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Physical Disabilities & Aging

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The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has extended an invitation to participate in a listening session tomorrow (Friday, August 11, 2017) from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. This listening session is an opportunity to hear about the Partnerships for Innovation, Inclusion, and Independence, which is a proposed grant program that would combine the activities carried out by the State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Statewide Independent Living Councils, and Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Councils into a single state grant program. Please refer to the invite for additional information.

Listening Session Dial-In Information:
Number: 800-857-9877
Participant Code: 8400563

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced the availability of a link to an online application for interested individuals to request employment services from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).

OVR is a state agency within the Department of Labor and Industry whose mission is “to assist Pennsylvanians with a disability secure and maintain employment and independence.” A person with a disability can either refer themselves, or their service coordinator (SC), advocate, family member, or friend may make a referral.

As a reminder, participants must first seek employment services through OVR before utilizing employment services through the Office of Long-Term Living waivers. To contact the OVR district office in your area, use this link. OVR now has an online application to request services. SCs are strongly encouraged to assist OLTL participants in completing the online application using the attached instructions.

Any questions or concerns regarding the above, including to request an alternate format, should be addressed to Edward Butler via email or phone at 717-214-3718.

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On July 28, 2017, an Info was issued regarding the Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL’s) proposed waiver amendments to the Aging, Attendant Care, Independence, and OBRA waivers. On August 1, OLTL issued a follow-up email regarding these amendments, as well as some additional information including how to view a side-by-side comparison of the current and revised language, the comment forms, and information on webinars that have been scheduled in August. The webinars will be used to receive comments on the proposed waiver amendments. The information in that email is provided below for additional details. As a reminder, the public comment period on the proposed waiver amendments ends on August 31, 2017.

 

From OLTL
In September 2017, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) will be submitting amendments to the Aging, Attendant Care, Independence, and OBRA waivers. To view a side-by-side comparison of the current and revised language, and to access the amendments in their entirety, please use this link.

 

On this site, select the individual waiver amendment you would like to view under “Related Topics.” All documents are available in alternate format and in paper copy upon request by calling the Office of Long-Term Living Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management at 717-783-8412.

 

Public Input

The July 29, 2017, Volume 47, Number 30 issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin contains the public notice announcing amendments to the Aging, Attendant Care, Independence, and OBRA waivers. OLTL is seeking public comment on these waiver amendments. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management, Attention: Aging Waiver, Attendant Care, Independence, or OBRA Waiver, PO Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments can also be sent via email using the comment forms that OLTL has provided. The comment forms can be found at this link.

 

On this site, select the individual waiver amendment you would like to view under “Related Topics” and the comment form will be listed in the documents. The public comment period ends on August 31, 2017. Comments received within the 30-day comment period will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the amendments.

 

The Office of Long-Term Living will offer two webinars in August for public input and discussion. The webinars will be held on Monday, August 7, 2017, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am and Wednesday, August 16, from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm. Please see the information below for further details on the scheduled webinars.

 

  • Please register here for the Aging, Attendant Care, Independence, and OBRA Waiver Changes Webinar on August 7, 2017 10:00 am EDT.
  • Please register here for the Aging, Attendant Care, Independence, and OBRA Waiver Changes Webinar on August 16, 2017 1:30 pm EDT.

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The connection link you receive will be unique to you and should not be shared with others.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has made available for public review and comment the Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) proposed waiver amendments to the following waivers:

The notices were released and will be published in the July 29, 2017 Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments on the proposed waiver amendments submitted within 30 days will be reviewed and considered. They can be submitted to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management, Attention: Aging Amendments; Attendant Care Amendments; Independence Amendments; or OBRA Amendments (based on which waiver comments are being submitted), PO Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments may also be submitted to the Department via email. Use “Aging Waiver Amendments,” “Attendant Care Waiver Amendments,” Independence Waiver Amendments,” or ”OBRA Waiver Amendments” as the subject line depending on which waiver comments are being submitted.

DHS will be holding two webinars on the proposed waiver amendments. The dates and times of the webinars, including the call information, will be posted to the DHS OLTL Waiver Information website or by calling 717-783-8412.

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Today the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) issued a communication to the Home and Community-Based Service Providers that will be enrolling into the provider networks of the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) through Community HealthChoices (CHC).

With the onset of CHC, Pennsylvania’s three Managed Care Organizations are in the process of establishing strong provider networks to support the program. In order to ensure network adequacy, the department is gathering information to establish a baseline of the number of full time equivalent (FTE) workers that are potentially needed to continue to provide services and meet the needs of the participants. Due to this requirement, the CHC MCOs will be asking providers for this information during a provider’s initial enrollment with an MCO and on an ongoing basis. The OLTL appreciates the continued cooperation of providers in ensuring a smooth transition for participants into the CHC program. If you have questions, please contact the OLTL Bureau of Quality and Provider Management, Enrollment and Certification Section at 717-772-2570.

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Over the weekend, RCPA staff was contacted by a state representative informing us that a proposal was discussed during the current budget negotiations that would have a negative impact on children with disabilities, who currently qualify for Medical Assistance, often referred to as loophole kids. Loophole kids often come from homes with one or two working parents, and these families generally have private health care insurance coverage and are paying health insurance premiums. The proposals being discussed would add additional cost sharing and/or mandated premiums to already stretched and limited household budgets, and force people who live in poverty to choose between paying the state, and covering other monthly expenses such as food, prescriptions or rent. The proposals being discussed would impose new administrative costs for the Commonwealth, wasting state and federal Medicaid dollars on unnecessary administrative burdens. On Sunday, July 9, RCPA staff sent emails and hand delivered letters to the entire General Assembly and legislative leaders opposing any proposal that would harm Pennsylvania families by making it harder for them to qualify for and keep their health coverage.

Additionally, in its correspondences, RCPA requested that the legislature table this proposal because an important issue such as this should not be entered into during the waning days of budget negotiations. RCPA argued that these types of decisions that affect thousands of disabled Pennsylvania children should be discussed in a public hearing or in stakeholder group meetings before endangering health care benefits for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable population.

RCPA implores providers to contact their legislators and tell them to oppose this last minute budget negotiating item, and alternatively, if they are serious about discussing this issue then hold a public hearing or stakeholder group meetings, so those who rely upon this funding can have their voices heard. Questions, contact Jack Phillips, RCPA Director of Government Affairs.

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The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Advisory Board, which is established under section 1252 of the Federal Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996, will convene for their public meeting on Friday, August 4, 2017, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in the large conference room of the Community Center, 2nd Floor, Giant Food Store located at 2300 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

The Board assists the Department of Health in understanding and meeting the needs of persons living with traumatic brain injury and their families. This quarterly meeting will provide updates on a variety of topics including the number of people served by the Department of Health’s Head Injury Program (HIP). In addition, meeting participants will discuss budgetary and programmatic issues, community programs relating to traumatic brain injury, and available advocacy opportunities.

For additional information, or for persons with a disability who wish to attend the meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodations to do so, please contact Michael Yakum, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach, 717-772-2763. For speech and/or hearing impaired persons, contact V/TT 717-783-6514 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released two documents for direct service providers that serve COMMCARE Waiver participants. The documents outline the activities that will occur in the coming months as the COMMCARE Waiver participants transition to either the Community HealthChoices (CHC) program or the Independence Waiver. These documents include a detailed overview and timeline of the transition and a fact sheet about CHC. The COMMCARE Waiver will end statewide on December 31, 2017.

OLTL Service Coordination Entities (SCEs) and participants will be notified of these changes in a separate communication in mid-July.

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