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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.
A new ODEP project examines promising strategies for improving employment outcomes of young adults on the autism spectrum. The Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor has partnered with Mathematica to lead a project to examine barriers to, catalysts for, and promising strategies for improving employment outcomes.
The project, Research Support Services for Employment of Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum (REYAAS), kicked off in fall of 2021. A recent fact sheet explains the project’s goals and provides an overview of its timeline and planned activities, and a pair of literature reviews summarizes promising programs and strategies as well as evidence on their effectiveness.
Currently, Mathematica is planning a series of public listening sessions to incorporate perspectives from youth on the autism spectrum and the broader community on this topic. If you would like to participate in a listening session, please send an email to sign up for the REYAAS mailing list.
Positive Behavioral Supports: Meaningful, Everyday Application
We are always looking for better ways to support someone to achieve the quality of life they desire. This requires a social, behavioral, and biological understanding of that person. Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is an empirically documented, person-centered approach that can be used in day-to-day supports for all people across all systems. For those of you who are not familiar with PBS, we will provide an overview of this framework, sharing examples and ways that this has been implemented. For those of you who have a general understanding of the essential elements of PBS, we will provide you with tools and ways to infuse PBS into your programs and supports to strengthen your focus on supporting a positive quality of life.
Please join us on one of the following dates and times:
To register for a session, you must follow these steps:
Notes:
ODP Announcement 22-036 is to share information for residential providers to assist the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in ensuring effective use of statewide residential resources. For purposes of reporting residential vacancies, a “residential vacancy” is any change in a Licensed 6400 or Licensed 6500 setting that results in the occupancy of the home being less than the setting’s approved program capacity (excluding individuals who are on medical or therapeutic leave). Reporting a residential vacancy helps to ensure:
Once a vacancy is identified, the licensed residential habilitation home or Lifesharing setting can be used for respite services as long as the home remains within the approved program capacity. The approved program capacity for Chapter 6400/6500 residential service locations is set by the PA Department of Human Services (DHS or The Department) in accordance with ODP’s policy on Approved Program Capacity (APC) stated in ODP Announcement 19-138: Approved Program Capacity (APS) and Updated Noncontiguous Clearance Form.
ODP has developed a streamlined process that allows providers to complete an online ODP Residential Vacancy survey to report available residential vacancies within the agency. Use of this tool is encouraged and replaces the previous process of submitting the DP 1024 form.
Reporting a Residential Vacancy:
Reporting a Residential Vacancy That is No Longer Available (Filled):
ODP Announcement 22-035 announces that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requiring Supports Coordinators (SCs) to conduct an in-person monitoring with individuals that fall into the following priority list on their caseload that they have not seen in-person during this current Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22 by the end of the FY, June 30, 2022.
An additional in-person monitoring visit is not required for those individuals who have already been seen in-person by the SC during this FY unless there are health and safety concerns.
Also, ODP recognizes that every individual has a different comfort level with in-person visits. Use the guidance and talking points in the Tip Sheet during your conversations with individuals and families to help them feel comfortable with an in-person visit.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the Children with Medical Complexities Training Series – Part 1: Expanding Supports for Children with Medical Complexities webinar series for ID/A Supports Coordination Organizations and Administrative Entities. This webinar will be held Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 2:00 pm–3:30 pm.
In this introductory session to providing supports to children with medical complexities, ODP Medical Director Gregory Cherpes, MD, and Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Gengler, RN, will provide an overview of the training series’ topics that will be covered in greater detail in subsequent sessions. Particular focus will be given to a companion document that will serve to augment the Supports Coordinator (SC) monitoring tool and assist the supports coordinator during monitoring visits.
A virtual office hour session will be held on April 26 from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm to address further questions with ODP staff. Registration information will be provided at a later date.