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Policy Areas

Tablet on a desk - Newsletter

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) contracts with Temple University Harrisburg to deliver the ODP Certified Investigator (CI) Program. ODP and Temple University have developed the CI Program Spotlight Quarterly Newsletter, which provides helpful information and resources to Certified Investigators, Administrative Review Committee members, CI Peer Reviewers, Incident Management (IM) Reps, and others involved in the incident investigation process. Every three months, there will be a new issue of the CI Spotlight.

This edition of the newsletter, Volume 1 Issue 4, includes articles on Process Deviations, Recertification Information, and more. This edition can be found on the MyODP website by following the link on the CI Program home page.

Please view the announcement, ODPANN 24-119, for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is assisting the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) in gathering data, which will be used for a collaborative high-priority initiative to evaluate the effectiveness of a Quality Investment Pilot program. To do so, ODP is requesting your assistance to provide the following data for each of your ICF locations:

  1. Provider Name:
  2. Location (ICF Site Name):
  3. Number of people residing at the location as of November 30, 2024:
  4. The number of people at the location not covered by Medicaid (i.e., # of Private Pay clients) as of November 30, 2024:
  5. The number of DOH citations related to infection control at each location from 2020 to date and the tag number(s):
  6. Has this site participated with the RISE program?

You may supply the data by typing the responses after each question in an email reply, or by attaching a spreadsheet with the following columns completed:

Facility Name Location/ Site Name Number of Residents as of 11/30/24 Number of Private Pay Residents as of 11/30/24 No. of DOH Citations related to Infection Control from 2020 to date Tag Numbers for DOH Citations related to Infection Control from 2020 to date Has this facility participated in the RISE program?

Please send your responses electronically to Lisa Wagner by close of business Friday, December 6, 2024.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The ID/A Provider Associations of PA have joined together to request a meeting with Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens. We specifically want the opportunity to address concerns we have with the implementation of Performance-Based Contracting. These concerns include:

  • Ensuring Network Adequacy;
  • Ensuring workforce sustainability;
  • Ensuring Timely disputes, and/or appeals; and
  • Protecting Available funds from potential political pressures.

The Deputy Secretary has agreed to meet with us in the near future, and we will keep members apprised of any developments as a result of our discussion.

Contact Carol Ferenz for any questions regarding association concerns with Performance-Based Contracting.

Despite opposition and concerns from substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers, single county authorities, primary contractors, and behavioral health managed care organizations, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) will begin licensing telehealth-only SUD treatment providers.

DDAP will issue a licensing alert on Wednesday, December 4, detailing the new licensure category.

Organizations newly licensed under this tele-only category will be able to provide intake, evaluation, and referral services, as well as outpatient treatment, including partial hospitalization services, via telehealth only, without a physical plant location in Pennsylvania.

DDAP’s intention in licensing telehealth-only providers is to hold them to the same standards as facility-based providers as a way to ensure equity and maintain operational standards. DDAP will continue to monitor complaints and unusual incidents for all licensed providers, as well as the number of telehealth-only license applications that are made over time, looking for any trends that could require additional action.

RCPA and its provider members opposed creation of the new license, citing patient safety and quality concerns, as well as potential erosion of the community-based provider system. RCPA hosted DDAP for a discussion about its concerns, met one-on-one with the department, and provided written feedback to DDAP. In addition, RCPA met with the governor’s Policy Office, to discuss provider concerns.

DDAP will attend RCPA’s next SUD Committee meeting at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 10. RCPA has asked DDAP to discuss the new license category. RCPA members wanting to attend this meeting can register here.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the release of the Guide to the ODP Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind Services. ODP is committed to effectively supporting d/Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind (DHHDB) individuals. The guide provides information, guidance, and combines all the current announcements (ODPANN 21-055, ODPANN 22-097, and ODPANN 22-099) into one document for ease of use. It can be found under the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind Required Training on the MyODP website.

Please view the announcement, ODPANN 24-118, for addition information and details.