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Policy Areas

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DSPs are a vital part of agencies everywhere.

MITC is awarding $5,000 in September to Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who stand out and go above and beyond to provide exemplary service. MITC values the hard work put forth by DSPs every day and is hoping to show our appreciation through these prizes!

Your participation is important — it shows DSPs that you appreciate their hard and, at times, dangerous work. Three prizes will be awarded:

  • First place prize of $3,000
  • Second place prize of $1,500
  • Third place prize of $500

We will share the awardees’ stories with providers. The winners will be announced during DSP Recognition Week in September 2023.

The deadline to nominate a DSP is August 1, 2023.

Nominate Your DSP

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The COVID-19 Mitigation Unit is currently evaluating devices that can eliminate viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens from air and surfaces simultaneously. The devices could be stand-alone or wall mounted, utilize a standard outlet for power, and would come with 2 years of supplies that may be needed to run the device.

If funding is approved, the Department of Health (DOH) would purchase and distribute the devices free of charge to small businesses, nonprofit entities, healthcare providers, and other facilities throughout the Commonwealth to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other diseases. If you are interested in receiving a device that could greatly reduce viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens in your facility, please complete this application. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2023.

Currently, the application is being used to gauge interest in receiving a device, and those who complete the application are not guaranteed a device; however, the application must be accurately completed in order to be considered when and if funding becomes available. At that point, DOH would reach out to the facilities chosen to receive devices to confirm delivery details and provide an approval notice. Devices will be awarded based on the amount of funding available and on a first come first served basis. DOH will also consider factors such as foot traffic versus square footage and COVID-19 risk in the community served, prioritizing underserved communities.

If you are interested, please complete this application. Feel free to email with any questions.

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The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network invites you to the next webinar, “Transitions of Care for Long-Term Residents.” The webinar will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

This webinar will review the Community HealthChoices Nursing Home Transitions Program. Learn about how this program can assist and empower residents who want to move from a nursing facility back to a home of their choice in the community.

All team members are invited. Visit here to register for this webinar. You will need your National Provider Identifier (NPI) to register. If you do not have one or do not know it, please enter 0 on the registration form.

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Orchid Phoenix is an annual virtual tabletop exercise (VTTX) facilitated by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) to improve the understanding of emergency response concepts, identify opportunities or problems for your program, and build organizational, systemic resiliency.

Previously, participation was only available to Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF). For this year, ODP is expanding Orchid Phoenix and invites the following organizations to participate:

  • ICF facilities;
  • ICF provider organizations; and
  • Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider organizations.

The exercise time commitment will be for one four-hour period during the last two weeks of August 2023. ODP will ensure that the four-hour time commitment is respected. Once the call for participants is closed and the number of interested organizations is known, you will receive additional communication to schedule a specific date and time.

The call for participants for the 2023 Orchid Phoenix VTTX will close on June 30, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Please submit your interest in participation here.

The 2023 Orchid Phoenix VTTX will be a group discussion-based and mediator-facilitated exercise that will focus on four key target capabilities: Planning, Operational Coordination, Situational Awareness, and Critical Transportation.

  • Participating organizations will be presented with an evolving scenario that summarizes key events occurring within a defined time period.
  • Participating organizations will engage representatives from within their organization for a functional group discussion to identify an organizational response and think critically about unmet needs or future concerns.
  • Each participating organization will share a summary of their functional group discussion to the other participating organizations.

Questions and concerns about the 2023 Orchid Phoenix VTTX or this communication may be directed to Douglas Trahey, MPA, Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator.

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In 2020, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) clinical team implemented a triage process to prioritize clinical support for participants and teams with high-risk needs. Currently, those participants deemed high-risk are assigned one clinical rep to consult with teams and ensure continuity of support. All other participant teams reach out to the clinical team as needed, but the clinical rep varies depending on the need at that time. The triage process remains fluid, and as participant’s needs change, risks increase, or new concerns arise, so will the level of clinical support. The triage levels are determined by multiple factors, including the information identified within the Periodic Risk Evaluation (PRE) and incident history. This triage process only applies to the ODP-BSASP Clinical Team and does not change any involvement, operational processes, or responsibilities of the Regional Office and the Regional Office Representatives.

New AAW Clinical Referral Process

In an effort to maximize the clinical team resources and triage team needs efficiently, the clinical team is implementing a new referral process for participant teams in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) in need of clinical support effective May 15, 2023. This new process will require Supports Coordinators (SCs) to complete an online form to share information about the type of support requested. View the full announcement here. The referral form is titled Referral for ODP/BSASP Consult for AAW Participants.

If you have any questions about this communication or process, please contact the Provider Support inbox.

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As the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends on May 11, there are several areas under this declaration, including the suspension of HIPAA enforcement, that will revert to the previous compliance standards.

As the PHE ends, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is providing a 90-calendar day transition period for covered health care providers to come into compliance with the HIPAA Rules with respect to their provision of telehealth. This transition period will be in effect beginning on May 12, 2023, and will expire at 11:59 pm on August 9, 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services has released this notice.

The RCPA Telehealth Work Group will be meeting June 27, 2023 and is looking to have OMHSAS on the call to provide guidance on processes and auditing functions after the transition dates. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp. As this is a federal notice, questions related to this announcement should be directed to Marissa Gordon-Nguyen at 202-619–0403 or 800-537–7697 (TDD).

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