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Physical Disabilities & Aging

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Lawmakers are hearing from us.

Since the governor unveiled his 2022/23 budget proposal in February, more than 3,327 individuals have contacted their local state senators and representatives urging them to address the workforce crisis affecting Pennsylvania’s human services sectors.

Now we want them to see us, too.

Our new video is airing on television in select markets and getting shared widely across social media channels. VISIT HERE to watch the TV spot.

April is a critical month for us. With budget hearings finished, the House and Senate are in session for only a few weeks before they take a break again to campaign for the May 17 primary election.

Make sure they hear from you today.

If you haven’t done so already, please reach out and urge lawmakers to increase funding to support human services professionals so individuals and families in need get the support and care they deserve. Ask your networks to do the same.

And be sure to share our video on your social media pages, too.

It’s so important for us to share the story about how this workforce crisis is affecting individuals and families in need, as well as the providers and professionals who want to serve them.

To share the video, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages where we have the videos posted. Be sure to “like” it and share it with your followers. Don’t forget to tag @directcareworks and use the #DirectCarePA and #PABudget hashtags so we can ensure as many people as possible see it.

Most importantly, TAKE ACTION TODAY. Tell lawmakers to increase funding to address the workforce crisis facing Pennsylvania’s health and human services.

Thank you for your continued support.

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RCPA invites you to sponsor, exhibit, and advertise for the in-person 2022 Conference: “Together!” Our event will focus on face-to-face sessions and networking, with a mobile app available for attendees to connect with vendors, sponsors, and exhibitors on-site. Please note that there will be no hybrid or virtual-only options. This event will be in-person only with no plans to change to virtual. We want to focus on being Together!

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that they plan to offer more than $110 million to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) through Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. MFP, authorized since 2005, has provided states with $4.06B to support individuals who choose to transition out of institutions and back into their homes and communities. This new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides individual awards of up to $5 million available for more than 20 states and territories not currently participating in MFP. These funds will support initial planning and implementation to get the state/territory programs off the ground, which would ensure more people with Medicaid can receive high-quality, cost-effective, person-centered services in a setting they choose.

For states already participating in MFP, CMS also announced that the agency is increasing the reimbursement rate for MFP “supplemental services.” These services will now be 100 percent federally funded with no state share. Additionally, CMS is expanding the definition of supplemental services to include additional services that can support an individual’s transition from an institution to the community, including short-term housing and food assistance.

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A message from the Department of Human Services (DHS):

Attention Personal Care Services (PCS) and Home Health Care Services (HHCS) Providers:

DHS would like to announce that the Alternate EVV Technical Specifications and updated Sandata Alternate EVV Error Handling Overview and Reference Guide are available online for your review prior to the upcoming Alternate EVV Town Hall on April 11, 2022, at 1:00 pm ET (visit here to register). There will be a second session held May 27, 2022, at 12:00 pm ET for any additional questions that may arise.

All Alternate EVV vendors will need to be certified following the new Alternate EVV Technical Specifications published March 30, 2022. Vendors are expected to review the technical specifications document in its entirety and submit any questions during your registration to the Alternate EVV Town Hall.

If a vendor is not certified (due to being new to EVV) or recertified, the EVV visits will not be accepted for any provider agency the vendor supports. For PCS, the claims or encounters will deny because visit data would not be accepted as a result of the vendor not being recertified. 

DHS recommends providers work with their EVV vendor to complete system updates to allow for sufficient time to complete integration testing and the recertification process prior to the Sandata EVV Release. The deployment date is currently expected to be on June 15, 2022. Any changes to this date will be communicated in a future Listserv. The initial certification process can be lengthy, and vendors should prepare accordingly. The minimum recommended time is 7.5 business weeks.

Further contact information for recertification will be provided at the Alternate EVV Town Hall on April 11, 2022.

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Join RCPA as we host the 2022 Annual Conference: Together, October 11–14, at the Hershey Lodge. RCPA staff and the Conference Committee are excited to release this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers brochure, with new opportunities to get in on the action. Booth self-selection will be back this year for the exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors who submit their contracts with payment by April 29. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Don’t miss your chance to be seen and to support the work of this dynamic organization! The event is a highlight for the Pennsylvania mental health, drug and alcohol, intellectual and developmental disabilities, children’s, brain injury, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities.

Connections Hall Brings Us Together

Exhibit activities take place during the two busiest days of the conference, with many networking opportunities throughout the event. Check out the Connections Hall web page for more details!

Exciting New Sponsorship Opportunities

The association is privileged to have the backing of the finest organizations in the field for our conference. Through the use of sponsorship circles, RCPA is able to honor all supporting organizations. Visit the Sponsors page to view opportunities and available sponsorship circles!

Sign Up Now

The deadline for inclusion in all digital materials is August 11. Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must adhere to that deadline. The association looks forward to welcoming you at the conference! Space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Sarah Eyster or Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinators.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) recently issued a reminder for Service Coordination Entities (SCEs) regarding the annual review process in HCSIS for the Act 150 Program and OBRA Waiver. Included in this reminder are the procedures and instructions for entering these service plans in HCSIS beginning April 4, 2022. OLTL encourages SCEs to use this annual review process to review caseloads and finalize any dis-enrollments or inactive service plans. The Waiver/Program Transfer instructions are here for reference. Please also reference the “OLTL Fiscal Year 2022/23 Annual Review Instructions for HCSIS” for additional information on how file closures may impact the current Annual Review process.  

If you have any additional questions or wish to receive the above forms in alternate formats, please contact Brian Lester at (717) 346-0716 or via email.

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The Department of Human Services recently issued an announcement regarding upcoming Sandata Alternate Electronic Visit Verification (Alt EVV) Town Hall meetings. The EVV Town Hall will include an overview of the integration process for both Home Health Care Services and Personal Care Services. DHS is requiring all previously certified Alt EVV vendors to recertify with newly updated Alt EVV technical specifications.

The Town Hall meetings are scheduled for:

  • April 11, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm; OR
  • May 27, 2022, from 12:00 pm–1:30 pm.

The previously shared date for the Town Hall meeting (March 25, 2022) has been rescheduled to the April 11 date. The content for both meetings will be the same. Due to capacity limits, advanced registration is required.

Questions about EVV should be sent via email.

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