ODP Announcement 22-079 announces the start of Cycle 2 of the Quality Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) Process. Cycle 2, Year 1 of the QA&I Process will begin on August 1, 2022. All materials and resources related to the QA&I Process will be posted on the MyODP Training & Resource Center (MyODP). Please note that you must be logged into MyODP to access the information.
Please direct any inquiries, issues, or concerns regarding this communication to the QA&I Process inbox.
ODP Announcement 22-075 is to obsolete ODP Announcement 20-069 and to provide guidance regarding Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) cap exceptions and rate impacts to the Community Living Waiver (CLW) plans. The announcement also provides the CAP Exception Request Template.
ODP Announcement 22-078 announces a second opportunity for providers to have staff person(s) participate in a virtual certification program with the goal of receiving a Work Incentives Practitioner credential.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is pleased to announce that it will cover the cost of the certification program and credential for an additional 25 people (up to two staff persons per provider). Providers will be selected using a competitive application process.
Please read the announcement for details regarding the application process. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Smith.
ODP Announcement 076-18: Re-Issue is to inform providers that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requiring newly enrolling providers of Residential Habilitation Services to complete the ODP-approved Dual Diagnosis Training curriculum. This applies to new Residential Habilitation providers who will be enrolled and qualified to provide these services effective September 1, 2018, and thereafter. This re-issue is to announce that the 2022 Dual Diagnosis Curriculum is now available on MyODP, and a new link has been linked in the Discussion section of this announcement.
ODP Announcement 22-077 reports that the United States General Services Administration announced a change for the rate of Transportation Mile reimbursement rate, procedure code W7271, beginning July 1, 2022, and is effective for the remaining months in 2022. The new rate is $0.625 per mile.
The mileage rate is being adjusted to better reflect the recent increase in fuel prices. This communication provides notice of the rate change as well as provides instruction for Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) on how to add transportation mileage to the vendor screen. It also instructs direct service providers on how to submit claim adjustments, if applicable.
ODP Announcement 21-031: UPDATE highlights that the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides a temporary 10% increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain Medicaid expenditures for home and community-based services (HCBS). The funding is to be used to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS beyond what is available under the Medicaid program.
On June 3, CMS notified states that they have an additional year to use funding made available by ARPA, expanding eligible expenditures to March 31, 2025. To provide guidance about the process for providers to request one-time payments and address staff training, credentialing, and business associates programs for employment, the application deadline for this initiative has been extended to October 31, 2022.
Providers interested in applying will complete and submit the Staff Training, Credentialing, and Business Associates Programs for Employment Supplemental Payment Application and submit via email to Rick Smith. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2022.
ODP Announcement 22-074 is in regards to the “Human Rights Webinars: Making A Determination” recordings and is an updated (renumbered) release from earlier this week. This announcement was released on June 27, 2022. This is the same announcement with a corrected announcement number dated June 29, 2022.
ODP Announcement 22-076 serves to announce that the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver renewals, collectively known as the Intellectual Disability/Autism (ID/A) waivers, will not be effective on July 1, 2022, as requested.
This extension does not apply to the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW). The currently-approved AAW was most recently amended on April 1, 2022.
Discussions between the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have been occurring since the submission of the waiver renewals. During recent discussions, it has become clear that the process to renew the waivers will not be complete by July 1. ODP requested a 90-day extension of the currently-approved waivers on June 27, 2022, since the Consolidated and Person/Family Directed Support waivers expire on June 30, 2022. CMS granted the extension request on June 27, 2022.
Until CMS approves the ID/A waiver renewals, the waiver amendments approved with an effective date of June 1, 2022, remain in effect. They can be found on the Department of Human Services website at the following links:
The ID/A waiver renewals submitted to CMS on April 1, 2022, are also available.
Additional changes will be made to the waiver renewals as a result of ongoing discussions with CMS. ODP will inform all stakeholders when the waiver renewals have been approved. The final approved versions of the waivers will be made available online at that time.
ODP Announcement 22-046 serves to remind the field about a recent update to recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters. Updates are indicated in red.
Questions about this announcement may be directed via email.
ODP Announcement 22-073 announces that the Department of Human Services (DHS) is preparing for the eventual end of the Public Health Emergency. Under the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration, Pennsylvania has continued Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for most people unless they moved out-of-state, passed away, or asked to end their MA.
When the federal PHE ends, the Department of Human Services must determine if people are still eligible for MA. MA recipients will have to complete a renewal to maintain their MA coverage.
DHS is seeking trusted partners to assist in this PHE unwinding process through means of connection to individuals that will need to renew MA benefits. Today, an email newsletter called the DHS Helper Portal is being launched.
Sign up to become a helper today!
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