Governor Tom Wolf has issued a proclamation, stating “October is Disability Employment Awareness Month.” This recognizes individuals with disabilities and promotes awareness of employment options and initiatives for these individuals.
The state’s efforts on Employment First are in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and Department of Labor and Industry. This also includes
In the October 1, 2015 Federal Register, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information (RFI) to seek public comment related to new provisions in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). This is for the design of the new Medicare physician payment system that will replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which includes the merit-based incentive payment system, alternative payment models, and a physician-focused payment model. Originally, comments were due by November 2, 2015; however, an extension of the comment period for an additional 15 days was published in the October 20, 2015 Federal Register, indicating the new due date as Tuesday, November 17, 2015.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that a special open door forum for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. During the call, CMS will discuss the upcoming Dry Run for IRFs Provider Performance reports on All-Cause Unplanned Readmissions for 30-day post discharge from IRFs. This will also include timeline and content of facility dry run reports that will be disseminated to IRFs from November 3 through December 3, 2015.
To participate in this special open door forum call:
Dial: 1-866-402-6263
Conference ID #: 55982595
The Departments of Human Services and Aging have extended an invitation for Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and Home and Community-based Service (HCBS) providers to convene to discuss Community HealthChoices (CHC). The purpose of the meeting is to begin the conversation between the MCOs and providers, as the transition from fee-for-service to managed care begins.
The meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2015, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Radisson Hotel located at 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released an updated schedule for the classroom-based medication administration training. The announcement includes the scheduling of an additional class for medication administration and to advise which other scheduled locations still have availability. Locations where the training has been completed, or the registration closed, have been removed from the listings in ODP Announcement 092-15. The current dates and locations for the medication administration trainings are:
| CLASSROOM TRAINING DATES | REGION |
| Wednesday, October 21, 2015 | Erie, Erie County |
| Thursday, October 22, 2015 | Milesburg, Centre County |
| Tuesday, October 27, 2015 | Gettysburg, Adams County |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2015 | Mercer, Mercer County |
| Wednesday, November 4, 2015 | Warren, Warren County |
| Thursday, November 5, 2015 | Towanda, Bradford County |
| Tuesday, November 10, 2015 | Shamokin Dam, Northumberland County |
| Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Greencastle, Franklin County |
| Thursday, November 12, 2015 | Ambler, Montgomery County |
| Tuesday, November 17, 2015 | Dubois, Clearfield County |
| Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | Hamlin Wayne County |
| Tuesday, November 24, 2015 | Franklin, Venango County |
| Tuesday, December 1, 2015 | Uniontown, Fayette County |
| Wednesday, December 2, 2015 | Blairsville, Indiana County |
| Thursday, December 3, 2015 | Altoona, Blair County |
| Monday, December 7, 2015 | Harrisburg, Dauphin County |
| Tuesday, December 8, 2015 | Tunkhannock, Wyoming County |
| Wednesday, December 9, 2015 | Trevose, Bucks County |
Registration instructions can be found here. The next round of training classes are expected to be scheduled for March 2016. Dates and registration information will be released through a future ODP Announcement.
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.
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