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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released two reports focused on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). The reports are the Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Annual Expenditures Report, Federal Fiscal Year 2020, and the Medicaid Section 1915 (c) Waiver Programs Annual Expenditures and Beneficiaries Report.

These reports provide information on the LTSS rebalancing trends and patterns in expenditures for different home and community-based services (HCBS) and institutional care, both nationally and across states.

From June through August 2023, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) held Listen and Learn Sessions across Pennsylvania. There were a total of sixteen in-person sessions and three virtual sessions where Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA, Act 150, and Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) participants, family members, and community members were able to offer input on how OLTL could improve its programs.

A summary of the input provided is now available and can be viewed here.

News from ANCOR:

Dear ANCOR members,

I write to call your attention to a segment that aired during Saturday’s episode of Good Morning America on the direct support workforce crisis. The story chronicling staffing shortages in group homes on Long Island and nationally included excerpts from an interview with ANCOR COO Gabrielle Sedor, as well as reference to ANCOR’s research on the State of America’s Direct Support Workforce Crisis. Overall, the show did an excellent job of packaging complex issues into an accessible, three-minute story.

View and share Good Morning America’s feature on the direct support workforce crisis.

GMA is the latest among several high-profile outlets showcasing the direct support workforce crisis, illustrating growing acknowledgment of the significance of our field’s recruitment and retention obstacles. To that end, I hope you will consider sharing the link to the video on social media and in your advocacy so we can help further amplify this important message.

Finally, this high-profile feature simply would not have happened without the contributions of Michael Seereiter, President & CEO of the New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation (who was also interviewed for the segment) who connected us with the producer, and Lauren Tilghman, Director of Strategic Communications for KenCrest who provided some of the photos that were used in the segment. Thank you, Michael and Lauren!

With gratitude,

Sean Luechtefeld, PhD, CAE (he/him)
Vice President, Membership & Communications
ANCOR

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared that the MyODP learning site will not be accessible from 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 26, 2023, until 9:00 am on Monday, October 30, 2023, due to site maintenance. During this time, the MyODP home page and resource site will continue to be available. Please plan accordingly for accessing and completing training resources.

This is a reminder that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) shared ODPANN 23-080: Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Residential Provider Survey for Selective Contracting. The purpose of this announcement was to notify ODP providers rendering residential services (including residential habilitation, LifeSharing, and/or supported living) that they are required to complete a survey. The survey must be completed no later than November 9, 2023.

Please review the announcement and survey for additional information and details. Contact ODP directly with any questions.