The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-111. The Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) provider table has been updated to reflect new procedure codes for Specialized Skill Development: Behavioral Specialist services, effective November 1, 2024, and to correct errors found in the October 1, 2024, release. Previous ODP Announcement 24-095 is now obsolete.
Please view the announcement for information and details.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Physician Fee Schedule CY 2025 Final Rule. You can view CMS’ press release, fact sheet, and final rule page in the Federal Register for more information. There were critical areas addressed in this year’s Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), including:
For the OPPS Final Rule, please see links to CMS’ press release, fact sheet, and final rule page in the Federal Register. Some highlights from this final rule include:
If you have any further questions regarding these final rulings or the application of the “four walls” impacts on Pennsylvania, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.
Pennsylvania saw a large Election Day turnout in certain areas of the Commonwealth, so before sending out the Election Day update, RCPA wanted to wait so we could report to you the most accurate information available.
As of today, November 8, 2024, there are still two seats in question. One is the US Senate race between the Incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D) and his opponent, Dave McCormick (R). The other seat in question is in Cambria County between Incumbent State Rep. Frank Burns (D) and his opponent, Amy Bradley (R). More information on these two races is available below.
Election Results
President
Trump (R) – 50.5%
Harris (D) – 48.5%
Donald Trump won the race to be the 47th President of the United States. Trump saw increased support this election with Black and Latino men. The rural areas of the Commonwealth offset any Democrat leads in the urban areas, and in many urban areas Trump limited the Democrats’ winning margins.
US Senate
McCormick (R) – 49%
Casey (D) – 48.5%
This race has been called by the Associated Press (AP) in favor of Dave McCormick, but Sen. Casey has not conceded the race yet. According to AP, McCormick is currently winning by about 30,000 votes. AP believes the remaining votes will break in favor of McCormick. We will keep the members posted as events unfold.
The Republicans have flipped the US Senate and currently have a 52-seat majority, with the possibility of gaining two more seats (Pennsylvania and Arizona).
US House
The US House is projected to stay in Republican control by a 222–213 majority. In Pennsylvania, two US House seats flipped from Democrat to Republican in Northeast PA and the Lehigh Valley (see results below).
District 7 (Lehigh Valley)
Ryan MacKenzie (R) – 50.7%
Incumbent Susan Wild (D) – 49.3%
District 8 (NEPA)
Rob Bresnahan (R) – 51%
Incumbent Matt Cartwright (D) – 49%
District 10 (Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York Counties)
Incumbent Scott Perry (R) – 50.8%
Janelle Stelson (D) – 49.2%
PA Senate
The Republicans went into Election Day with a 28–22 seat majority and came out of the election with the same majority.
PA House
The House Democrats went into Election Day with a majority of seats, 102–101. As of today, November 8, 2024, one race will decide whether the Democrats maintain control of the House or the Republicans assume majority control.
The race in question is in Cambria County, between Incumbent Democrat Frank Burns and his Republican opponent, Amy Bradley. As of today, Burns holds a 936 vote lead with approximately 97% of the vote in. As of this writing, the AP called the race for Rep. Burns, but challenges will probably be filed by the Bradley campaign.
Next Week
The House will be in session next Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Senate will be in session Wednesday and Thursday. It is believed no major legislation will be voted on and both chambers will hold leadership elections for the 2025/26 legislative session.
If you have any questions, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-110. This communication announces the new Deaf Services required training, replacing the previously required Harry M Settlement training (ODP Communication Number 119-17).
The Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind Required Training is available on MyODP’s website.
Please view the announcement for information and details.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared updated guidance through ODPANN 24-109. The use of cameras and video monitoring equipment in individual bedrooms and bathrooms is strictly prohibited for Pennsylvania’s CMS-approved Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support, and Adult Autism Waivers. Please view the announcement for information and details.
On behalf of its opioid treatment program (OTP) provider members, RCPA submitted comments to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) in support of a final-omitted regulation that would allow an initial physical examination required for prescribing, administering, and dispensing controlled substances through an OTP to be conducted via telehealth under certain circumstances under Pa. 49 Code § 16.92.
This final-omitted regulation would enable the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to grant a statewide exception to 28 Pa. Code § 715.9(a)(4), which today requires Pennsylvania OTPs (called narcotic treatment programs in DDAP regulations) to conduct a face-to-face determination of whether an individual is currently physiologically dependent on an opioid.
IRRC will consider the final-omitted regulation at a public meeting on December 5.
In its comments, RCPA wrote:
“Enabling OTPs to conduct the initial examination required as part of induction into methadone or buprenorphine treatment through telehealth significantly improves and expedites patient access to the gold standard treatment for OUD without sacrificing quality or safety. In a treatment environment where finding qualified physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners is challenging, telehealth bridges a significant gap. Physicians would no longer need to be physically on site at the OTP where treatment is to take place to examine a patient as part of the induction process. Rather, from anywhere in the commonwealth, a physician can examine more patients, who can then begin treatment with medication faster at a facility near their home. In fact, with this final-omitted regulation, OTPs will have the ability to accommodate same-day or walk-in admissions instead of scheduling intake appointments days later.”
The final-omitted regulation, submitted by the Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, State Board of Medicine, along with comments in support from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and RCPA, can be viewed on the IRRC website.
The PA Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has further developed the draft of the Financial Needs Test (FNT) policy after incorporating feedback received during the September 2024 public comment period. As a result, there will be a second, shorter public comment period on the draft. The draft will be posted on OVR’s website for public review beginning November 11, 2024.
Virtual meetings will be held via Zoom at 9:00 am and 2:30 pm on Monday, November 18, 2024, to provide an overview of the policy and accept comments (content will be the same in both meetings). The public is invited to comment on the draft policy through November 22, 2024. Comments may be directed to OVR’s Public Comment inbox.
Zoom Meeting Information:
CART and sign language interpreters will be available for these meetings via the Zoom link.
Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please send your request to OVR’s Public Comment inbox.
The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting was held yesterday, November 6, 2024. During the meeting, a number of presentations were given. In addition to the presentations, the agenda and a document that provided follow-up items from the October 2, 2024, LTSS Subcommittee meeting were provided.
Members should take time to review the PowerPoint presentations from the meeting below:
The 2025 meeting dates for the LTSS Subcommittee were also shared:
The meetings will continue to be held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the 2025 quarterly meeting dates for next year’s OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinars and asks that you mark your calendars.
2025 OMHSAS STAKEHOLDER WEBINAR DATES:
In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for January’s webinar, please submit them via email. We will monitor the account and will only reply to the sender if more information is needed. Responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.
Please note that webinar links will be provided closer to each of the meeting dates as shown above.
Thank you for your review and please – SAVE THE DATE.
If members have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.
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