Urgent: ANCOR Survey Regarding Medicaid and Medicare Revenue
Nominate a DSP to be Selected as a Jimmy Kimmel Live #HealthCareHeroes
From ANCOR:
During the quarantine, Jimmy Kimmel Live is paying tribute to those who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis. We all know Direct Support Professionals have been doing amazing work to try to manage the pandemic with limited resources. If you know of a DSP who deserves to be celebrated, please consider having them recognized as a #HealthCareHero.
To nominate someone, share their story on social media with the hashtag #HealthCareHero — be sure to tag the stories with @JimmyKimmelLive so the show can see them — then be on the lookout for a message or reply from one of the show’s producers to see if you’ve been selected. We must get as much recognition as we can for the pandemic’s #ForgottenFaces, and celebrating members of this fantastic and essential workforce is a great step forward!
HHS Webinar on Provider Relief Fund and Medicaid Distribution
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be holding a webcast tomorrow (6/23) and Thursday (6/25) to discuss “Getting Started with the Provider Relief Fund for the Medicaid and CHIP Distribution.” Last week, HHS announced a $15 billion distribution from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and CHIP providers. This webcast will describe the application process and answer any questions you may have.
The webcasts will be held on Tuesday, June 23 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET (register here) and Thursday, June 25 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET (register here). Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.
CMS Releases New IRF-PAI Guidance
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new inpatient rehabilitation facility patient assessment instrument (IRF-PAI) guidance document. The document was developed and based on questions submitted by stakeholders to the IRF Post-Acute Care (PAC) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) help desk.
In this guidance, CMS reiterates its prior instruction that it will delay the release of updated versions of the item sets needed to support the Transfer of Health (TOH) Information Quality Measures and new revised Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADEs). As indicated in prior guidance, the release of the updated IRF-PAI version will be delayed until October 1st of the year that is at least one full fiscal year after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). An example provided by CMS: if the PHE ends on September 20, 2020, IRFs will be required to begin collecting data using the updated versions of the item sets beginning with patients discharged on October 1, 2021. No new information is provided on CMS’ planned approach for stakeholder education and training.
Included in CMS’ announcement, IRF-PAI questions and answers will be published on a quarterly basis.
HS Secretary: Gov. Wolf’s Disaster Declaration Necessary as Health Care & Social Services Providers Rise to Challenge of COVID-19
PA House Files Resolution That Would Impeach Governor Wolf for Misbehavior in Office
Yesterday, Representative Darryl Metcalfe (with 24 Republican co-sponsors) introduced HR 915, Governor Wolf Impeachment Resolution. HR 915 (resolution language is not currently available online) contains 5 articles of impeachment against Governor Wolf for misbehavior in office. The resolution contends that the Governor’s COVID-19 related orders and actions violated the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the US Constitution and rights within the Pennsylvania Constitution.
The House alleges that the Governor’s COVID-19 response mandating business closures, and designating businesses as non-life sustaining, as well as the creation of the business waiver process (designating a business as essential) caused historical unemployment rates and unemployment compensation benefit deployment issues. The Governor allegedly failed to address nursing home risks, preventing deaths, and he refused to comply with Right-to-Know (i.e. Public Disclosure) laws.
HR 915 has not been assigned to a House Committee for further consideration as of yet. View the Press Release.
Gov. Wolf: $157.5 Million Now Available for School Health and Safety Grants to Address COVID-19
CHC Third Thursday Webinar Planned for June 18
Members are encouraged to register to participate in the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Third Thursday coming up on June 18, 2020 from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm. The webinar this week will focus on updates on COVID-19 by new Deputy Secretary of the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), Jamie Buchenauer. To participate, registration is required. Following registration, a confirmation email will be sent that contains information about joining the webinar.
Questions about the webinar should be directed to the OLTL Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management at 717-857-3280.
ANCOR Celebrates Members this Week!
Gov. Wolf Announces $260 Million in Funding to Help People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism During Pandemic
Prev