Department of Health Distributes Drug to Help Treat COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals
Q&A from IDD Members – Updated May 13, 2020
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act)
From ACCSES:
Today is the day we have been waiting for, as the U.S. House of Representatives released the draft text of the $3 trillion dollar stimulus today. The bill is titled The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or the HEROES Act.
This bill will begin in the House and then go to the Senate. The House has scheduled the vote for Friday, where it is likely to pass. There have been indications from the Senate and the White House that there is not as much interest in a fourth stimulus now as there had been a few weeks ago, so this bill is not expected to move as quickly as the prior stimulus bills.
This bill includes additional support for Home and Community-Based Services (Medicaid services begins at page 189), including increased pay and hazard pay for home health workers and direct support professionals, funding for PPE, increased FMAP, and funding for individuals who are waitlisted by states for HCBS services.
Nonprofit HCBS providers are included as organizations with which the State should engage on expanded services. This draft bill also contains a provision that would include nonprofits in the Main Street Lending Program (beginning at page 1063). It does not appear to include a provision protecting self-insured employers, but there is support for some further relief in both the Senate and House, so we will continue advocating for it.
We will break the bill down further this week, but here is a brief summary of the bill and the swirl of politics around it from CNBC. At 1,815 pages, this bill has many other provisions in it, including increased funding to the States, extensions of the additional $600 in unemployment compensation, another round of direct payments to individuals, voting rights protections (including for people with disabilities), and funding for the U.S. Postal Service.
ANCOR Hosting Virtual Congressional Hearing
Office of Developmental Programs Individual Transition Guide
PA Act 18 Approved for Fingerprinting Relief
In an effort to provide temporary relief for individuals in need of FBI fingerprinting as part of the Child Protective Services Law, Governor Wolf has approved legislation — formerly HB 360 and now ACT 18 — that allows temporary fingerprinting flexibility where Identogo sites are not available. In a phone call today with the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Planning Committee, it was discussed that OCYF expects to release the guidance this week with some noted limitations as outlined below.
Existing Employees – Have until December 31 to get fingerprints for those whose checks have expired since March 2020. Still need PSP and Child Abuse Checks completed.
For new employees, if you have not been a resident in PA within the past 10 years, you must also provide Child Abuse clearances from prior states of residence. New hires also sign a disclosure statement (attestation form).
New hires have until December 31, or 60 days from end date of state of emergency as directed by Governor Wolf, to get fingerprinting done. Individuals must still make reasonable efforts to complete checks at your local Identogo site if it is open.
Further direction and comment will be forthcoming from RCPA after the OCYF guidance is released. If your agency or staff are having difficulty in obtaining fingerprints, or if you are looking for Identogo mobile sites or resources, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.
Updates to CMS COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for ICF/IDD Facilities
Office of Developmental Programs Individual Transition Guide
OMAP Offers Guidances On MATP
The Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) has released two separate guidances related to Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) services during the Corona Pandemic. The purpose of these communications are to advise all county administrators, brokers, and all contracted transit agencies (collectively referred to as MATP agencies) of the precautions necessary to ensure safe provision of non-emergency medical transportation services to Medical Assistance beneficiaries while the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on March 6, 2020, remains in effect.
CMS Releases Updated COVID-19 Resources
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated information on recent actions and resources specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CMS Continues to release waivers for the health care community that provide flexibilities needed to take care of patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The additional blanket waivers are provided here.
CMS updated a video that answers commonly asked questions about the expanded Medicare telehealth services benefit.
They also published an MLN Matters article which provides information for pharmacies and other suppliers that wish to enroll in Medicare temporarily as independent clinical diagnostic laboratories, to assist with addressing needs for COVID-19 testing.
Additional flexibilities offered to states to address the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the following waivers, a toolkit was developed to expedite the application and review of each request.
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