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odp announcement

ODP Announcement 22-120 communicates that registration for the January – June 2023 Certified Investigator (CI) Initial Certification Course classes (also known as cohorts) are now open on MyODP. Due to continued concerns regarding COVID-19, the January – June 2023 CI Initial Certification cohorts of the course will be provided virtually rather than in person.

If you do not have a MyODP account, use the MyODP login page and follow the instructions under “Is this your first time here?” If you are not sure whether or not you have a MyODP account, contact MyODP Support or Kiyona Duncan.

For assistance with registration, contact Kiyona Duncan. For questions regarding course content, contact Amanda Black.

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ODP Announcement 22-118 reminds Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) providers of the expectation to support individuals to access all available and recommended vaccinations and promote health and safety by providing helpful reminders about holiday gatherings.

ODP expects that providers will ensure that all individuals supported have timely opportunities to remain up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination as defined by the CDC and are educated on how to practice heathy habits. This announcement also shares resources available to support people in making safe decisions during the holiday season.

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ODP Announcement 22-119 provides information on the registration process for the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) February and March 2023 Virtual Quality Management (QM) Certification Classes. Key things to know about the virtual class:

  • Class size is limited to 28, and registration is on a first come, first serve basis. There is no wait list option, and registration will close 15 days prior to the start of a class.
  • Prerequisite modules are required to prepare learners for the class and must be completed prior to attending class. Completion of modules is tracked, and failure to complete all modules will prevent you from joining the virtual class.
  • Classes are held over 2 consecutive days, from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Participants must attend the entire time and complete the post-test with a score of at least 84% to obtain ODP QM certification status.

You must register for a training class by logging into MyODP and navigating to the 2023 Quality Management Certification Program — Virtual Training Course (Training > Quality Management > Quality Management Certification Program > 2023 Quality Management Certification Program — Virtual Training) or by visiting here.

Questions about the QM Strategy, the ODP QM Certification Program, or other questions related to QM can be sent to the ODP QM Inbox.

ODP Announcement 22-117 serves to announce a 30-day public comment period on the Residential and Community Participation Support (CPS) service locations that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) proposes to submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for Heightened Scrutiny. Public comment on each service location will be accepted until 11:59 pm on December 19, 2022.

A summary of ODP’s findings for each Residential and CPS service location that ODP has determined meets one or more of these criteria is available at MyODP and DHS. A description of the process ODP used to identify service locations, complete reviews, and make determinations is also available on both websites.

ODP Announcement 22-116 releases updated protocols for the Health Risk Screening Tool. The accompanying document is an update to the previously released protocol for HRST. It contains information regarding expectations, timelines, and reflects changes in the process since the initial protocol was distributed. Additionally, it provides guidance regarding roles and responsibilities for those expected to use the tool.

Assistance can also be obtained by contacting HRST support and HRST Assistance.

ODP Announcement 22-114 reports that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) contracts with Temple University Harrisburg to deliver the ODP Certified Investigator Program. ODP and Temple University are conducting Certified Investigator Friday Forums. These forums are an opportunity for current Certified Investigators and other interested parties to receive up-to-date information about the incident investigation process. See the announcement for full details.

ODP Announcement 22-113 is to provide guidance and a timeline for the implementation requirement of the 2022 Online Medication Administration Training Course and manual. It is also to announce the discontinuation of the 2004 paper course and paper examinations, effective on January 1, 2024.

All Medication Administration trainers are now required to take the new 2022 online Medication Administration Training Course. Existing trainers who have not been certified through the new course are required to take the 2022 online course when their certification expires. Both new and existing trainers may continue to monitor students and practicum observers.

If you have any questions regarding the new Medication Administration Training Course, please email the Help Desk.

ODP Announcement 22-112 informs all interested parties that on October 31, 2022, the Department submitted Pennsylvania’s Statewide Transition Plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is responsible for reviewing the Statewide Transition Plan to ensure all federal regulatory requirements are met. During the review process, CMS may request that technical changes be made to the plan. When this occurs, CMS usually includes a summary of changes made with the final approval letter. The Department will notify all interested stakeholders when CMS has given its approval and will make the approved version available at that time.

The Statewide Transition Plan may be viewed here. Questions about the Statewide Transition Plan or this communication should be sent electronically.

ODP Announcement 22-111 reminds providers that any regulation that requires completion of 24 hours of training related to job skills and knowledge each year, as well as any regulations that require the provision of training that encompasses the six areas required by regulation, are in full effect. Providers must comply with these requirements.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) recognizes that providers may still be struggling to meet the 24-hour training requirements due to the prevalence of infectious or communicable diseases and continued workforce insufficiency; as such, the following guidance will be applied for training years that end in calendar year 2023:

  • Any training provided that is specific to the mitigation of risk related to infectious and communicable disease may be counted towards the 24-hour training requirements required by regulation. Such training includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
    • Social distancing;
    • Personal protective equipment use (donning, doffing, fit testing);
    • Contact tracing and notifications;
    • Mask, face covering, or face shield use;
    • Cleaning and disinfection practices;
    • Screening for signs and symptoms of infectious disease;
    • Reporting procedures related to signs and symptoms of infectious disease;
    • Notification processes due to infectious reportable infectious disease;
    • Characteristics and methods of transmission of infectious disease;
    • COVID-19 transmission risk by pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals;
    • Safe and healthy work practices and infection control measures;
    • Supporting individuals to engage in mask wearing, social distancing, etc.;
    • Vaccine safety, efficacy, and access;
    • Set up and use of technology in providing remote service delivery or supporting individuals to connect with friends and family;
    • Remote monitoring;
    • Use of the Supports Coordinator Check-In for Well-Being Tool;
    • Engaging in meaningful conversations during check-ins;
    • SC Individual transition guide;
    • Transition discussion and resources video; and
    • Reviewing Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state or local guidelines and trends.
  • Any component of a department-approved Medication Administration Course.

Licensed Providers may self-assess regulatory compliance using ODP’s Inspection Scoresheets or Provider Self-Assessment Forms. If a provider identifies areas of noncompliance while completing a self-assessment, provided those noncompliance areas have been corrected, licensing staff will not identify those areas as noncompliant. Violations identified and subsequently corrected through the self-assessment process will not be cited on a Licensing Inspection Summary.

Please contact the appropriate ODP Regional Program Office or the Department’s Regulatory Administration Unit with any questions about this guidance.

ODP Announcement 22-108 has been issued to announce that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is adding a new provider qualification to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers for residential services. All provider staff who will spend any time alone with a participant during the provision of residential services must complete a “Department approved training on the common health conditions that may be associated with preventable deaths in people with an intellectual or developmental disability.”

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) anticipates that the new qualification requirement will become effective between mid-October and late December of 2022 based on feedback from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This guidance is being released prior to CMS approval of the Consolidated and Community Living waiver renewals and the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) amendment to give providers sufficient time to implement this new requirement.

This applies to provider staff that are direct employees of an agency, contracted employees of an agency, or volunteers. A list of Department approved trainings to meet this requirement is available here.

This page lists each organization with currently approved training(s). The approved training(s) that must be completed for the organization are listed next to the “details” bullet underneath the organization. To meet the qualification requirement, staff are required to complete approved training(s) through one of the organizations listed. Provider staff hired before the effective date of the waiver changes must complete the required training no later than three months after the effective date of the waiver changes. Provider staff hired on or after the effective date of the waiver changes must complete the required training before working alone with an individual. For purposes of this requirement, a provider staff is “working alone” when they are not in the line of sight of other persons who have received Department-approved training.

For current providers, AEs or ODP (for the AAW) will verify that residential services staff received the required training the next time the provider goes through the requalification process.

Questions relating to this announcement may be directed to the ODP Provider Qualification Unit for Consolidated and Community Living Waiver providers. Adult Autism Waiver providers should send questions to BSASP Provider Enrollment.