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Tags Posts tagged with "PA Office of Developmental Programs"

PA Office of Developmental Programs

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In June of this year, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) established a new Special Populations Unit within the Bureau of Autism Services. This unit oversees the management of the Harry M. Settlement and supports efforts to build system-wide capacity to support individuals with communication challenges. A focus of the work will align with the Everyday Lives recommendation that emphasizes the need to build communication supports for the individuals assisted by ODP programs.

ODP has announced a kickoff series of training webinars presented by the Special Populations Unit in the month of December. These trainings will focus on specific topics related to communication. ODP Communication Number 101-18 includes a listing of the training topics, dates and times, and intended audience; this is the reissue of 101-18 which has the correct dates. To register, click on the linked title of each training you plan to attend. Once you pre-register, you will receive an email with instructions to participate, including a new link to join the meeting.

Questions about this ODP Communication should be directed to the ODP Deaf Services Mailbox.

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ODP Announcement Number 100-18 provides an update regarding feedback to providers after the completion of self-assessments this summer. Due to the amount of analysis needed and the quantity of self-assessments received, ODP began to email providers this week. The email contains a report for each self-assessment completed per service location along with guidance on how to correct areas on the self-assessment that could potentially be non-compliant according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) HCBS Final Rule.

ODP began emailing residential providers who completed a self-assessment starting Monday, November 5, 2018. It will take at least two weeks for ODP to email all residential providers. Non-residential providers will begin to receive emails starting Monday, November 19, 2018. If a provider does not receive a report for all of their service locations for which they completed a self-assessment by November 30, 2018, please contact ODP via email.

Please note that if a new service location has opened since June 12, 2018 (the date the HCBS Provider Settings Self-Assessment process officially closed), a self-assessment is not required to be completed for that service location. The only exception is for new Life Sharing homes that will provide services to individuals in the Community Living Waiver, for which a self-assessment must be completed. ODP will assess compliance with the CMS HCBS Final Rule for all other new service locations through multiple processes such as licensing, Quality Assessment and Improvement (QA&I), and approved program capacity and noncontiguous clearance.

For questions related to this communication, please contact ODP via email.

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ODP Announcement 098-18 announces availability of the recording of the webinar regarding the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waiver amendments effective November 1, 2018. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) held two webinars to discuss the changes made to the waiver amendments as a result of public comment and ODP review. These webinars were held on October 17 and October 23, 2018. The session on October 23 was recorded and is now available online along with the PowerPoint presentation used at the sessions.

The waiver amendments are also accessible online. An online document containing a side-by-side comparison of the waiver in its previous and amended form is available. Contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director, with questions.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) announced the release of its comprehensive employment report for the Calendar Year 2017 and Quarters 1 and 2 of Calendar Year 2018 in Communication #096-18. ODP anticipates completing this report on a yearly basis. The publication of this report is the result of approximately 2½ years’ preparation and new process implementation, ranging from an SCO baseline employment survey in August 2016, to the implementation of the six new employment individual monitoring questions in November 2016, to the development of an interactive employment dashboard in June 2018. ODP is excited to share this data with our stakeholders and interagency partners. This exchange of information furthers ODP’s effort to be transparent regarding their standing as an ID/Autism system invested in helping individuals obtain and maintain competitive-integrated employment, and to inform policy development and program innovation in the months and years to come. ODP would like to thank everyone who has played a part in the efforts which have led to the construction of this report and its publication.

Pennsylvania became an Employment First State on March 10, 2016, when Governor Tom Wolf signed Executive Order 2016-03, “Establishing ‘Employment First’ Policy and Increasing Competitive-Integrated Employment for Pennsylvanians with a Disability.” The Executive Order established policy for agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction, requiring competitive-integrated employment be the first consideration and preferred outcome of all publicly-funded education, employment and training, and long-term supports and service programs for working-age Pennsylvanians with a disability.

Priority Number 11 in the Executive Order Recommendations, published in September 2016, is to “Collect and Coordinate Data.” Recommendation #61, specifically, directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to collect and publish data on program participants enrolled in programs that provide home and community-based services and:

  • Have employment as a goal in their service plan;
  • Are receiving employment services; and
  • Are employed.

This employment report was developed to meet Recommendation #61. You may view the employment report online here. For questions related to this employment report, please contact your regional employment lead. If you have any questions regarding the ODP Announcement, please submit via email.

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Office of Developmental Programs Communication Number 093-18 announces the scheduled webcast “Claim and Service Documentation Requirements: for Providers of Consolidated, Community Living and Person/Family Directed Support Waiver Services and Targeted Services Management (TSM)” will be available beginning on Monday October 22, 2018.

The recorded webcast will provide an overview of the intent and purpose of the Interim Technical Guidance for Claim and Service Documentation Bulletin number 00-18-04 and the attachment. The webcast will describe the important relationship between claims submission and service documentation.  This will include describing the differences between Service Notes and Progress Notes.  The webcast also will discuss the benefits of reviewing your own documentation to help ensure practices are in compliance with current Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) policy and regulations.

Additionally, 5 role-specific live webinars are scheduled beginning in November.  These webinars are intended as a follow-up to the webcast and will contain an opportunity for Q & A.  Participants are strongly encouraged to view the webcast in advance of participating in the following webinars.  The scheduled webinars are as follows:

• Claims and Service Documentation Requirements for AE Session
FOR AE’S ONLY
Monday, November 5 – 1:30-3:30

• Claims and Service Documentation Requirements for SCO Session
FOR SC’S ONLY
Wednesday November 7 – 10:00 – 12:00 Online registration for SCO Session

This webinar is a follow-up to the Claims and Service Documentation webcast training available on MyODP.  During the webinar, ODP will be providing additional information and clarifications specific to the responsibilities of Supports Coordination Organizations.  Attendees should be sure to view the Claims and Service Documentation webcast prior to participation in this webinar.

Claims and Service Documentation Requirements for Provider Sessions (Choose one)
Wednesday November 7 – 1:30 – 3:30 – Providers
Thursday November 8 – 1:30 – 3:30 – Providers
Friday November 9 – 10:00 – 12:00 – Providers
Online registration link for Provider Sessions (Using this link, the registrant will be able to choose which one of the three sessions they wish to attend).

This webinar is a follow-up to the Claims and Service Documentation webcast training available on MyODP.  During the webinar ODP will be providing additional information and clarifications specific to the responsibilities of Provider Organizations.  Attendees should be sure to view the Claims and Service Documentation webcast prior to participation in this webinar.  Attendees only need to register for one of the three available sessions.

Contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director, with any questions.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) distributed Communication Number 084-18 to announce a revised qualification process for new providers to becomes effective on October 1, 2018..In order to become a qualified provider, new provider applicants must submit acceptable provider qualification documentation designated for new provider applicants as well as supporting qualification documentation. Applicants must review all source documents referenced within ODP’s New Provider Assessment Tool before completing the tool.  While completing the tool, the provider applicant shall ensure that all policies, procedures, processes and/or protocols are developed and aligned with ODP requirements.  The Assigned Administrative Entity (AE) will validate the documentation that applicants submit with the New Provider Self-Assessment Tool.  The Assigned Ae is the AE with whom the provider applicant intends to provide the most service and is chosen by the provider applicant during orientation registration.

New provider applicants must also complete the ODP Provider Qualification Form DP 1059 as well as the Provider Qualification Documentation Record. All supporting documentation required for each service specialty the provider applicant intends to render should be included.

Informational Memos 044-16, 068-12, and 010-14, and ODP Announcement 114-17 are obsolete as of the publication of this announcement. For complete information regarding this process, please refer to ODP Communication Number 084-18.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Announcement 083-18 provides detailed instructions and clarification on the use of Housing Transition and Tenancy Sustaining Services available through the Intellectual Disability and/or Autism (ID/A) waivers which include the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support, and Community Living waivers.

The Housing Transition and Tenancy Sustaining services were established to assist individuals with tenancy in their own homes, whether rented, leased, or owned. This announcement lists all required Provider Qualifications which include knowledge of, and ability to access, several programs and resources in the community such as the various types of housing vouchers and housing services, fair housing, reasonable accommodations, homeownership programs, Olmstead requirements, Prepared Renters Program (PREP), etc., in addition to general waiver provider requirements.

The announcement also lists several resources and their purposes including; Cents and Sensibility by the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Financial Education and Coaching Program by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Local Lead Agency, Local Referral Network, Medical Assistance Transportation Program, Money Smart by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Nursing Home Transition Tenant-based Rental Assistance, PA Housing Search, PA ABLE Program, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Regional Housing Coordinators, Section 811 Program, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Housing Transition and Tenancy Sustaining Service includes pre-tenancy and housing sustaining supports to assist individuals in being successful tenants in private homes owned, rented, or leased by the individuals. The concepts and philosophy of person-centered planning should be incorporated throughout the development and implementation of individual housing service plans.

Tenancy support services may not be authorized for individuals who have the following authorized services on their Individual Support Plans (ISP):

  • Residential Habilitation;
  • Life Sharing; or
  • Supported Living services.

Housing Transition services may be authorized when the individual has a plan to move from the home where Residential Habilitation or Life Sharing is provided into a private home that the individual will own, rent, or lease. Financial support that constitutes a room and board expense is excluded from federal financial participation in the ID/A waivers.

Contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director, with any questions.

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As we reported at the end of August 2018, The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) organized a small work group to develop a “simplified rate structure” for the Community Participation Service. Kristin Ahrens and Rick Smith from ODP met with the representative providers who were invited to participate on this work group. The first item of business was to review the Proposed Rate Structure Chart that was originally developed by RCPA’s work group, which met in April and May of this year with the intention to make solid recommendations for improvement in the implementation of this service. The stakeholders that participated all agreed that this proposed structure would be a great improvement in the method utilized to properly bill for services, and to calculate community percentages. A few representatives of RCPA’s committee presented our proposal to ODP staff in June; we are very pleased that our recommendations have been considered for implementation.

At the RCPA IDD Division Meeting this month, Rick Smith reported to the committee that ODP is moving forward to the next stage of assigning appropriate rates to the proposed W-codes that we presented. As ODP works on restructuring the rates, the expectation is to have the new rate structure implemented in July 2019 for fiscal year 19/20. As we learn more about the progress of the work group, we will keep members up to date.

Attached please find the proposal that RCPA submitted to ODP that is now being adopted for the future rate structure.

Thank you to all who participated in the RCPA Community Participation Work Group meetings; it is rewarding to see that our efforts have made a positive impact in our system. For more information contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director.

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