fax: 717-787-6583
ODP Announcement 22-039 describes actions the Administrative Entities (AEs) and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) must take when an Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) waiver or base participant is admitted to a Nursing Facility (NF) to ensure a coordinated transition to Long-Term Care (LTC) services and prevent service interruptions.
When an ODP waiver participant (Adult Autism, Consolidated, Community Living, or Person/Family Directed Support) is identified for NF admission, he or she will transition from the ODP waiver to Community Health Choices (CHC) for their Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). Nursing services are started the day of admission into the NF, ensuring health and safety. The individual must begin to receive CHC services on the day he or she is admitted to the NF. Individuals cannot be dually enrolled in CHC and an ODP waiver. The AE, county MH/ID program, and/or SC will assist the individual in transitioning to the NF and move the participant into reserved capacity for their ODP waiver.
Enrollment in an ODP waiver or base services in HCSIS prevents the CHC from enrolling the individual in LTSS in eCIS; therefore, the AE must end date the waiver or base enrollment in HCSIS prior to the CHC enrollment date in eCIS/CIS to avoid overlap.
Please review the announcement for further guidance.
A Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for May 6, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. The purpose of this public meeting is to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations (CHC MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes.
Please register using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Those participating via phone, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: (562) 247-8422
Access Code: 214973439#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar
Due to feedback shared with the Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding the importance of providing behavioral health services in nursing facilities and making sure nursing facilities know how to access these services, DHS has developed a webinar entitled “Behavioral Health Services for the Nursing Facility Population.” The webinars, which all contain the same material being presented, is a joint effort with the DHS’ Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), the Behavioral Health (BH) Managed Care Organizations (MCO), and the Community HealthChoices (CHC) MCOs, and it is being hosted by the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA). Other collaborative partners include the PA Department of Health and LeadingAge PA.
The webinars are as follows:
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
2:00 pm–3:30 pm
1.5 CEUs for SNF
Please register using this registration link.
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
2:00 pm–3:30 pm
1.5 CEUs for SNF
Please register using this registration link.
The first webinar was conducted on April 12, 2022. The webinars will be interactive and are meant for nursing facilities to have the opportunity to ask questions and begin dialogue on how to improve behavioral health services in their facilities. The webinars will also allow the BH-MCOs, the CHC-MCOs, and the nursing facilities to further collaborate on this issue. The webinars will be recorded.
Webinar Presenters:
Questions should be directed to Marjorie Faish, OLTL.