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Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

The National Disability Rights Network and the American Association of People with Disabilities will be hosting the 2021 Disability Vote Summit on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, from 12:00 pm–4:00 pm EST.

At the virtual summit, they will explore:

  • The power of the disability vote
  • Lessons learned from 2020 turnout
  • How to use data to mobilize the disability vote

Confirmed presenters include representatives from the National Disability Rights Network, the National Federation of the Blind, SABE Go Voter Project, and more! Join national disability advocates, state and local organizers, policymakers, and others who are working to get out the disability vote.

If you have any questions, please contact Lilian Aluri or Jack Rosen.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

From Advancing States newsletter:

In May 2021, CMS released a final rule regarding vaccination education, access, and reporting for residents and staff of nursing and care facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Recently, CMS sent detailed implementation guidelines to the state agencies responsible for overseeing ICFs/IID. This memo details the responsibilities of ICFs/IID within the new guidelines.

Click here to learn more.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce that the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!

Supporting and Informing Paths to Transition

The COVID-19 pandemic was a source of fear and frustration. Yet even through the darkest days of lockdown, we all looked towards the end of the pandemic and the transition beyond the pandemic. Supporting and Informing Paths to Transition provides not only a look into transitioning into Post-COVID-19 life, but at other paths of transition one can journey through. With this issue, we seek to provide a glimpse into the various paths and insights that occur when transitioning from one path to another.

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading.

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We want to remind you all that September 13–17, 2021 is Direct Support Professional Appreciation Week. Governor Wolf has once again signed a Proclamation to recognize the important role that staff play in service provision.

We would also like to share some ideas from your colleagues that they are planning for their employees in case you are trying to come up with recognition ideas!

  • Gifts to the DSPs, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks filled with goodies (journal, pens, snacks, PPE), and gift cards to grocery stores;
  • Pizza party at each site, bagels and coffee, dinner delivered to each home one night, and/or ice cream cakes; and
  • Personal visits at each site, handwritten thank you notes, and bonuses.

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate your staff, please feel free to share any photos or news stories with RCPA so that we can share them on our social media as well. We are happy to do anything to help promote the good publicity and recognition!

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OMHSAS has released the following Telehealth Regulatory Waiver Request template in order to streamline regulatory waiver requests for the continued delivery of telehealth services following the 9-30-21 end date of statewide regulatory waivers based on the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration.

The waiver submission process will adhere to the revised OMHSAS Waiver Bulletin 16-13.

The waiver will cover deliverable considerations for the following services

  • Mental Health Intensive Case Management 55 Pa. Code § 5221.33(4)(iii)
  • Outpatient Psychiatric Services 55 Pa. Code § 1153.14(1)
  • Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Clinic Services 55 Pa. Code § 1223.14(2)

Each waiver request will remain in place for a 1-year period and will require providers also have documented policies in place for clinical appropriateness and the delivery of telehealth in emergencies. RCPA recommends agencies carefully review each section of the waiver request as they complete their submission.

The waiver will outline the following service considerations:

  • To ensure continuity of telehealth delivery of services by allowing this agency/facility to use audio-only service delivery for Outpatient Psychiatric Services, Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Clinic Services when the individual served does not have access to video capability or for an urgent medical situation.
  • To ensure continuity of telehealth delivery of services by allowing this agency/facility to accept verbal consent/verification for documentation where a signature cannot be obtained when delivering Mental Health Intensive Case Management Services.

Submission Considerations:

  • For all Mental Health Intensive Case Management and Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic Waivers: Please submit all waiver requests to the appropriate OMHSAS Regional Field Office with an attached letter of support from the County MH/ID Administrator where your primary licensed location is at.
  • For all Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Clinic Services Waivers: Please submit here. No letter of support is required for these waivers.

Providers may utilize the following language in your waiver request letter:

Kristen Houser, Deputy Secretary
OMHSAS
Commonwealth Tower, 11th Floor
303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg 17101

Dear Deputy Secretary Houser:

This letter is a request for a waiver of Department of Human Services regulation(s) to continue the delivery of services through telehealth after September 30, 2021, which is the end date of the Governor’s COVID -19 Emergency Disaster Declaration which authorized certain regulatory suspensions.  The details for this request for waiver are included in the form below.  In addition, a letter of support from the County MH/ID Administrator for this request for waiver is attached. (REMOVE if Outpatient D&A Clinic Waiver) 

Your consideration for approval is appreciated. I look forward to your response. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this regulatory waiver request, please contact me at (Phone and e-mail address.)

Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name)

Members may contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp or their respective Policy Director with questions or feedback.

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Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay

RCPA was approached by a coalition of organizations in support of federal nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community, including Freedom for All Americans, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center of Allentown, and other state and local partners.

The RCPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee purpose statement reads that “the committee will actively challenge systemic racism and social injustice through advocacy for legislation, policies, and practices that promote equity, providing guidance and support for DEI initiatives within RCPA member organizations…” This initiative is in alignment with RCPA DEI efforts.

Currently, federal law lacks explicit nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community in housing, credit, lending, federally funded programs, and public spaces like restaurants, stores, theaters, and hospitals. Additionally, 29 states, including Pennsylvania, lack state laws that explicitly protect LGBT people from discrimination.

This coalition is soliciting supporters from Pennsylvania’s community of service providers — those who support and care for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, including LGBT Pennsylvanians who face additional challenges due to the lack of nondiscrimination protections. Service providers are an important and trusted voice in Pennsylvania, and your inclusion will help to demonstrate the broad level of support for nondiscrimination statewide.

By signing on you to this initiative, your organization will join a diverse coalition of service providers supporting the nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community. Your organization’s name will be shared publicly and will also be shared with Pennsylvania’s US Senators.

To offer your organization’s support, follow this link to join Pennsylvania Service Providers for LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections and make your voice heard.

Please reach out to Jack Phillips or Cindi Hobbes with any questions.

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Image by Werner Moser from Pixabay

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is providing the opportunity for public comment on the Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) submission. This submission will occur in three parts: the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Assessment and Plan, or Mini-Application, which is currently available in draft and available for review; the SAPT Report, which will be posted in November; and the Annual Synar Report, which will be made available in December.

These documents can be accessed utilizing “citizenpa” as your login and “citizen” as your password. Please submit all comments by Thursday, September 30.

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