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Tuesday, May 19, 2020, 5:30 pm – 8:45 pm

Together@Home: Resources for Youth and Families is a virtual conference designed specifically for families and students to finish the school year strong.

  • Presenters will offer twenty-minute sessions to assist with learning in a virtual environment.
  • Several sessions have been specially designed just for students.
  • An opening keynote by the Director of the Bureau of Special Education, Ms. Carole Clancy, will set the stage for the importance of strong family and student commitment.
  • Marc Elliot, author and national presenter, will close the conference with an inspirational message on finding your strength.

Registration will be available beginning Monday, May 11, at https://www.pattan.net/events/.

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From ACCSES:

Today is the day we have been waiting for, as the U.S. House of Representatives released the draft text of the $3 trillion dollar stimulus today. The bill is titled The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or the HEROES Act.

This bill will begin in the House and then go to the Senate. The House has scheduled the vote for Friday, where it is likely to pass. There have been indications from the Senate and the White House that there is not as much interest in a fourth stimulus now as there had been a few weeks ago, so this bill is not expected to move as quickly as the prior stimulus bills.

This bill includes additional support for Home and Community-Based Services (Medicaid services begins at page 189), including increased pay and hazard pay for home health workers and direct support professionals, funding for PPE, increased FMAP, and funding for individuals who are waitlisted by states for HCBS services.

Nonprofit HCBS providers are included as organizations with which the State should engage on expanded services. This draft bill also contains a provision that would include nonprofits in the Main Street Lending Program (beginning at page 1063). It does not appear to include a provision protecting self-insured employers, but there is support for some further relief in both the Senate and House, so we will continue advocating for it.

We will break the bill down further this week, but here is a brief summary of the bill and the swirl of politics around it from CNBC. At 1,815 pages, this bill has many other provisions in it, including increased funding to the States, extensions of the additional $600 in unemployment compensation, another round of direct payments to individuals, voting rights protections (including for people with disabilities), and funding for the U.S. Postal Service.

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In an effort to provide temporary relief for individuals in need of FBI fingerprinting as part of the Child Protective Services Law, Governor Wolf has approved legislation — formerly HB 360 and now ACT 18 — that allows temporary fingerprinting flexibility where Identogo sites are not available. In a phone call today with the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Planning Committee, it was discussed that OCYF expects to release the guidance this week with some noted limitations as outlined below.

Existing Employees – Have until December 31 to get fingerprints for those whose checks have expired since March 2020. Still need PSP and Child Abuse Checks completed.

For new employees, if you have not been a resident in PA within the past 10 years, you must also provide Child Abuse clearances from prior states of residence. New hires also sign a disclosure statement (attestation form).

New hires have until December 31, or 60 days from end date of state of emergency as directed by Governor Wolf, to get fingerprinting done. Individuals must still make reasonable efforts to complete checks at your local Identogo site if it is open.

Further direction and comment will be forthcoming from RCPA after the OCYF guidance is released. If your agency or staff are having difficulty in obtaining fingerprints, or if you are looking for Identogo mobile sites or resources, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has drafted a letter for  mental health and drug and alcohol providers to use when they are trying to secure personal protective equipment (PPE). The letter designates mental health and drug and alcohol providers as essential, so please use the SAMHSA letter when trying to procure PPEs from suppliers. Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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Harrisburg, PA – As child care providers across Pennsylvania reopen in counties transitioning to the yellow phase in Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is committed to supporting this crucial industry and the families of young children who depend on it.

To slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and prevent loss of life, Governor Wolf issued a statewide stay-at-home order April 1; however, the order allowed DHS’ Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to implement a waiver process for child care centers serving families of essential workers. Family and group child care homes operating in a home setting were also allowed to remain in operation under the governor’s order.

As of May 5, approximately 1,529 child care providers continue to operate in Pennsylvania. This includes 626 child care centers and 903 group and family child care homes.

When a county moves to the yellow phase in the governor’s plan, all child care providers are permitted to reopen without a waiver. The Department of Human Services is prepared to support child care providers and Pennsylvania families throughout the reopening process.

Child care providers preparing to open must familiarize themselves with and be prepared to implement guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which outlines the steps providers should take to keep child care spaces safe and to properly monitor staff and children for potential exposure to and symptoms of COVID-19.

The Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) also remain available to families throughout Pennsylvania during this period. ELRCs can help families locate an operating child care provider in the community, determine eligibility for the Child Care Works subsidy program, and provide referrals to other supportive programs and services.

Child Care Works payments will continue to providers with active enrollments through the end of May. These payments will be made based on active enrollment, not child attendance.

OCDEL will continue to communicate regularly with providers. Communications from OCDEL can be found on the DHS website or through the Pennsylvania Key.

“Child care providers in counties moving to the yellow phase are not required to open, and families may still choose to keep their child at home,” Secretary Miller said.

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On May 1, 2020, Governor Wolf announced that 24 counties from the northwest and north-central regions of Pennsylvania would be moving from red phase to yellow phase beginning Friday, May 8, 2020 as part of the Wolf administration’s process to reopen PA. This marks a reduction in some restrictions on work and social interactions. However, restrictions related to congregate care settings remain in place.

The following counties moved from red phase to yellow phase on May 8, 2020: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, and Warren.

These counties were deemed ready to move to the yellow phase because of low per-capita case counts, the ability to conduct contact tracing and testing, and appropriate population density to contain community spread.

OLTL Services in Counties the Governor Declares in the Yellow Phase

Moving from the red phase to the yellow phase does not change any guidance that has been issued by OLTL or the Community HealthChoices (CHC) managed care organizations (MCO). All conditions outlined in the guidance noted below continue to apply to each provider category.

Home and Community-Based Services CHC Waiver Operational Guidance and the OBRA Waiver Operational Guidance including remote initial level of care assessments, Service Coordinator contacts, person-centered service plan development and provision of service.
Nursing Facilities

 

 Clarification Guidance for Pennsylvania Pre-Admission Screening Resident Review (PASRR), the Interim Guidance on Visitation in Nursing Facilities During COVID-19, and  Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention
Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) LIFE Provider Guidance Related to COVID-19
Assisted Living Residences and Personal Care Homes Interim Guidance on Visitation in Nursing Facilities During COVID-19,the Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention, the Guidance Suspending and Restricting License Requirements for Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences, and Visitation Restrictions in Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences

Providers are encouraged to continue to monitor the Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date DOH guidance on COVID-19, the Department of Human Services (DHS) COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date DHS guidance on COVID-19, and Governor Wolf’s website for responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.

OLTL will continue to evaluate the steps necessary to address the Governor’s plan to reopen PA and communicate updated guidance as the situation evolves.

If you have questions about the information in this ListServ email, please contact the OLTL Provider Helpline at 800-932-0939.

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