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Policy Areas

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The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) is excited to collaborate with Step Up Services to offer free, in-person training sessions for Support Service Providers (SSP). SSPs support individuals who are DeafBlind in leading a self-determined life. There will be two training sessions, one in the eastern region and one in the western region.

Eastern Region
October 5, 2024
Northampton Community College

Western Region
November 2, 2024
Mount Aloysius College

Please note: In addition to attending one of the two trainings, individuals will need to complete an online course to become an SSP. For more details about this requirement, please contact ODHH.

Sign up today! The deadline to register is September 6, 2024.

For questions, please contact ODHH via email.

Message from the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC):

The Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) is pleased to announce the 2024 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice will be held at the Hilton Harrisburg on Wednesday, November 6 – Friday, November 8, 2024. Resource Day will be held on Friday, November 8, from 8:00 am – 11:00 am.

JCJC is inviting you to join them as an exhibitor at Resource Day, where your organization can interact with a wide variety of conference attendees, including, but not limited to, juvenile court judges, juvenile court hearing officers, juvenile probation staff, attorneys, providers, and other system stakeholders.

Students and faculty from colleges and universities across the Commonwealth will be invited to attend on Resource Day to learn about the important work being done in Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system. Please consider utilizing this time to network with possible future system professionals.

JCJ is also excited to announce a new addition to this year’s conference, as providers will be able to showcase their programs throughout the day on Thursday, November 7, though the use of banners, displays, or other promotional techniques. These unstaffed displays will be freestanding (nothing attached to walls) throughout the common areas of the hotel. Examples could include freestanding flags, banners, or signage/posters of programs. Specific details will be provided upon registration for the event.

If you are interested in being an exhibitor during Resource Day, please contact Michael Yoder, Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, via email or at (717) 874-1149. Please note that there are no fees to participate in Resource Day.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared this important announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the recall of Defibtech, LLC, RMU-2000 ARM XR Chest Compression Devices due to a problem with the device’s motor that may cause it to stop compressions. The use of the affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including:

  • Patient injuries;
  • Delay of therapy; and
  • Death due to a period of time without compressions to circulate oxygen throughout the body.

This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it without following the updated instructions.

Affected Product

  • RMU-2000 Chest Compression Module
    • Product Name: RMU-2000 ARM XR Chest Compression Device
    • Unique Device Identifier (UDI)/: UDI-DI: 00815098020812, 10815098020819
    • Serial Numbers: See full list.

What to Do

Do not use affected Defibtech RMU-2000 ARM XR Chest Compression Devices (identified by serial numbers). On July 12, 2024, Defibtech, LLC, sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Safety Removal letter recommending the following actions:

  • Identify and quarantine affected units; and
  • If devices were transferred or distributed further, please ensure the recipients are aware of this notice or provide Defibtech with contact information.

Customers will be contacted by Defibtech to arrange for product return and devices will be refunded, repaired, or replaced at no cost.

Reason for Recall

Defibtech, LLC, is recalling RMU-2000 ARM XR Chest Compression Devices due to a problem with the device’s motor that may cause it to stop compressions.

The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including patient injuries, delay of therapy and death due to a period of time without compressions to circulate oxygen throughout the body. There has been one reported injury and one report of death.

Device Use

The RMU-2000 ARM XR Chest Compression Device is used to provide chest compressions on adults whose hearts suddenly stop and are not circulating blood throughout the body.

Contact Information

Customers in the US with questions about this recall should contact Defibtech Customer Support at 877-453-4507, 7:30 am – 6:00 pm EST.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced applicants selected through a Request for Applications (RFA) process to administer Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices (CHC) program, the Medicaid managed care program that covers adults who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or who qualify to receive Medicaid long-term services and supports due to a need for the level of care provided in a nursing facility.

Selected applicants will now move to a readiness review period before the agreements are fully executed.

The five selected plans will be available statewide. They include the three current incumbents and two plans new to Community HealthChoices:

  • Aetna Better Health of Pennsylvania
  • Health Partners Plans
  • PA Health and Wellness
  • UPMC For You
  • Vista Health Plan (AmeriHealth Caritas/Keystone First)

RCPA will be reaching out to the selected applicants to be at the upcoming PD&A meeting in September. If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar or Melissa Dehoff.

Due to significant water damage to the Honor’s Suite at 333 Market Street Tower, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is notifying the public that the September 4 and the October 2 LTSS meetings will be held via Webinar and Remote Streaming only from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Register here for the September 4 webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Remote captioning and streaming services will be provided. If you require these services, please visit the remote captioning and streaming services link.

Regular communication will be sent for the October 2 webinar after the September meeting.

If there are any questions, please send an email to the LTSS Subcommittee inbox.

This is a final reminder that early bird rates for the 2024 RCPA Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success end this Friday, August 23! View our registration brochure for complete details, including Connections Hall networking opportunities, plenary and keynote speakers, and booking your hotel room at the Hershey Lodge. Please be aware that conference hotel rates end August 30, 2024. You can also visit our Conference website for the latest information.

Register Here for the 2024 RCPA Conference

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, with any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the Hershey Lodge!