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Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Webinar
Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) often experience ongoing symptoms and limitations for years after their injuries. The investigators have designed and tested a model of TBI rehabilitation that is delivered in the home and includes family members. They will describe their ongoing NIH-funded research testing these approaches for veterans and civilians with TBI and their families.
A presentation and discussion with:
This session is intended for a professional audience. There is no cost to attend. Questions should be sent to MJ Schmidt. Use this link to register.
MINNEAPOLIS — Cooper Swenson recently spent 30 minutes walking through Target — something his mother, Kate, once thought the 11-year-old might never do…
ARPA Funds and Credentialing Information
April 4, 2022, 1:00 pm–1:30 pm
Audience: Providers
Join Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens and Bureau Director of Policy & Quality Management Jeremy Yale to discuss the recent announcement about the ODP American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) One-Time Supplemental Payment to Address Staff Training, Credentialing, and Business Associates Programs for Employment.
Format: ODP GoTo
Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Updates
April 11, 2022, 10:00 am–11:30 am
Audience: All Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) AAW Providers and Support Coordinators
The purpose of the meeting is to provide updates on the Adult Autism Waiver, answer questions, and provide technical assistance and support. These meetings are held for all ODP providers and Support Coordinators providing AAW services. The Virtual Office Hours (VOH) starts with an overview of any new ODP Announcements and also includes a) highlights of new practices, b) a review of topics and questions sent in advance, and c) a discussion of any concerns that have come up in the past few weeks. Providers will be able to ask questions directly of AAW Regional Office (RO) Representatives.
Format: Columbus GoTo
Statewide Positive Practice Seminar
April 14, 2022, 9:00 am–3:00 pm
Audience: All Stakeholders
You are invited to participate in the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting.
TOPIC: Embracing Behavioral Supports and Meaningful Applications — Positive behavioral support is a process that combines evidence-based practices to address behavioral challenges and improve independence, participation, and overall quality of life of individuals living and learning in complex community environments. This session will engage participants to take an active role in behavioral interventions and expand one’s knowledge with principles and practices for dual diagnosed individuals and trauma.
Session #1 — Hard to Tell: What Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Need Us to Know about Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
Dr. Caren Roser-Morris, Licensed Psychologist, OMHSAS.
Session #2 — The Importance of Quality of Life and Lifestyle Interventions in Behavioral Support
Jordan Hollander, Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations Session
Session #3 — The Power of Collaboration Through Behavioral Assessment and Treatment
Lindy Mishler, Behavior Specialist, Bureau of Support for Autism and Special Populations Stacey Keilman, CEO, Torrance State Hospital.
Format: Columbus GoTo
Charting the Lifecourse Applying Principles and Using Tools to Support a Good Life for Individuals and Families
April 27, 2022, 9:00 am–1:00 pm
Audience: Individuals & Families
“Charting the LifeCourse” was created to help individuals and families of all abilities and all ages develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.
Participants in this training will:
Format: Columbus Zoom
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) released Information Bulletin 01-22 today. The purpose of the bulletin is to remind all recovery houses in Pennsylvania, as well as entities who refer individuals to recovery houses, of several requirements of the recovery house law (Act 59 of 2017). A letter from DDAP Secretary Jennifer Smith communicating details of the bulletin was issued today to all stakeholders, as well.
A message from the Department of Human Services (DHS):
Attention Personal Care Services (PCS) and Home Health Care Services (HHCS) Providers:
DHS would like to announce that the Alternate EVV Technical Specifications and updated Sandata Alternate EVV Error Handling Overview and Reference Guide are available online for your review prior to the upcoming Alternate EVV Town Hall on April 11, 2022, at 1:00 pm ET (visit here to register). There will be a second session held May 27, 2022, at 12:00 pm ET for any additional questions that may arise.
All Alternate EVV vendors will need to be certified following the new Alternate EVV Technical Specifications published March 30, 2022. Vendors are expected to review the technical specifications document in its entirety and submit any questions during your registration to the Alternate EVV Town Hall.
If a vendor is not certified (due to being new to EVV) or recertified, the EVV visits will not be accepted for any provider agency the vendor supports. For PCS, the claims or encounters will deny because visit data would not be accepted as a result of the vendor not being recertified.
DHS recommends providers work with their EVV vendor to complete system updates to allow for sufficient time to complete integration testing and the recertification process prior to the Sandata EVV Release. The deployment date is currently expected to be on June 15, 2022. Any changes to this date will be communicated in a future Listserv. The initial certification process can be lengthy, and vendors should prepare accordingly. The minimum recommended time is 7.5 business weeks.
Further contact information for recertification will be provided at the Alternate EVV Town Hall on April 11, 2022.
Digging Deeper: School Policing in Allegheny County
Slots still available for free webinar
April 7, 2022, 2:00 pm–3:30 pm EST
REGISTER!
Schools should be safe places for learning, but the increased presence of police in schools has made schools less safe for some students, particularly students of color and students with disabilities. As school administrators, school boards, parents, and advocates seek to better understand the role police are playing in their schools, it is important to both listen to students and to critically examine data. But can the community count on data about school policing in schools? A recently-released report by ACLU of PA, Student Arrests in Allegheny County Schools: The Need for Transparency and Accountability, has found serious discrepancies and inconsistencies in how schools report student arrests and citations. While flawed, some patterns clearly emerge, including that race and disability-based disparities in policing are greater in Pennsylvania than the national averages, and that Pittsburgh has higher rates than other parts of the state. The co-authors of the report will present their findings, and we’ll discuss the implications.
Race + Disability Check-in: Representation in Media and Society
April 19, 2022, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm EST
REGISTER!
1 in 4 people in the US has a disability, yet disability is not widely portrayed in mainstream culture. Movements like #DisabilityTooWhite have shone a light on the limited scope of disability representation in media and society. In this interactive lunchtime conversation, we will unpack mainstream depictions of disability with an eye to how they engage with white supremacist culture as well as how they harm people people of color and people with disabilities.
You can always find the full list of upcoming programs here and recordings from past programs here.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the message that the Provider Electronic Solutions software, commonly referred to as PES, will be sunset on June 15, 2022. PES was distributed free of charge to providers as a method of submitting HIPAA-ready transactions such as claims and eligibility to the PROMISe system.
Effective June 15, 2022, the software will not work with Microsoft Edge or other commonly used internet browsers. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will no longer upgrade PES due to the product’s age, limited configurability, and end-user experience. The Provider Assistance Center (PAC), which was maintained by Gainwell Technologies, will no longer provide user support for PES effective June 15. 2022.
Providers are encouraged to use the PROMISe Provider Portal to submit claims, validate eligibility, conduct claim inquires, and access their weekly remittance advice. The PROMISe Provider portal is available free of charge and allows single-entry interactive submissions. Additionally, users can purchase certified software from software vendors or contract with a clearinghouse to handle ongoing HIPAA transaction needs.