';
CLOSE
Medical Rehab

0 644

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced the availability of $10 million in grant funding through the COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatments, and Therapies (CV-VTT) program to support the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments, and therapies by qualified biotechnology entities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This funding was appropriated from the Act 2A of 2020, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2019, to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), to be administered through a Notice of Subgrant by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Office of Technology and Innovation.

“Our commonwealth is home to some of the most brilliant minds and institutions and has a history of being a leader in developing groundbreaking science and advancing new, life-sustaining technologies,” said Gov. Wolf. “As we continue to take mitigation efforts seriously, we want to support groups that can move Pennsylvania forward in the development of treatments that can halt the spread of COVID-19 and protect our families, friends, and communities for the long-term.”

This program is available to Pennsylvania-based entities that demonstrate both a financial need and a well-defined pathway to the accelerated commercialization of a new vaccine, treatment, or therapy in direct response to the fight against COVID-19.

The following applicants are eligible to apply:

  • Colleges and universities
  • For-profit companies
  • Academic medical centers
  • Non-profit research institutions
  • Economic development organizations

Eligible applicants may apply for grants and learn more about the CV-VTT program here. The application deadline is Friday, July 24, 2020.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should follow https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lyndsay Kensinger, Governor’s Office, RA-GVGOVPRESS@pa.gov
Casey Smith, DCED, casesmith@pa.gov

# # #

0 1092

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced that the Department of Human Services (DHS) will allow for additional Medicaid providers to enroll as an opioid use disorder Center of Excellence (COE). Since 2016, 45 COEs have transformed the way care is provided to people with opioid use disorder and have helped more than 30,000 Pennsylvanians access comprehensive, whole-person treatment that makes recovery possible.

“Connecting people to treatment that addresses both their opioid use disorder as well as physical and behavioral health needs is critical in saving lives and fighting the opioid epidemic,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “Centers of Excellence have proven themselves to be a critical part of our efforts to improve treatment options. By taking the next step in sustaining this program, individuals with opioid use disorder will have more access to treatment in their communities.”

DHS has announced a process for providers to enroll in the commonwealth’s Medicaid program as a COE specialty type provider. Providers who bear this specialty designation will be eligible to bill MCOs for care management services. This will allow DHS to continue to hold COEs to elevated standards by ensuring fidelity to the COE care model while also allowing other qualified providers to attain the distinction of COE.

“DHS is proud to oversee the development of the COE program, and we remain committed to helping the people at the center of this crisis,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “COEs are on the front lines in the fight against the opioid epidemic, and we want to be sure we are doing everything we can to support them. In continuing the program, DHS is taking the next step to cement the COE model as a standard of care for people with opioid use disorder.”

The COE program was established in 2016 through grants awarded to 45 providers throughout the commonwealth in order to increase access to medication assisted treatment, improve coordination of behavioral and physical healthcare for patients, and use community-based care management teams to keep people engaged in treatment across the continuum of care toward recovery.

COEs are designed to take care of the whole person by incorporating opioid use disorder treatment with physical, mental, and behavioral health treatment, as well as recovery support services. COEs use a blend of licensed and unlicensed, clinical and non-clinical staff to coordinate the care needs of an individual to ensure that their treatment and non-treatment needs are met.

The COEs’ care managers work to keep people with an opioid use disorder engaged in treatment by coordinating follow-up care and community supports that are vital to maintaining recovery. COEs work as a hub-and-spoke network, with the designated center serving as the hub. The spokes can include primary care practices, the criminal justice system, emergency departments, social services providers, other treatment providers, and other referral sources.

A study by the University of Pittsburgh found that COEs save lives by increasing access to medication assisted treatment and keeping people engaged in that treatment. Before receiving services from a COE, 46 percent of patients received medication assisted treatment, but after receiving COE services, nearly 73 percent of those patients were receiving treatment. The study also found that people who receive services from a COE are less likely to be admitted to the emergency room or the hospital due to an overdose. There is also a significant difference in how long a patient stays engaged in treatment; those who receive services from a COE stay in treatment longer than those who do not.

Applications for Medicaid providers to be enrolled as a COE may be submitted any time. Beginning January 1, 2021, only providers with the COE specialty type will receive payment for COE-type care management services. More information and the application for Medicaid providers to become a COE can be found here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James, ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov

# # #

0 1011

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced additional distributions from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs. HHS expects to distribute approximately $15 billion to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs and have not received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Allocation.  The deadline to submit the application to HRSA for this funding is July 20, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to receive HHS’ Medicaid Provider Distribution payments, initial key eligibility requirements for Medicaid and CHIP programs and/or Medicaid and CHIP managed care organization providers include:

  • The provider must not have received payments from the $50 billion Provider Relief Fund General Distribution to Medicare providers (note: if a Medicaid/CHIP provider was eligible for the General Distribution payment and rejected the payment, it cannot be eligible for the Medicaid Provider Distribution);
  • The provider must have directly billed or own (on the application date) an included subsidiary that has billed a state Medicaid/CHIP program and/or a Medicaid/CHIP managed care plan for health care-related services between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019;
  • The provider must have either (i) filed a federal income tax return for fiscal years 2017, 2018 or 2019 or (ii) be an entity exempt from the requirement to file a federal income tax return and have no beneficial owner that is required to file a federal income tax return (e.g. a state-owned hospital or healthcare clinic);
  • The provider must have provided patient care after January 31, 2020;
  • The provider must not have permanently ceased providing patient care directly, or indirectly through included subsidiaries; and
  • If the applicant is an individual, they must have gross receipts or sales from providing patient care reported on Form 1040, Schedule C, Line 1, excluding income reported on a W-2 as a (statutory) employee.

Examples of types of Medicaid/CHIP providers that are eligible for these payments include pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, dentists, opioid treatment and behavioral health providers, assisted living facilities, and other providers of home and community-based services. In order to receive Provider Relief Fund payments, eligible Medicaid/CHIP providers must take action through HRSA’s application portal and comply with the Medicaid Relief Fund Payment Terms and Conditions.

Provider Relief Fund payments will be at least two percent (2%) of reported gross revenue from patient care. Eligible Medicaid/CHIP providers can report their gross annual patient revenue through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal and the final amount that a provider receives will be determined after such data is submitted, including information on the number of Medicaid patients served. HHS has issued a comprehensive set of instructions for submitting an application through the application portal.

Before applying through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal, applicants should:

In addition, DHS encourages Medicaid/CHIP providers to carefully review the Medicaid Relief Fund Payment Terms and Conditions with their attorneys and accountants on the appropriate use of and questions about CARES Act Provider Relief Funds.

HHS has created a listing of CARES Act Provider Relief Funds Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

The complete press release is on the HHS website.

More information about eligibility and the application process is also available on the HHS website.

** Please note when applying for this, the first step is to enter your Tax ID Number.   The number must be verified before you can move to the next step.  This could take a day or two, therefore providers should NOT wait until the last day, July 20 to apply.

0 1002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2020  

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced applicants selected to participate in the Regional Response Health Collaboration Program (RRHCP). The RRHCP will directly support COVID-19 continued readiness and response planning in long-term residential care facilities, improve quality of care related to infection prevention, expand COVID-19 testing to include asymptomatic staff and residents in facilities, and facilitate continuity of care and services provided by long-term care facilities in an attempt to mitigate the risk of spread of COVID-19 to staff or residents. This effort is a collaboration between DHS, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

“Long-term care providers provide a home and care for some of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and COVID-19 remains a serious threat. The Wolf Administration will continue to do all we can to support our long-term care providers during this pandemic and beyond,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “The Regional Response Health Collaboration Program will build on accomplishments thus far and be a resource to long-term care facilities as COVID-19 evolves. Through these collaboratives, long-term care facilities will have a network to learn, respond, and prepare for what is ahead in the fight against COVID-19.”

More than 45,000 Pennsylvanians live in more than 1,200 personal care homes and assisted living residences, and more than 80,000 residents live in 693 skilled nursing facilities throughout the commonwealth. These residents are often some of the most vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19 due to age, presence of existing health conditions that may lead to complications, and the congregate nature of these facilities.

The RRHCP will provide clinical, operational, and administrative support to protect residents in long-term care facilities from COVID-19. It will help those facilities implement best practices in infection control, implement contact tracing programs in facilities, support clinical care through on-site and telemedicine services, and provide remote monitoring and consultation with physicians. The RRHCP will assist in identifying alternate care arrangements for patients no longer requiring acute care but needing assistance in returning to their long-term care facilities.

Selected grantees will be awarded $175 million collectively through funding approved by the General Assembly. Funding for the RRHCP is divided regionally by the long-term care facility census in each region. Applicants selected and the regions they will serve include:

  1. Southeast Region ($65.8 million):
    1. Thomas Jefferson University
    2. University of Pennsylvania
  1. Northeast Region ($24 million):
    1. Geisinger Clinic
    2. Lehigh Valley Hospital, Inc
  1. Southcentral Region ($22.9 million):
    1. The Pennsylvania State University
  1. Northcentral Region ($9.8 million):
    1. Geisinger Clinic
  1. Southwest Region ($38.9 million):
    1. UPMC Community Provider Services
  1. Northwest Region ($13.6 million):
    1. LECOM Health
    2. UPMC Community Provider Services

The program will also support facilities as they enhance testing capability for both individuals in care and staff under the expanded statewide testing order released last month. The RRHCP partners will be a critical resource in implementing this testing order for facilities that do not have dedicated clinical staff.

The RRHCP is based on the Educational Support and Clinical Coaching Program (ESCCP), a learning network that provided technical assistance and educational support to long-term care facilities in light of the current pandemic. Unlike the ESCCP, which operated on a voluntary basis, the RRHCP will operate under grant agreements through December 1, 2020.

Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dedicated Coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

Guidance to DHS providers related to COVID-19 is available here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James, ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov

###

0 1337

On June 24, the Health Resources and Services Administration hosted a webcast providing information regarding the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Distribution. Based on feedback from the webcast, the administration has enhanced and expanded the available resources to help you better understand and, if eligible, take advantage of the program. Recently the they released the following information:

Recorded Webcast
A recording of the June 25 webcast is now available at hhs.gov/providerrelief.

Fact Sheet
We created a Fact Sheet highlighting eligibility requirements, details on use of the payments, and instructions on how to apply and attest to the Terms and Conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In order to better address your most important concerns, we have updated our FAQs to address the questions you submitted for the webcast. The FAQs include expanded information on eligibility, application, payment process, and more.

Application Instructions
Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution Instructions and the Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution Application Form are available at hhs.gov/providerrelief. We recommend downloading and reviewing these documents to help you complete the process through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal.

Additional Information
For additional information, please call the Provider Support Line at 866-569-3522; for TTY, dial 711. Hours of operation are 7 am to 10 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday. Service staff members are available to provide real-time technical assistance, as well as service and payment support.

Thank you for all you are doing to support and protect the American people during this difficult time.

Thomas J. Engels
Administrator
Health Resources and Services Administration
United States Department of Health and Human Services

0 1160

Often discussed and infrequently practiced, self-care is critically important during the profound and protracted COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the understandable and normal waves of anxiety, depression, and stress that many feel during this uncertain time, the COVID-19 pandemic renders us more vulnerable to burnout, compassion fatigue, or vicarious trauma.

Register now and listen as Carolyn Allard, PhD (Professor and Program Director of the Clinical Psychology PhD Program at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University and research psychologist at VA San Diego Healthcare System), and Diana M. Concannon, PsyD (Dean of the California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University) discuss the particular reasons why COVID-19 both challenges our resilience and offers an unprecedented opportunity to incorporate self-care into our lives.

0 897

If your staff are in need of fingerprinting; there are available fingerprinting appointments on July 21, 2020; however, pre enrollment is required.

Location: Chambersburg Holiday Inn Express, 1097 Wayne Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201

Times: 9 am–5 pm, by appointment only, so everyone must pre-enroll. If individuals come to the event and are not enrolled, they may be turned away. They also ask that in order to maintain the COVID-19 safety measures, please do not enter the building until a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

Enrollment: Make sure to have your appropriate service code from your human resources department. If you do not know what the appropriate service code is and you cannot contact your employer, you may contact this email.

To be able to enroll for this particular event, you must use the special enrollment code of: SP-DHSCHAMBER721

For directions on enrollment, please review the attachment.

Further Requirements:

  • When the individual enrolls, they will be sent an enrollment confirmation via email. They MUST bring their enrollment confirmation information with them to their appointment. It can be on their phone, it does not have to be printed out, but they must have it!
  • They must bring an appropriate form of identification. The most common forms of identification are: Drivers License (if it has expired during COVID-19 (after March 1, 2020), please make sure to bring your renewal form), current passport, Pennsylvania State Identification, or Green Card.
  • Everyone must wear a mask to the event and keep it on at all times until the Enrollment Agent asks them to remove it so that they can be photographed as part of the fingerprinting protocol.

Payment: If your employer is paying for your fingerprinting, please make sure to obtain a payment voucher code, as you will need that during the enrollment process. If your employer has not provided you with a payment voucher, you will be required to pay for the fingerprinting at the time of the event. The current cost is $23.85 and the Enrollment Agent may only accept (1) credit card (2) debit card or (3) money order made out to “Idemia.”

See the Pre Enrollment Instructions for Mobile Fingerprinting. If you have questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

Prev1...155156157...215Next Page 156 of 215
© 2021 - Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association