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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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October 7, 2020

ODP Medical Director Gregory Cherpes, MD issued the following alert. Flu season is quickly approaching, and as we continue to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19, guarding yourself from the flu is more important than ever.

A flu vaccine is the best way to prevent yourself from getting the flu and protects your family, friends, co-workers, patients, and everyone you meet. Like COVID-19, the flu can be extremely dangerous for people with co-occurring medical conditions and other health vulnerabilities. Getting a flu shot is a small step to protect yourself and everyone you encounter as we enter an even more dangerous flu season.

Both the flu shot, and nasal spray are recommended options to protect yourself from the flu. They can be found at your doctor’s office, pharmacies, walk-in clinics, and grocery stores. Flu vaccines are already available at many places around Pennsylvania.

These vaccines are free if you have health insurance. The Pennsylvania Department of Health also provides flu shots for individuals who need them. It is recommended that individuals first check with their health care provider regarding getting the flu vaccine, and if you or someone you know still needs t a flu shot call 877-PA-HEALTH or 877-724-3258.

The symptoms of the flu are like those of COVID-19. People sick with the flu may experience fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, or vomiting and diarrhea. As we move through flu season, health care providers must be mindful of this overlap and should test people experiencing symptoms for both the flu and COVID-19.

We must remain diligent and protect ourselves and those around us from the threat of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Please continue to regularly clean frequently touched surfaces, wash your hands thoroughly, and if you need to cough, cough into a tissue or your elbow. If you are sick, stay home. Wearing a mask will help prevent the spread of both COVID-19 and the flu, so continue to wear a mask if you are able, practice social distancing, and help us stop the spread of COVID-19 and the flu.

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The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) is preparing to launch its special recruitment initiative, Direct Care Works. The website is already live, with the social media component set to start October 26. This pilot project focuses on Allegheny County and some of the surrounding regions, and includes a job portal for RCPA members and partners to list job openings that potential applicants can review for opportunities. The job portal can be accessed through the Direct Care Works official site and is also available directly here.

The Direct Care Works job portal will be open to all RCPA members, and we would like to include your organization in this part of the initiative, along with a soon to be released Direct Care Works Toolkit to bolster and support your current recruitment efforts.

We encourage RCPA members who may have openings to contact us through this email to be included on the job portal. The information we will need is as follows:

  • Organization’s name and one line program description (see job portal for examples)
  • List of counties where your programs are operated
  • Contact person
  • Website link where potential candidates can view organization information and employment openings

If you have questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was created to assist providers with COVID-19 related costs incurred between March 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020 that have not been otherwise reimbursed by Federal, State or other source of funding. Any person or entity accepting a COVID-19 payment must provide documentation to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for purposes of determining compliance with Act 24 requirements. This will be your opportunity to ask questions that have emerged in your use of the DHS Act 24 reporting form previously distributed by the Office of Developmental Programs.

Link to Register for this session
October 14
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Link to Register for this Session
October 16
9:00 am – 10:30 am

Virtual Office Hours (VOH) provide attendees an opportunity to interact and ask questions related to a specific topic. They occur one time and are not recorded or posted onto MyODP.

Pre-registration is required. Please use the link above to register for the session. Once registered, you will receive an email with instructions describing how to participate including a new link to join the training. You can join the audio portion of the webinar by telephone or computer.

For questions please email: RA-PWODP_OUTREACH@pa.gov

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CMS wants to remind states that effective October 1, 2020, state Medicaid programs are required to provide coverage of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services and drugs under a new mandatory benefit. The SUPPORT Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-271) amended the Social Security Act (the Act) to add this new mandatory benefit.  The purpose of the new mandatory MAT benefit found at section 1905(a)(29) of the Act is to increase access to evidenced-based treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) for all Medicaid beneficiaries and to allow patients to seek the best course of treatment and particular medications that may not have been previously covered.

CMS interprets sections 1905(a)(29) and 1905(ee) of the Act to require that, as of October 1, 2020, states must include as part of the new MAT mandatory benefit all forms of drugs and biologicals that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved or licensed for MAT to treat OUD.  More specifically, under the new mandatory MAT benefit, states are required to cover such FDA approved or licensed drugs and biologicals used for indications for MAT to treat OUD.  States currently cover many of these MAT drugs and biologicals (for all medically-accepted indications) under the optional benefit for prescribed drugs described at section 1905(a)(12) of the Act.

The President has signed H.R. 8337, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act. This new law made a statutory change to Section 1905(a)(29) and 1905(ee) of the Act, and now clarifies that MAT drugs when used for OUD as described under the mandatory benefit are deemed prescribed drugs, and covered outpatient drugs subject to section 1927 of the Act requirements, as appropriate.

Specifically, these amendments to the Act ensure a state’s ability to seek section 1927 drug manufacturer rebates, and apply drug utilization management mechanisms, such as preferred drug lists and prior approval, and a manufacturer’s duty to pay appropriate rebates and comply with all applicable manufacturer drug product and drug pricing reporting and payment of rebates. The change in law is effective as of the date of enactment of the original SUPPORT Act, which was October 24, 2018. Further CMS guidance will be forthcoming on other implementation issues relating to this new mandatory MAT benefit.

View in web browser: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMSMEDICAID/bulletins/2a3b044

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The US Department of Labor (DOL) continues to support American workers with disabilities and position the economy for a strong rebound. DOL invites you to participate in a national online dialogue, Job Developing for People with Disabilities during Times of Increased Unemployment, through October 18, 2020. We want to hear from you about how job developers are helping people with disabilities obtain Competitive Integrated Employment during times of increased health risks and unemployment.

This national online dialogue, hosted by DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, invites individuals with disabilities, their family members, and advocates, along with employment specialists, VR counselors, job coaches, employers, and others, to submit their ideas. We want to hear your best ideas about:

  1. Addressing health risks;
  2. Balancing self-determination and health; and
  3. Addressing increased unemployment.

The dialogue will take place through October 18. During this period, you can join at any time to submit your ideas or comment and vote on ideas submitted by others. Simply visit WorkforceSystems.IdeaScale.com to participate at your convenience.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

The ePolicyWorks Online Dialogue Team

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On October 2, 2020 the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Alex Azar, announced the renewal of the determination that a public health emergency (PHE) exists as a result of the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous PHE was scheduled to expire on October 23, 2020. This renewal is effective as of that date. A determination remains in effect for 90 days or until the Secretary determines that an emergency no longer exists, whichever occurs first. Many of the waivers issued to providers by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and HHS are eligible to remain in place for the duration of the PHE.

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