Disability Employment Month
October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. President Obama has issued a proclamation in recognition of Americans with disabilities and the need to promote community inclusive employment opportunities.
ODP Updates
The Office of Developmental Programs has released the following information:
ODP Announcement 090-15: New Schedule to Update Rates and ISP Data in HCSIS to Support the Provider Settlement Agreement
AUDIENCE:
Waiver Residential Habilitation Service Providers who signed the Provider Settlement Agreement Addendum, Administrative Entities (AE), Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) and All Interested Parties.
PURPOSE:
This Office of Developmental Program (ODP) communication is intended to inform waiver residential habilitation service providers, who signed the Provider Settlement Agreement Addendum and participated in the rate retention factor (RRF) process, of the following:
On Thursday, October 1, 2015, at 10:00 am, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing, “Examining Potential Ways to Improve the Medicare Program,” that will include the review of three bills that strive to strengthen Medicare. The bills that will be examined include:
RCPA just received this important information from DDAP.
One of RCPA’s members has asked for member feedback, via a survey on chronic pain patients that are being seen for Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs), to evaluate their eligibility to receive disability payments.
There are examples of where patients may not be physically able to return to their previous job, but would be able to perform other areas of work (more sedentary, less repetition, or other adaptations). However, many times these individuals continue to pursue disability because they do not know of, or have access to, other options.
We are curious if other members are providing FCEs for individuals applying for disability and if there are any return-to-work programs for individuals with chronic pain. Please complete this survey by Thursday, October 15, 2015, to have your responses included. Thank you for your participation.
The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has compiled the responses from the survey conducted on the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL). Many of the questions that were posed in response to the survey are answered through the following handouts, as well as on the state’s CPSL website. Members are strongly encouraged to review the website and handouts.
The OCYF is coordinating with Bureau of Human Services Licensing to host a webinar for providers in November, in order to address questions on CPSL and provide further clarification. Additional details for this webinar will be available in the near future. After your organization has reviewed the materials provided, please send any additional, unanswered questions you may have to Nicole Good at OCYF by Friday, October 9, 2015. These questions can then be addressed during the webinar.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a revised inpatient rehabilitation facility patient assessment instrument (IRF PAI) training manual. The updated sections of the training manual are located on the IRF PAI web page under Downloads.
The revised training manual only covers the changes made to the IRF PAI, including:
The updated training manual becomes effective on Thursday, October 1, 2015.
ODP Updates
The Office of Developmental Programs has issued the following information:
Announcement #084-15: ODP Required Training: Supports Coordinator’s Conversations with ODP Deputy Secretary Nancy Thaler; four separate webinar dates for discussion on the role of SCs as policies are revised and changed.
Materials from the September 15 meeting of the RCPA Children’s Division are now available:
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