ODP Update
The Office of Developmental Programs has released the following information:
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.
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
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
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:
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.
ODP Updates
The Office of Developmental Programs has released the following information:
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
ODP Updates
The Office of Developmental Programs has released the following information:
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.
RCPA received notice today from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) that the decision has been made to discontinue the STAR data system. The discontinuation will occur in mid-September. More information regarding next steps will be provided soon.
Below is the information sent out by DDAP this afternoon:
“The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs will discontinue utilization of STAR as the database to gather and report TEDS data to SAMHSA in September 2015.
We are planning to shut down STAR at 11:59 pm on September 15, 2015. You will have until then to enter and update information as follows:
Admissions:
Discharges:
If you have any questions, please contact the STAR Helpdesk at 717-783-8200.”
ODP Updates
The Office of Developmental Disabilities has released the following information:
Prev