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Harrisburg, PA – As child care providers across Pennsylvania reopen in counties transitioning to the yellow phase in Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to supporting this crucial industry and the families of young children who depend on it.

To slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and prevent loss of life, Governor Wolf issued a statewide stay-at-home order April 1; however, the order allowed DHS’ Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to implement a waiver process for child care centers serving families of essential workers. Family and group child care homes operating in a home setting were also allowed to remain in operation under the governor’s order.

As of May 5, approximately 1,529 child care providers continue to operate in Pennsylvania. This includes 626 child care centers and 903 group and family child care homes.

When a county moves to the yellow phase in the governor’s plan, all child care providers are permitted to reopen without a waiver. The Department of Human Services is prepared to support child care providers and Pennsylvania families throughout the reopening process.

Child care providers preparing to open must familiarize themselves with and be prepared to implement guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which outlines the steps providers should take to keep child care spaces safe and to properly monitor staff and children for potential exposure to and symptoms of COVID-19.

The Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) also remain available to families throughout Pennsylvania during this period. ELRCs can help families locate an operating child care provider in the community, determine eligibility for the Child Care Works subsidy program, and provide referrals to other supportive programs and services.

Child Care Works payments will continue to providers with active enrollments through the end of May. These payments will be made based on active enrollment, not child attendance.

OCDEL will continue to communicate regularly with providers. Communications from OCDEL can be found on the DHS website or through the Pennsylvania Key.

“Child care providers in counties moving to the yellow phase are not required to open, and families may still choose to keep their child at home,” Secretary Miller said.

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On May 1, 2020, Governor Wolf announced that 24 counties from the northwest and north-central regions of Pennsylvania would be moving from red phase to yellow phase beginning Friday, May 8, 2020 as part of the Wolf administration’s process to reopen PA. This marks a reduction in some restrictions on work and social interactions. However, restrictions related to congregate care settings remain in place.

The following counties moved from red phase to yellow phase on May 8, 2020: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, and Warren.

These counties were deemed ready to move to the yellow phase because of low per-capita case counts, the ability to conduct contact tracing and testing, and appropriate population density to contain community spread.

OLTL Services in Counties the Governor Declares in the Yellow Phase

Moving from the red phase to the yellow phase does not change any guidance that has been issued by OLTL or the Community HealthChoices (CHC) managed care organizations (MCO). All conditions outlined in the guidance noted below continue to apply to each provider category.

Home and Community-Based Services CHC Waiver Operational Guidance and the OBRA Waiver Operational Guidance including remote initial level of care assessments, Service Coordinator contacts, person-centered service plan development and provision of service.
Nursing Facilities

 

 Clarification Guidance for Pennsylvania Pre-Admission Screening Resident Review (PASRR), the Interim Guidance on Visitation in Nursing Facilities During COVID-19, and  Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention
Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) LIFE Provider Guidance Related to COVID-19
Assisted Living Residences and Personal Care Homes Interim Guidance on Visitation in Nursing Facilities During COVID-19,the Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention, the Guidance Suspending and Restricting License Requirements for Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences, and Visitation Restrictions in Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences

Providers are encouraged to continue to monitor the Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date DOH guidance on COVID-19, the Department of Human Services (DHS) COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date DHS guidance on COVID-19, and Governor Wolf’s website for responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.

OLTL will continue to evaluate the steps necessary to address the Governor’s plan to reopen PA and communicate updated guidance as the situation evolves.

If you have questions about the information in this ListServ email, please contact the OLTL Provider Helpline at 800-932-0939.

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The Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) has released two separate guidances related to Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) services during the Corona Pandemic. The purpose of these communications are to advise all county administrators, brokers, and all contracted transit agencies (collectively referred to as MATP agencies) of the precautions necessary to ensure safe provision of non-emergency medical transportation services to Medical Assistance beneficiaries while the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on March 6, 2020, remains in effect.

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Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced that approval was received from the United States Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families to delay opting into full implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act until July 1, 2021, to give child welfare stakeholders the necessary time to implement these critical reforms.

The Family First Prevention Services Act is a federal law that prioritizes providing services to children in families in the least restrictive manner and with their families as much as safely possible. It allows states to use federal payments for trauma-informed evidence-based prevention services to allow children who may otherwise be placed in congregate settings care to stay with their parents or relatives. In the event placement outside the home occurs, the law directs federal funding towards family-like settings or other specialized settings that are best suited to a child’s individual needs.

The additional time will allow for interested providers for specialized settings to apply or to adjust their programs under the Family First Prevention Services Act. Specialized settings are trauma-informed child residential facilities or supervised independent living programs specializing in providing care and treatment for children and youth with special circumstances.

Furthermore, the delay will support our efforts to build additional evidence-based prevention programs used by counties in a way that safely keeps families together, allows for staffing and data needs to be met, and will not result in the loss of federal funds.

DHS previously released a bulletin with guidance and requirements for providers that wish to become a specialized setting.

RCPA will continue to be represented on the Statewide Family First Task Force and will continue to update members on the new implementation process, timelines, and progress status. If you would like to discuss your organization’s Family First plan or if you have questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated information on recent actions and resources specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CMS Continues to release waivers for the health care community that provide flexibilities needed to take care of patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The additional blanket waivers are provided here.

CMS updated a video that answers commonly asked questions about the expanded Medicare telehealth services benefit.

They also published an MLN Matters article which provides information for pharmacies and other suppliers that wish to enroll in Medicare temporarily as independent clinical diagnostic laboratories, to assist with addressing needs for COVID-19 testing.

Additional flexibilities offered to states to address the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the following waivers, a toolkit was developed to expedite the application and review of each request.

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ANCOR is partnering with the National Council of Behavioral Health to get the eligibility cap lifted for nonprofits providing I/DD, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health services. Here’s the ANCOR/NatCon issue brief with the “ask” we sent to Congress.

As nonprofit providers of intellectual and developmental disability services and supports, you are on the front lines of the novel, COVID-19 pandemic. While Congress has been making strides to support small businesses, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act excluded from eligibility for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) nonprofits who employ more than 500 employees.

This exclusion has led to your organizations having to make hard decisions, ranging from furloughs, reducing services, experiencing exploding costs with no assurance of reimbursement. This is unacceptable – people with disabilities cannot be forgotten at this time of crisis. Now is the time to act.

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Kristin Ahrens

Dear friends and colleagues,

Thank you so much for your overwhelming response to our invitation to submit innovative program models you have developed for community participation supports and employment opportunities. The energy, enthusiasm, and innovation you are establishing is impressive.

Within ODP we have brought together a review committee that will begin to work on selection of proposals on a regional basis, and contacting agencies to begin developing the webinar series. Due to the overwhelming response, we are closing submissions as of this date. Please remain patient with us while we conduct this review. We will be in touch with the contacts specified in the response form you completed as we move forward this spring and early summer.

Thank you for all your work and dedication to the individuals and families we serve.

Sincerely,
Kristin Ahrens
Deputy Secretary

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