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Tags Posts tagged with "Community Participation Support"

Community Participation Support

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) met with stakeholders today, October 30, 2024, to discuss waiver amendments and to provide an overview of Performance-Based Contracting.

Waiver Amendments included:

Waiver Capacity:

  • When an individual is in an acute care hospital and receiving waiver services, ODP will not need to reserve (hold) the individual’s waiver. They will maintain enrollment in the waiver.
  • Language was updated for waiver capacity for high school graduates in the P/FDS waiver. AEs can reserve the waiver capacity for 180 days prior to when services are needed. Students can remain in service until their 22nd birthday.

Assistive Technology:

  • Updated language to explain when an independent evaluation is required and when it is optional:
    • REQUIRED: A device will cost $750 or more.
    • OPTIONAL: A device will cost less than $750.
  • An independent evaluation can be done if the team decides it would be beneficial.
  • Evaluations are included in the $10,000 lifetime limit.

Community Participation Support:

  • The Community Participation Support provider must complete and update an analysis of the following at least yearly to support individuals to experience meaningful community inclusion:
    • Strongest interests and personal preferences for community activities;
    • Skills, strengths, and other contributions likely to be valuable to employers or the community; and
    • Conditions necessary for successful community inclusion and/or competitive integrated employment.

American Sign Language (ASL) – English Interpreter Service:

  • English Interpreter service will be added to ODP’s waivers effective January 1, 2025.

Music, Art, & Equine Assisted Therapy:

  • The cumulative maximum limit of any combination of Music Therapy, Art Therapy, or Equine Assisted Therapy has increased from 26 to 52 hours per fiscal year.

STAT Overview:

  • The Specialty Telehealth and Assessment Team service was implemented in March 2024. This service may also be delivered to the participant during temporary travel, per ODP’s travel policy.

Waiver Corrections:
Life Sharing:

  • The following may not be authorized for participants who receive Life Sharing services: Residential Habilitation; Supported Living; Respite (15-minute or Day) (has been removed).

Supported Living Corrections:

  • The following services may not be authorized for participants who receive Supported Living services: Life Sharing; Residential Habilitation; Respite (15-minute or Day); Homemaker/Chore; In-Home and Community Supports; Behavioral Supports; Therapies; Shift Nursing; Consultative Nutritional Services; Communication Specialist and Specialize.

Benefits Counseling:

  • New billable indirect activities are added. The limit has increased from 15 hours per fiscal year to 24 hours per fiscal year.

The Performance-Based Contracting Review Included:

  • Effective January 1, 2025, Performance-Based Contracting will be implemented for the following services funded through the Consolidated and Community Living Waivers:
    •  Residential Habilitation;
    •  Life Sharing; and
    •  Supported Living.
  • Changes to Enrollment of New Providers.
  • What are Performance Standards?
  • What are Provider Tiers?
  • What Do These Changes Mean to Individuals and Families?

All performance-based contracting questions can be sent electronically.

Please see the distributed PowerPoint for additional information.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an updated version of ODPANN 23-025. This update provides guidance for individuals who previously indicated they wanted to resume Community Participation Support (CPS) services but have not yet continued with the service. Please review the announcement for more information.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is implementing temporary increases to the fee schedule rates for community participation support (CPS) and transportation trip services. These increases are being made due to impacts on service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary increases to existing fee schedule rates are retroactive to January 1, 2021. The temporary increases to the fee schedule rates will end on June 30, 2021.

These temporary increases to the rates will also apply to the department-established fees under 55 Pa. Code § 4300.115(a) (relating to department established fees) for base-funded services managed through county programs for individuals with an intellectual disability under the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966 (50 PS §§ 4101—4704); 55 Pa. Code Chapter 4300 (relating to county mental health). The temporary fee schedule rates will be loaded to PROMISeTM, and providers can begin billing the increased fee schedule rates on February 3, 2021.

The Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) will automatically be updated to include the new community participation support and transportation trip fee schedule rates, and critical revisions to individual support plans (ISPs) will not be necessary to implement the change to the fee schedule rates. Providers should review service authorizations to confirm that they are billing the increased fee schedule rate.

The Office of Development Programs (ODP) will be publishing a notice of temporary fee schedule rates in the Pennsylvania Bulletin that includes instructions for submitting public comments.

ODP Announcement 21-017 includes the new fee schedule rates.