The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-064. The purpose of this communication is to notify trainers and learners that the start of the Medication Administration system upgrade has been delayed. The upcoming system upgrade for the Medication Administration system will be starting Thursday, September 26, 2024, and ending Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Please view the announcement for additional information. Updates are in red.
With the passing of the FY 2024/25 PA budget last week, intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism (ID/A) associations are attempting to obtain clarity regarding its impact on services. The Governor’s Office announced, however, that the scheduled meeting to review these impacts has been postponed in order to allow the Department of Human Services (DHS) more time to analyze the details of the budget. The Governor’s Office shared the following message:
The Commonwealth’s enacted FY24-25 budget includes a philosophical shift in how Pennsylvania approaches service delivery for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism – a much needed and overdue course change to invest in dignity and opportunity for this community. In February, Governor Shapiro announced the intent to tackle the waiting list for services with a new approach, the Multi-Year ODP Program Growth Strategy. Accompanying this structural change is a substantial investment in services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism totaling $354.8M combined state and federal funds – an investment that supports providers, direct support professionals, and families who help make our vision of Everyday Lives a reality.
Included in the total funding is $280M in federal and state funds, which averages 7 percent rate increases for FY24-25. DHS is continuing the analysis of the funds appropriated for FY24-25 for ID/A services and how this will reflect in final rates that will take effect for FY24-25. Also included is an investment of $74.8M in combined federal and state funds for FY24-25 to put the commonwealth on a path to end the emergency waiting list by offering 1,500 adults enrollment in the Consolidated or Community Living Waivers and altering the management of home and community-based services capacity.
In addition to rate increases, the enacted budget includes funding for the implementation of performance-based contracting and the addition of sign language interpretation services. Performance-based contracting is scheduled to be implemented for residential services beginning in FY24-25. Sign language services will be added to ODP’s home and community-based waivers beginning January 1, 2025, pending approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
We know there is great interest to further discuss the impact of the enacted budget on your programs and services. DHS will provide additional information to stakeholders related to the necessary recalculation for the fee schedule rates for FY24-25 and performance-based contracting upon completion of the analysis.
ODP Announcement 24-068 is to remind trainers and learners about changes in the Medication Administration (MA) Training course and possible impacts of those changes:
New Trainer and Recertification Face-to-Face classes have been added to the July schedule, and additional Summer and Fall classes will be announced soon. If you have any issues with registering, please submit a ticket electronically.
To achieve the highest tier in the Office of Developmental Program’s (ODP) new performance-based pay initiative, providers must use an EHR and an eMAR. Providers are assessed annually, and their tier determines their reimbursement rates.
Join SETWorks on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 12:00 pm ET for a group discussion, where they will demonstrate how they support all criteria and reporting metrics to meet the highest performance/payment tiers from ODP.
SETWorks in Pennsylvania:
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-067. This announcement communicates updated guidance for the Community Participation Support (CPS) and Day Habilitation services and requirements relating to Quality Management (QM) plans. Please view the announcement, as well as the QM Data Collection Tool, for information and details.
Happy July! Share these important workshops and Good Life Groups with your network! Register for upcoming events on the PA Family Network website.
Support Groups
LifeCourse Workshops
Waiver Workshops
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!
Understanding Trauma: From Theory to Practice
This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal addresses the approach to trauma and its role in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental illness from a variety of perspectives. Just as trauma arises from a variety of sources and experiences, addressing it in a meaningful, accessible way requires that each voice is heard, valued, and respected.
There are foundational principles that are vital in determining the best path forward in a trauma-informed manner, and we can and should learn from and leverage these principles and best practices. The goal of this issue of the Positive Approaches Journal is to present diverse, expert voices in understanding trauma from theory to practice.
This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP’s website.
To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.
Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP by selecting the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.
The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP electronically.
After reviewing hundreds of comments from stakeholders, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has made some initial adjustments to the proposed Performance-Based Contracting waiver for Residential Services. Areas with high volumes of comments included:
ODP is now offering Residential providers a choice of when they are assigned into a tier. This will be based on which data they chose for ODP to review and make a tier determination upon. The choices will be:
ODP plans to continue their review of public comments and intends to publish additional information. On July 19, ODP hopes to submit amended the 1915(c) waivers and 1915(b)4 waiver as well as publish the following supporting documents:
On January 1, 2025, ODP intends to begin Performance-Based Contracting (pending CMS approval).
ODP will conduct a webinar for residential providers on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, to review publications, changes made as a result of public comment, and instructions for tier determination and data submission. Register here. This webinar will be posted on the PBC Resource Page located on the MyODP website.
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