RCPA Webinar on Proposed Rule on Overtime Requirements for Salaried Workers — Nov. 6
Revised One-Pager Released for Brain Injury Funding & Advocacy Efforts
CMS Releases Reports on Long-Term Services and Supports
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.
OLTL Releases Summary of Listen and Learn Sessions
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.
RCPA Golf Outing Raises Funds for PAC: Thank You to All Participants!
RCPA held a golf fundraiser for the RCPA Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) on Monday, October 9, 2023. This successful event raised much-needed funds for our legislative activities, and we would like to thank all the generous golfers who participated and contributed. Congratulations to our winners! In addition, we would like to thank our sponsors:
Tournament Sponsor:
- Expert County Care Management
Lunch Sponsors:
- Brier Dlugolecki Strategies
- Novak Strategic Advisors
Beverage Hole Sponsors:
- Comprehensive Financial Associates/PA Pension Planners
- Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Prize Sponsors:
- Qualifacts
- Salisbury Behavioral Health, a division of RHA Health Services
Hole Sponsors:
- Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
- Christopher S. Lucas & Associates
- Embolden WC Trust
- Firetree, Ltd
- Hearten Workers’ Comp Program
- Pinnacle Treatment Centers, Inc.
- Step By Step, Inc.
- Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
Your support is always appreciated. We encourage anyone interested to make a personal contribution to the RCPA PAC. For your convenience, you can now make an online contribution. Thank you again for your participation and support, and congratulations to our golf winners!
Your participation in the RCPA-PAC is completely voluntary, and you may contribute as much or as little as you choose. Donations are not tax-deductible and will be used for political purposes. You may choose not to participate without fear of reprisal. You will not be favored or disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or decision not to contribute.
November 1 MLTSS Subcommittee Agenda & Registration Released
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released the agenda and details to register for the November 1, 2023, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting. The mission of the MLTSS Subcommittee is to be a resource to the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC), enabling the Committee to advise the Department of Human Services (DHS) and OLTL on issues regarding access to services and quality of service.
The meeting will be held in person at the PA Department of Education Honors Suite, 1st floor, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126 and also via webcast. The call information is below:
Conference line 1-914-614-3221 PIN: 807353414#
Webinar Link
Comments and questions may be submitted via email.
October MLTSS Subcommittee Meeting Documents & November Meeting Details
The meeting documents from the October 4, 2023, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting are now available. The documents include the agenda, transcript, and PowerPoint presentations and can be viewed below:
- AmeriHealth Caritas PowerPoint
- CMS Managed Care Quality Strategy Document
- Controlled Substance Ordering Thresholds Listening Session
- Follow-Up Items
- MLTSS Subcommittee Meeting Agenda
- MLTSS Subcommittee Meeting Transcript
- OLTL PowerPoint
- PA Health & Wellness PowerPoint
- UPMC Health Plan PowerPoint
- Workforce Plan Listening Sessions Flyer
The next MLTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for November 1, 2023, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the PA Department of Education’s Honors Suite at 333 Market St. in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate via webinar is also an option. To participate in the meeting via webinar, please visit this webinar registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. To participate via telephone, the dial-in number is (914) 614-3221, with Access Code: 807353414#.
Department of Health Releases Updated Influenza Resources
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has released updated influenza resources.
As a reminder, the Influenza Awareness Act of 2016 requires that Long-Term Care Facilities, including Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences, post DOH’s Influenza poster. You will find the updated poster for the 2023-2024 season here, as well as an updated Influenza toolkit. This information is also available under the “provider resources’ section of PCH/ALR Home web page.
Additional information can be located by visiting DOH’s Influenza Resources for Long-Term Care Facilities website.
Senator Casey to Introduce HCBS Funding Bill
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, will be introducing new legislation on the floor of Senate titled “The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act of 2023.”
The HCBS Relief Act of 2023 would provide dedicated Medicaid funds to states for two years to stabilize their HCBS service delivery networks, recruit and retain HCBS direct care workers, and meet the long-term service and support needs of people eligible for Medicaid home and community-based services. States would receive a 10-point increase in the federal match (FMAP) for Medicaid for two fiscal years to enhance HCBS. Funds could be used to increase direct care worker pay, provide benefits such as paid family leave or sick leave, and pay for transportation expenses to and from the homes of those being served. The additional funds also can be used to support family caregivers, pay for recruitment and training of additional direct care workers, and pay for technology to facilitate services. The funds can help decrease or eliminate the waiting lists for HCBS in the states.
The HCBS Relief Act of 2023 will be introduced during the fourth week of October with a House companion bill expected to be released in the near future. Please join RCPA in supporting this critical piece of legislation to create a viable and sustainable pathway for HCBS.
If you have any questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.
Thank You to the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors!
As we make our final preparations for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity, we would like to showcase and take the opportunity to thank our sponsors and exhibitors! We encourage attendees to meet and get to know these organizations in our Connections Hall Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12. View the full list below, and thank you once again to everyone who supports our conference! We are excited to see you at the Hershey Lodge!
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