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Tags Posts tagged with "Early Intervention"

Early Intervention

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in collaboration with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), will be hosting a webinar on September 9 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am to support counties in their use of annual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) funds. This webinar will include an overview of IECMH, organizations that host IECMH-related conferences, summits, and/or trainings that are preapproved for reimbursement, and instruction for counties on how to submit an IECMH funding request that is not preapproved.

See the Program Flyer for additional details.

MEETING REGISTRATION:

Please register for the IECMH Funding Webinar on September 9, 2022, 9:00 am EDT. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Call-in Number: 415-655-0052
Access Code: 733418631#

For questions regarding the webinar, please contact Amy Kabiru or RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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PDE and DHS are offering the following policy clarification on the Head Start/Early Head Start vaccination mandate:

PDE and DHS are cognizant of the staffing challenges that many providers are facing. Providers are thus encouraged to work creatively to ensure that children continue to receive a free and appropriate public education during these trying times. In this regard, providers should examine whether unvaccinated individuals may continue to provide services in accordance with an allowable exemption, and, where appropriate, consider whether parental agreement to alternative delivery of services may be prudent.

OCDEL has clarified that this is to include all individuals working with Head Start enrolled children and families, including early intervention and behavioral health. OCDEL further requests that agencies work with Head Start partners to address this requirement and asks for support considerations, including; encouraging staff and contractors to become fully vaccinated; working to identify fully vaccinated EI personnel to support children in Head Start; when possible, working to provide written assurance to Head Start partners to only send fully vaccinated staff and contractors to go into classrooms; and exploring technological solutions to help support children within their Head Start classroom activities and routines.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has implemented an Interim Final Rule (IFR) requiring all staff who work with Head Start/Early Head Start (Head Start) children and families in any capacity to be vaccinated. According to HHS guidance, this includes those individuals who do not have any contact with children. The IFR also requires contractors whose activities involve contact with or providing direct services to Head Start children and families and volunteers in classrooms or working directly with Head Start children and families be vaccinated. The IFR is now understood to apply to all individuals working with Head Start children and families, including but not limited to services provided by Preschool Early Intervention, 0-3 Early Intervention, and behavioral health specialists in Head Start programs, including those provided pursuant to a memorandum of understanding or other agreement by which Head Start programs provide for or permit the provision of such services.

The Federal Office of Head Start (OHS) is responsible for ensuring compliance with the IFR through their identified monitoring processes. PDE or DHS is not responsible for monitoring programs for compliance with this mandate.

Head Start IFR and guidance do allow for exemptions for individuals who are not vaccinated. In the event individuals meet this exemption, OHS has issued guidance regarding circumstances in which unvaccinated individuals may be able to continue to work with Head Start children and their families.

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In an effort to assist Infant/Toddler Programs and their contracted EI service providers to clear suspended claims from the PROMISe™ system, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released guidance on the procedures for Early Intervention claim filing. Correct billing practices require adherence to correct filing procedures and time limits. All relevant information and instructions can be found in the PA PROMISe™ Provider Handbook for the 837 Professional/CMS-1500 Claim Form.

Time Limits for Claim Submission

DPW must receive claim forms for submissions, resubmissions, and adjustment of claim forms within specified time frames; otherwise, the claim will reject on timely filing related edits and will not be processed for payment.

Service providers (including service coordination entities) are required to submit original claims within 180 calendar days of the initial date of service. Claims which are received within 180-days of the date of service and subsequently denied may be resubmitted up to 365 calendar days from the original date of service.

Suspended Claims/180-Day Exception Request Process

ALL claims that are past the 180- or 365-billing day cycle AND directly associated to a reported PELICAN-EI systems issue are to be billed electronically through the PROMISe system. The claims filed will result in a “suspended” status. These suspended claims will be manually reviewed and approved by a Bureau of Early Intervention services staff member.

Approval of these suspended claims will require additional information submitted by the provider to the BEIS office via email. The email contents must include the following:

  • Provider name
  • MCI for the child
  • PELICAN-EI systems issue description and Help Desk Call Number

If the claim was suspended because it was past the filing limit and unrelated to a PELICAN-EI systems issue, you will need to provide an explanation for the delayed billing. Providing an explanation for the delayed billing will not automatically result in the claim being approved for payment. Each claim will be reviewed individually and considered for approval.

It is the responsibility of the billing entity to follow the requirements for timely billing as outlined in the PROMISe™ manual. Claims which have a suspended status will be denied unless the above procedures have been followed.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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