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Policy Areas

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Act 153 of 2014 requires the Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, to conduct a study which includes the analysis and development of recommendations on employment bans for those having contact with children. The study must include recommendations on changes in permanent and temporary employment bans to align and make uniform the provisions under the Child Protective Services Law and the Public School Code. A report of the study’s findings and recommendations must be submitted to the certain committees of the General Assembly by Thursday, December 31, 2015.

In order to complete this work, staff from the Department of Human Services have been conducting research specific to the employment bans within other states as they relate to child care service and school employees along with foster and adoptive parents. RCPA, along with other child serving and child advocacy organizations, has been invited to participate in a process to relate the recommendations to the General Assembly. This group will be meeting under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Children, Youth and Families over the next several months.

RCPA will be requesting that our members who provide services in the areas of child behavioral health, child welfare, pediatric rehabilitation, education, and juvenile justice, provide information regarding current employment bans on program operations, and service capacity and delivery in the communities served by members. Information requested can be sent to Connell O’Brien.

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ODP Update
The Office of Developmental Programs has released the following information:

  • Announcement #074-15: CMS Final Rule for HCBS Waivers: An Overview Now Professional Developmental Course; webcast now available for all audiences which can include one credit hour for supports coordinators.
  • Pennsylvania’s Lifesharing Coalition is presenting its 2015 Lifesharing Conference on Monday-Tuesday, October 19-20, 2015, at the Ramada Hotel, State College. Keynote speakers will be
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School Based Services Work Group
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
2:00 – 3:30 pm (in person and via webcast)
PaTTAN Pittsburgh: 3190 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh 

RCPA members providing school based behavioral health and rehabilitation services are encouraged to register and participate in this meeting along with their school partners in the community.

  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Open Forum: Challenges and Potential Solutions in School Based Behavioral Health
    • Family Engagement
    • Challenges for APS and Alt Ed Services
    • Implementing and Sustaining Collaborative SBBH Services
    • Funding, Grants, Contracts, Partner Agreements
    • Certification and Background Checks
  • Open Forum: Challenges and Potential Solutions in Pediatric Rehabilitation Health Care
    • Contracts, Partner Agreements for OT, PT, S&LT
    • Coordination of Autism/Neurobehavioral Services
    • Certification and Background Checks
  • Professional Staff Recruitment and Retention Challenges
    • Licensed Clinical and Rehab Staff
  • Report from the State SBBH Community of Practice

See full agenda here

RCPA thanks the leadership and staff of PaTTAN Pittsburgh for their hospitality.

Meeting will be available via webcast; webcast instructions sent 24-48 hours prior to meeting

Next meeting: January, 2016, date and location to be determined

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The location for the ODP meeting with SCOs on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, is the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 717-233-6000. Coffee and tea will be available in the morning. However, lunch will be on our own.

The invitation is open to SCO directors and two additional key staff from your organization. Pre-registration

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For some time, RCPA has been tracking concerns regarding the Medicaid requirement that behavior specialists working with children on the autism spectrum hold a Behavior Specialist or other appropriate license in order to bill for services. Our members have communicated growing concerns about workforce adequacy, staff recruitment, and access to services. Over the past month, this has resulted in two actions that are likely to impact providers of autism services to children.

In August of this year, Representatives Dan Miller (D-Alleghany) and Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks), began to circulate a co-sponsorship memo for an amendment to Act 62 that would create a time-limited temporary license, creating a pathway to full licensure, thus addressing the growing workforce problem. This action was in response to issues raised by their constituents serving children with autism and others. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has expressed concern that there may not really be a workforce problem; it may instead be a limited problem, and that opening Act 62 may have unintended negative consequences. Representatives Miller and Quinn have agreed to slow action on their bill pending an alternative proposal from DHS to address the workforce concerns.

On Friday, DHS issued this memo and directive to counties and behavioral health managed care organizations (BH-MCO), requiring them to complete a detailed survey regarding autism services, including:

  • Access and timing of services;
  • Information on individual practitioners;
  • Information on provider organizations; and
  • Information regarding challenges related to staff attrition and recruitment.

This survey is to be completed and submitted to DHS by the HealthChoices contractors on or before Friday, September 11, 2015. Because the time frame for completion of this survey is very aggressive and will be challenging for counties, BH-MCOs, and provider organizations, RCPA wanted to inform members of this action immediately.

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ODP Updates
The Office of Developmental Programs has released the following information:

  • Announcement #072-15: PA Department of Human Services Medication Administration Training Program Final Classroom Training Sessions for 2015; being offered across the state in September, October, November, and December.
  • Informational Memo #073-15: CMS Approved Waiver Amendments for Consolidated and Person/Family Directed Support Waivers Effective July 22, 2015 and Guidance for Implementation. Please review this
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The 2015 Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week is September 13-19. At RCPA’s request, Governor Wolf has issued a Pennsylvania proclamation in recognition of direct support workers. In addition, RCPA members that employ direct support professionals (DSPs) in the intellectual, developmental, and other disability service systems, are asked to contact local media outlets and county governments to generate coverage of DSP Week. It is critical that community providers remind the public of the important work these staff members provide.

This national advocacy campaign is coordinated by ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources), which has resources

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a correction notice in the August 25, 2015 Federal Register. This notice corrects technical and typographical errors that appeared in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Payment Model proposed rule that was published on July 14, 2015. The comment due date for the provisions contained in the proposed rule will remain at September 8, 2015.

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