ODP Bulletin ODPANN 24-015 provides guidance for implementing changes to Assistive Technology and Remote Supports in the amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), and Adult Autism Waivers. Please note that this communication is being reissued with an update to Attachment B only. The other attachments are being included for reference.
ATTACHMENTS:
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has updated ODPANN 24-015: Implementing Changes to Remote Supports and Assistive Technology in the November Waiver Amendments. The original release of the communication was missing the guidance for implementing changes to assistive technology. Please note: this has been corrected with this update. All new information is included in red. Please use this version of the communication going forward.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-015.The purpose of this communication is to provide guidance for implementing changes to assistive technology and remote supports in the amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) and Adult Autism Waivers. View the announcement and the forms below for details.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Technology Task Force is seeking input from providers about the use of Remote Supports, Assistive Technology, Teleservices, and Video Monitoring. The information collected will develop baseline data and inform future decisions related to supportive technology. This brief survey should take approximately 5–10 minutes to complete. Please include information for all individuals served and for all service locations throughout your organization. Once collected, ODP plans to publish the results for all stakeholders.
The survey will close on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 4:00 pm. Thank you for your participation.
Complete the survey here.
With the staffing crisis showing no signs of easing, the need for help supporting the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled community has never been more acute. SafeinHome has numerous tools to help enhance independence and self-direction while helping to ease staffing shortages. David Thom, Account Executive in the Philadelphia Region, has scheduled drop-in hours for the next few weeks to discuss how Remote Supports (RS) and Assistive Technology (AT) can help the people we all serve.
SafeinHome invites you to learn about their Remote Supports and Assistive Technology during office hours at the following times via Zoom or Teams. Whether you’d like to talk about a specific individual, or just discuss Remote Supports and Assistive Technology in general, please feel free to join the office hours or reach out any time via the contact information below:
Tara Harmening, Southwestern PA, 724-433-9401
Every Tuesday 10:00 am–11:00 am through 3-15-22
Visit here to join the meeting.
Season Jackson, Northeastern PA, 570-840-2240
Every Thursday 9:00 am–10 am through 3-24-22
Visit here to join the meeting.
Christina Romel, Western PA, 412-779-3100
Every Tuesday 11:00 am–12:00 pm
Visit here to join the Zoom meeting.
Kristie Ondisco, Central PA, 570-640-0663
Every two weeks on Wednesdays 1:00 pm–2:00 pm, starting 3-23-22 to 4-20-22.
Visit here to join the meeting.
David Thom, Southeastern PA, 510-333-4909
Visit SafeinHome’s website for more details.
Changes to the Remote Supports Component of Assistive Technology in the Consolidated, Community Living and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers
ODP Announcement 21-094 notifies interested parties of changes to Remote Supports in the most recently approved waiver amendments, including the requirement to complete the Variance Form (DP 1086) when an individual needs more than $5,000 of Remote Supports per fiscal year.
Amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) effective November 22, 2021, contain changes to Remote Supports which are a component of the Assistive Technology service (all requirements contained in the waivers prior to the amendments continue to apply). The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has updated Variance Form DP 1086 and the related instructions originally found in Bulletin 00-18-06, Variance Form and Process, to reflect the requirements for intensive remote supports in these amendments.
ODP is holding a webinar on February 16, 2022, from 10:00 am–11:00 am to discuss requirements and best practices for the Remote Supports component of Assistive Technology in the Consolidated, Community Living and P/FDS waivers. The date, time, and link for registration to attend the webinar can be found here.
ODP Announcement 21-090 is to provide guidance to licensees that operate Community Homes for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability or Autism, licensees that operate Life Sharing Homes, ODP-enrolled providers of licensed or unlicensed Residential Habilitation, ODP-enrolled providers of licensed or unlicensed Life Sharing, and/or ODP-enrolled Supported Living providers (“Providers”). This guidance is about the use of assistive technology and remote supports to achieve individual’s goals and outcomes while balancing the benefits of technology use with the requirement to protect each individual’s right to privacy.
ODP has developed a Residential Technology Evaluation Tool to assist providers in determining whether a privacy violation will or may occur. The tool is not a required form, although ODP strongly recommends its use. Providers may develop their own tool to determine whether a privacy violation will or may occur.
ODP is holding a webinar to discuss requirements and best practices for the use of assistive technology and remote supports in residential settings. The date, time, and link for registration to attend the webinar are as follows:
