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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) have secured a $250,000 grant as part of a national initiative to cultivate health policy and a care system that is more equitable and better meets the needs of individuals and families. The collaboration will focus on increasing access to care and developing a comprehensive policy framework and health care plan for consumers with the use of telehealth.

The two-year grant to RCPA and PACHC is among six spanning eight states. It was awarded by the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net, which brings together primary care associations and behavioral health state associations to advance policy and practice change. The Delta Center project is supported by the National Council for Behavioral Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Association of Community Health Centers. Read the full press release here.

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Sarah Meek, ANCOR’s Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, appealed to Secretary Xavier Becerra and Acting Administrator Liz Richter “to swiftly issue guidance on the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provisions of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan (ARP). Strengthening the Medicaid HCBS program is essential to saving lives in the disability community, which has been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.”

“States should be urged to closely work with stakeholders, including consumers, providers, and workers, on the investment of funds in a reasonably expediated approach to address the specific needs in their state. States should be encouraged to fund measures that include, but are not limited to, bolstering the direct care workforce, increasing access to and use of technology and remote supports, and promoting the safe provision of services with social distancing and PPE.”

The letter includes additional thoughts regarding recommended uses of the funds to support the administration, quality, and availability of HCBS.

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Deputy Secretary Ahrens presented information regarding the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) proposed budget recommendations for state fiscal year (SFY) 21/22 at the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) meeting on March 25, 2021.

Highlights included:

  • The budget for SFY 2021/22 provides $2.23B in state funds for ODP. Including federal participation and augmenting revenues, the total budget for ODP services is $5.04B.
  • The budget reflects an increase of $177.3M in state funding, a 7.95% increase from SFY 2020/21.
  • $13.9M to provide home and community-based services for an additional 732 individuals on the emergency waiting list during SFY 2021/22 in the Community Living Waiver, and an additional 100 individuals with emergency needs in the Consolidated Waiver. Includes reserve capacity for 20 children with medical complexities in each waiver (begins 3/1/2022).
  • $828K in savings associated with a new outcome-based payment for successful residential transitions from 6400 group homes to life-sharing or supported living for up to 20 individuals during SFY 2021/22 (begins 1/1/2022).

The full PowerPoint presentation is available here.

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From ANCOR:

March 26, 2021

Pre-employment Transition Services

The Employment First Community of Practice will host a webinar on “Pre-employment Transition Services: Implementation Efforts, Successes and Challenges in Minnesota and Idaho” on April 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will review the requirements for pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities, including job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self-advocacy. The webinar will share how Minnesota and Idaho are implementing the requirements.

Inclusive Community College Career Pathways: Access

The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth published a blog on “Inclusive Community College Career Pathways: Access.” The blog discusses how two community colleges increased education access for students with disabilities through an Office of Disability Employment Policy grant program.

PEAT Newsletter

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology released its March 2021 Future of Work Newsletter. It highlights the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s 20th anniversary and PEAT’s conference session at SXSW 2021 on “Disability-Led Innovation in Future Workplaces.” It also links to resources added to PEAT’s “Telework and Accessibility Toolkit.”

Disability-Inclusive Apprenticeships in the States

The National Conference of State Legislatures published a report, “Apprenticeships: A Pipeline for an Inclusive Recovery,” that examines state and federal actions to enhance disability inclusion in apprenticeships. The report explains why inclusive apprenticeships can be an effective workforce development tool to aid economic recovery in the COVID-19 response and highlights resources for creating inclusive apprenticeship programs. The report is the fourth and final in a series developed in collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability on the opportunities and challenges stemming from the pandemic and its impact on the employment of people with disabilities.

Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship announced $31 million in funds for Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence. The Centers of Excellence will support the expansion and modernization of technical assistance to Registered Apprenticeship Programs to accelerate and support their growth and diversity. Funding applications are due April 29, 2021.

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Donna Martin
American Network of Community Options and Resources
Alexandria VA
401-965-9411
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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has issued guidance related to Tuberculin skin testing regulatory compliance and COVID-19 vaccinations. The official DHS announcement concerning tuberculin skin testing and COVID vaccination is available at the following link: Guidance for Tuberculin Skin Testing and COVID Vaccination.

Current CDC recommendations state that individuals should not take a Tuberculosis skin test within four weeks of their 2-dose COVID-19 vaccination process.

 

Applies to Chapters 2380 (Adult Training Facilities), 6400 (Community Homes for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability or Autism), and 6500 (Life Sharing Homes) of Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code.

 

Due to the CDC guidance related to tuberculin skin testing and COVID-19 Vaccinations impact on licensees’ ability to comply with regulatory requirements and with the Governor’s authorization as conferred in the Disaster Proclamation, the Department has temporarily issued a limited suspension of the timing of the tuberculin skin testing provisions.

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Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay

Update from ANCOR:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has now released the NEW application forms Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers must submit to apply for first-time loans, or “second draw” loans, as well as indicating expanded eligibility for those second draw loans. 

Additionally, the Senate passed legislation by a 92-7 margin today (Thursday, March 25) to extend the deadline for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to May 31. Under the legislation, which overwhelmingly passed the House last week, PPP applicants have until May 31 to apply for a loan and the Small Business Administration (SBA) has a June 30 deadline to process them. We will keep you informed when the legislation is signed by President Biden, and if the SBA issues new materials as a result of this legislation.

First Draw loan information 

  • Loans are now available for nonprofit organizations:
    • with fewer than 500 employees total who have not already received funding
    • with 500 or more employees across multiple locations, but with no more than 500 employees at a single one of those locations. This group of nonprofits only became eligible to apply when the American Rescue Plan became law on March 11, 2021.

Second Draw loan information

  • Loans are now available for nonprofit organizations that:
    • have already received and spent an initial PPP loan AND
    • can demonstrate a 25% reduction in gross receipts AND
    • have one location with fewer than 300 employees, OR more than 300 employees across multiple locations BUT NO MORE THAN 300 IN ANY ONE LOCATION (this is new information per the updated application form for this type of loan)

More information at the US Small Business Administration!

dmartin@ancor.org

dparfaite-claude@ancor.org

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