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Policy Areas

From Institutions to Community
Learning From Our Past: Improvements in Disability Supports Through the 20th Century Webinar

In honor of March being National Disabilities Awareness Month, Partners for Quality has invited all members of the IDD Community to attend a free webinar on Tuesday, March 8, from 3:00 pm–4:00 pm. For decades, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities were institutionalized, with little regard for their dignity, their right to choose, or their potential for growth and independence. Conditions were often overcrowded and even inhumane.

The Pennhurst State School and Hospital, in operation from 1903–1987, is a chilling example of an institution that holds vital lessons from our past. This free webinar will explore the mistakes made during the first half of the 20th century, the transitions from seclusion to self-advocacy, and the long overdue respect for persons with disabilities.

Introduction will be by Maggie Rothenberger, President & CEO of Partners For Quality. Dr. James Conroy, Co-President of Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance, will present some important and historical information on the Pennhurst State Institution to help us remember why we do what we do in the community!

Join via Zoom.
Meeting ID: 875 0777 8886 Passcode: 632925

This webinar will be presented by Partners for Quality in cooperation with Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance. RCPA wishes to thank them for this opportunity.

Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

Today in a meeting with RCPA, Deputy Secretary Ahrens confirmed that even though the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) budget Blue Book indicates that Prudent Pay would be reinstated in Fiscal Year 2022/23, a decision has been made to continue the suspension. We anticipate a formal notification will be forthcoming. While we are grateful for the suspension for an additional year, RCPA will continue working with the legislature for a permanent solution.

ODP Announcement 22-025 serves to provide the hourly wage and benefits ranges for specific Participant Directed Services (PDS) for participants utilizing the Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent (VF/EA) FMS model, effective March 1, 2022. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) updated the data used in establishing rates, which impacted the hourly wage and benefits ranges. The high end of the hourly wage and benefits ranges either increased or remained the same. There were no decreases to the high end of the hourly wage and benefits ranges. These wage and benefit ranges will be used to pay SSPs and to support claims processing in the Provider Reimbursement and Operations Management Information System in electronic format (PROMISe™) by the VF/EA FMS organization. This communication will only be updated when changes occur to the information contained within.

ODP Announcement 22-026 is to announce that the proposed Fee Schedule Rates and Department-Established Fees for Consolidated, Community Living and P/FDS Waiver services, as well as the Community Intellectual Disability Base-funded program were published at 52 Pa.B. 102 (January 1, 2022).

The Department received comments from 134 stakeholders regarding the proposed changes to the Fee Schedule Rates and Department-Established Fees. After reviewing the comments on the proposed rates, the Department determined that an increase to the Fee Schedule Rates for the Agency With Choice Financial Management Services monthly administrative fee from $285.28 to $311.68 was necessary to cover staff wages and the costs of implementing participant directed services in accordance with requirements in the approved Waivers.

No other changes were made to the rates as a result of public comment.

ODP Announcement 22-024 is intended to provide the hourly wage and benefits ranges for specific Participant Directed Services (PDS) provided to participants utilizing the AWC FMS model, effective March 1, 2022.

ODP updated the data used in establishing rates, which impacted the hourly wage and benefits ranges effective March 1, 2022. The high end of the hourly wage and benefits ranges either increased or remained the same.

These wage and benefit ranges will be used to pay SSPs and to support claims processing in the Provider Reimbursement and Operations Management Information System (PROMISe™) in electronic format by the AWC FMS organization. This communication will only be updated when changes occur to the information contained within.