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Policy Areas

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) recently released the Request for Information (RFI) to gather feedback regarding the implementation of Agency With Choice (AWC) services for the participants of Medical Assistance (MA) managed care programs, the 1915(c) MA home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program, and a state-funded program.

Through these programs, eligible participants receive long-term services and supports (LTSS) and other benefits, depending on the particular program. Specifically, this RFI seeks information to assist OLTL in determining how it may improve options for LTSS participants to self-direct their services in the Community HealthChoices Program (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and the state-funded Act 150 Attendant Care Program through the procurement and implementation of AWC.

Through this RFI, OLTL is seeking to become more aware of and knowledgeable about current efforts to increase opportunities for self-direction and feedback on the implementation of AWC through a potential, future procurement. OLTL encourages interested parties, including vendors and stakeholders, to provide feedback in response to this RFI or any part of it. An interested party may respond to all or any of the specific questions or topics included in this RFI.

RFI responses are due by12:00 pm on March 25, 2022. Responses must be submitted electronically with “OLTL Agency With Choice RFI” in the email subject line. While OLTL does not intend to respond to questions or clarifications during the RFI response period, interested parties and individuals may submit administrative questions related to this RFI electronically using “OLTL Agency With Choice” in the email subject line. OLTL may or may not respond based on the nature of the question.

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The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet for a budget hearing with the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) at 2:30 pm today, March 16. The budget hearing will be livestreamed. Please note that RCPA provider members received an email from RCPA earlier this week that incorrectly stated the hearing was at 10:00 am today.

For Fiscal Year 2022/2023, the governor is budgeting a total of $317 million for DDAP, which is a 16 percent reduction over the current fiscal year’s budget of $379 million. The decrease is due to a $60 million reduction in federal State Opioid Response dollars.

More details of DDAP’s budget are available in DDAP’s Bluebook. In addition, a previous communication from RCPA about DDAP’s budget ahead of its House Appropriations Committee provides additional detail about the $317 million budget.

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The purpose of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Bulletin 00-22-01 is to communicate and clarify the requirements for Targeted Support Management (TSM) that were approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Changes to TSM discussed in this bulletin include:

  • Expansion of TSM services, effective August 20, 2017, to individuals with autism.
  • Expansion of TSM services, effective July 1, 2021, to children age 8 or younger with a developmental disability who are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) and who have been determined to need an Intermediate Care Facility for Other Related Conditions (ICF/ORC) level of care.
  • Expansion of TSM services, effective July 1, 2021, to individuals age 0 through 21 with a medically complex condition that is a chronic health condition that affects three or more organ systems, and that the individual requires medically necessary skilled nursing intervention to execute medical regimens to use technology for respiration, nutrition, medication administration, or other bodily functions. Individuals must be eligible for MA and have been determined to need an ICF/ORC level of care.
  • Clarification regarding the use of the LifeCourse framework and tools.
  • Clarification of expected assessment activities and the development of the Individual Support Plan (ISP).
  • Addition of enhanced qualification requirements for TSM providers and Targeted Support Manager Supervisors.
  • Clarification that individuals who are enrolled in and receiving case management services under any Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program administered via an 1115, 1915(b) and (c), or 1915(a), (b), or (c) waiver are not eligible to receive TSM.

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Join us to meet Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead, who will be providing an update on the DHS priorities for 2022, at the RCPA Physical Disabilities & Aging Divison meeting on Thursday, March 17. Register here to participate; if you have already registered, please disregard this reminder.  If you haven’t registered, please do so as soon as possible.

The meeting will be held via webcast on March 17, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Participants will hear what the latest updates are on both the federal and state levels, as well as a number of other issues impacting providers.

Note: if you have any difficulty registering, please contact Allison Brognia for assistance.

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The 2022 RCPA Conference, Together, will be held October 11–14 at the Hershey Lodge as a premier statewide event. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 14 at 5:00 pm. Encouraged presentations are those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including value-based purchasing and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on recruiting and developing a committed workforce;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to work Together.

Workshop ideas for 2022 include:

  • Workforce shortage solutions;
  • The changing health care landscape, including telehealth changes;
  • Executive leadership;
  • Integrated care strategies for implementation and reimbursement;
  • Managed care models for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, including other state experiences;
  • Advanced ethics topics;
  • Acquisitions/mergers and consolidations;
  • Value-based purchasing and alternative payment options; and
  • Employing people with disabilities.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use, children’s, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives outline requirements for submissions. Please send RCPA your proposal by Monday, March 14 at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals, and we encourage members to share this information with speakers and presenters who they believe would be a good fit for the conference. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by May 13, 2022. Questions may be directed to Sarah Eyster or Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinators.

We look forward to coming together again this October!

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RCPA and our Delta Center Grant partner, the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC), invite people with first-hand experience and advocates using or trying to use telehealth services to share your experiences.

The discussions and subsequent recommendations will guide the PA Delta Center team in its advocacy in developing regulations, bulletins, and practices that ensure equity and access to services for all communities. These forums are to bring advocates and stakeholders to the table to provide life experience and perspectives that can shape policy development. We hope you will join us for one of these events, as your participation will be key to our ongoing work in ensuring a healthy and sustainable telehealth footprint in Pennsylvania.

People who are volunteering to join the forum for free will be paid a stipend of $20/hour for their time or given an equivalent in a gift card.

To register for the first forum on March 16, visit here.

To register for the second forum on March 30, visit here.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Eyster of RCPA.

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