';
Policy Areas

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make one-time payments for workforce recovery efforts. Payments will be calculated at 6% of the fee schedule revenue received for services rendered between July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, for the waiver services listed in the announcement. Don’t miss this opportunity for additional funding for your organization!

The intent of these funds is to assist providers in covering costs related to staffing programs and services. Other than the restriction that payments may not be used to increase or supplement compensation for agency executive staff, there are no specific restrictions, timeframes, or reporting due for these funds other than completing the ODP Workforce Recovery Supplemental Payments survey. ODP has indicated that this revenue would be considered similar to any other service revenue and advises providers to keep a record of how funds were used in the event that they are reviewed as part of the normal claim review process.

As of the morning of May 6, 2024, ODP has received requests from 350 providers. If your MPI is on this file, this will serve as confirmation that your agency’s request has been received. ODP will release a similar file next week prior to the deadline. Late requests will not be accepted. Providers must request the subject payments no later than May 15, 2024. See ODP Announcement 24-041 for additional information.

For any questions, contact Carol Ferenz.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated the regulations that prohibit discrimination based on disabilities to clarify obligations in several critical areas. Specifically, the rule:

  • Ensures that medical treatment decisions are not based on negative biases or stereotypes about individuals with disabilities, judgments that an individual with a disability will be a burden on others, or dehumanizing beliefs that the life of an individual with a disability has less value than the life of a person without a disability.
  • Prohibits the use of any measure, assessment, or tool that discounts the value of a life extension on the basis of disability to deny, limit, or otherwise condition access to an aid, benefit or service.
  • Defines what accessibility means for websites and mobile applications and sets forth a specific technical standard to ensure that health care and human service activities delivered through these platforms are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
  • Adopts the U.S. Access Board’s standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, like exam tables and mammography machines.
  • Details requirements to ensure nondiscrimination in the services provided by HHS funded child welfare agencies, including, but not limited to, reasonable efforts to prevent foster care placement, parent-child visitation, reunification services, child placement, parenting skills programs, and in- and out-of-home services.
  • Clarifies obligations to provide services in the most integrated setting, like receiving services in one’s own home, appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, the Final Rule updates existing requirements to make them consistent with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), as many HHS recipients are also covered by the ADA. This consistency will improve and simplify compliance.

View the full press release here. If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

 

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-043. This announcement’s purpose is:

  1. To announce changes in the Medication Administration Training course and possible impacts of those changes:
    • Written Documentation — Part 1: Pharmacy Label/Medication Record Comparison (Exam); and
    • Lesson Quizzes (1–9).
  2. To announce changes in the Practicum Observer materials. which can be found in Trainer Resources.
  3. To announce the availability of an in-person Face-to-Face class for New Trainers. This class will be held at Temple University – Harrisburg, on June 27, 2024. New Trainers may register for this class on the Medication Administration site after successfully completing the Train-the-Trainer course.

Please view the announcement for information and details.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the next Medicare Updates and Education webinar. The webinar, “Medicare & Other Programs for People With Disabilities,” is scheduled for May 9, 2024, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm and will include information about:

  • What’s Happening in Medicare – May 2024;
  • NTP Announcements and Resources;
  • Women’s Health Week (May 12 — May 18);
  • National Osteoporosis Prevention Month;
  • World No Tobacco Day (May 31);
  • Older Americans Month;
  • Arthritis Awareness Month;
  • Mental Health Awareness Month; and
  • Coverage to Care.

To participate, please register here.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-042. This communication is to advise stakeholders that the Temple University Harrisburg Certified Investigator Program and ODP will be facilitating Forums for Certified Investigators (CI) and others involved in the incident investigation process. It also announces the posting of Q&A documents from past CI Forums on MyODP. Read the announcement for details.