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Tags Posts tagged with "P/FDS Waiver"

P/FDS Waiver

Topic: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) — An Overview and Practical Application

Note: This training satisfies the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting (PBC). Please see more details below on Continuing Education (CE) Credits. This training is an approved alternative to the SPeCTRUM offered on MyODP.

Over the years, the prevalence of autism has increased, Pennsylvania’s service delivery system for individuals with autism has expanded, and best practices to provide quality supports have emerged. To support the individual needs of each person with autism across the lifespan, an understanding of core characteristics must be established. It is also important to learn how the individual’s presentation of autism may change across settings and situations.

This training will provide attendees with an in-depth presentation on core characteristics of autism and the impact of the characteristics on daily life, routines, and activities. A review of common terms and basic principles used to change behavior, teach new skills, and develop practical application of best practices will be included. Opportunity for discussion and engagement will occur throughout the training in the virtual setting.

Who should attend?

Direct Support Professionals, Front Line Supervisors, and Program Managers supporting individuals with autism in residential and other home and community-based settings.

Professionals supporting individuals in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW), Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP), Consolidated Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS), and Community Living waivers are encouraged to attend.

Where and when will sessions be held?

You must register separately for each session.

Continuing Education Units (CEU):

This training satisfies the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting measures CN-DD/Bx.01.1S and CN-DD/Bx.01.1CE for all Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Frontline Supervisors (FLS), and program managers. This training also fulfills 6100 ongoing training requirements.

To receive a training certificate, attendees must attend both virtual sessions.

Please contact the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) Training Inbox with questions.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-075. This announcement informs stakeholders of the submission of amendments to the Targeted Support Management State Plan, 1915(b)(4) Waiver, Consolidated Waiver, Community Living Waiver, and Person/Family Directed Support Waiver (P/FDS) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the availability of supporting publications.

Links are provided throughout the announcement to the waiver amendment submissions and to the supporting documents and resources.

Please submit questions about this information electronically.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-073. This announcement provides a list of current AWC FMS organizations available to support participants and surrogates who have chosen to self-direct some or all of their waiver-funded services using the Agency With Choice (AWC) Financial Management Service (FMS) model under the Consolidated, Community Living, or Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) waivers.

Please view the announcement for information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-053. This announcement provides clarification to assist Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) and Administrative Entities (AE) in properly identifying and planning for individuals who may be eligible for enrollment in the Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver through reserved capacity provisions.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has provided information on the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program. This program is designed to support individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who are working or interested in working.

Information shared about the program includes:

  • When referrals to a WIPA program are required;
  • How to locate WIPA programs in Pennsylvania; and
  • Benefits Counseling services funded through ODP’s Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Supports (P/FDS) Waivers.

The WIPA program seeks to help individuals reach their financial and employment goals by:

  • Providing information about available work supports;
  • Offering individualized information about benefits and health insurance; and
  • Explaining the impact working may have on benefits.

Please view the announcement ODPANN 25-001 for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-128, which serves as a guide for American Sign Language (ASL) — English Interpreter services available starting January 1, 2025.

The American Sign Language (ASL) — English Interpreter Service is for individuals in an ODP waiver who utilize ASL. Interpreting is the process of conveying English in grammatically correct American Sign Language and the process of conveying American Sign Language in English.

This service is available to individuals in the:

  • Consolidated Waiver;
  • Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver;
  • Community Living Waiver; and
  • Adult Autism Waiver.

This guide provides information on the service and its requirements. It can be found under the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind section on MyODP.

Questions can be sent to the ODP Deaf Services inbox.

ODP Announcement 24-096 is to inform all interested parties that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the 1915(b)(4) Performance-Based Contracting Waiver and the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waiver amendments effective January 1, 2025.

As communicated in ODP Announcement 24-071, the waivers were submitted to CMS on July 26, 2024. Since that time, ODP has engaged in discussions with CMS. No substantive changes were made to the waivers based on those discussions. Information regarding Performance-Based Contracting for Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living services delivered through the Consolidated and Community Living Waivers can be accessed at Performance-Based Contracting – MyODP. In addition to changes needed to implement Performance-Based Contracting, the following major changes were included in the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers:

  • American Sign Language – English Interpreter service will be added.
  • Billable indirect activities will be added to the Benefits Counseling service and the fiscal year limit will increase from 15 to 24 hours.
  • Clarification about evaluations will be added to the Assistive Technology service.
  • The fiscal year limit for Music, Art and Equine Assisted Therapy will increase from 26 to 52 hours.

Each full waiver application, as well as a record of all substantive changes, is available online at:

ODP will be holding one webinar to provide a general overview of Performance-Based Contracting and additional major changes made in the approved waivers. There will be time during the session for presenters to answer questions submitted by participants during the webinar.

The date, time, and registration link for these webinars are as follows:
Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waiver Amendment Overview
Wednesday, October 30, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm — Register Here.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the announcement Additional Guidance for the End of Appendix K Flexibilities in the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) and Adult Autism Waivers. The purpose of the communication is to provide additional guidance on which Appendix K waiver flexibilities have been added to the approved intellectual disability/autism waivers (ID/A), which are the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers, and the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW), as well as which Appendix K flexibilities will be ending November 11, 2023. You can view a quick guide for ID/A Waivers and a quick guide for the Adult Autism Waiver.

Please review all documents for additional information and details.