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Policy Areas

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From ANCOR:
Two minutes of your day is all we need to ensure the well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and that the supports they rely on aren’t overlooked during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Ask: Use our email tool to remind your members of Congress that I/DD supports and services are essential lifelines to people with I/DD and their families. They must be funded so that their delivery is not compromised during this public health crisis.

The Details: Congress is working at breakneck speed to address the unique needs of various populations in our country through three different funding packages, one of which is expected to be focused on health care. We need your voice right now to ask Congress to include I/DD supports, including Home and Community-Based Services, in that package.

It is crucial for Congress to understand that disability supports are a key component of health services for people with I/DD, and to understand the implications for people’s lives in the community after the crisis if community supports cannot remain financially viable during this crisis.

The COVID-19 crisis is exposing key vulnerabilities in I/DD supports, as people are asked to stay home as community centers and day programs close to try to limit the spread of COVID-19. In turn, providers of those programs face uncertain futures. When the dust settles and we return to life after the pandemic, will there be any place for people with I/DD to go? We need Congress to ensure the answer is yes.

The I/DD workforce is already in crisis. These staffing shortages will be significantly exacerbated as DSPs fall sick or have to tend to loved ones. This is the time for Congress to work on strengthening disability supports through funding for key provisions such as overtime and hazard pay to incentivize DSPs to stay and other workers to join the field; priority access to protective gear and training; financial relief for supports such as day services so they remain viable after the outbreak; and more. Most importantly, we need Congress to include I/DD services in any stimulus package to ensure there are supports to return to once the current pandemic subsides. With 700,000 people on states’ waiting lists for services, now is not the time to lose critical capacity.

Please speak up TODAY for the inclusion of disability supports in any package Congress prepares to address COVID-19 today, to help ensure people with disabilities have the support they need, when they need it the most.

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Protecting our staffs, our residents in our facilities, and our communities are paramount as we face this public health issue. VitalCore Health Strategies has created a protocol response plan that provides a very clear COVID-19 pandemic response plan and we hope you find this document beneficial for the health and safety of your facility.

The response plan is based on current guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It provides an outline for infection prevention and control information that should be considered for facilities related to a COVID-19 response. Please keep in mind that the CDC’s guidance may continue to change so this plan may require updating. Please continue to visit the CDC’s website for updates. If you have any additional questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.

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As part of Philadelphia’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Community Behavioral Health is coordinating efforts aimed at maintaining access to services for our members and supporting the dedicated staff who are serving them. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the situation, CBH is requesting that this survey be completed by 5:00 pm on Monday, March 23, 2020.*

*Please Note: If you have already closed your programs, CBH would still be requiring you to complete this survey.

Any questions related to this matter, please feel free to contact your Provider Relations Representative or your RCPA Policy Directors Sarah Eyster or Jim Sharp.

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Text of March 18 press release.

Harrisburg, PA — Health care professionals licensed under any of the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) licensing boards can provide services to patients via telemedicine during the coronavirus emergency.

“Telemedicine provides health care professionals flexibility to continue treating their patients while following best practices on social distancing as outlined by the Department of Health,” Secretary Boockvar said. “The department requested, and Governor Wolf granted us, the authority to allow health care professionals from out-of-state to treat Pennsylvania residents using telemedicine, when appropriate, due to COVID-19.”

This new guidance applies to the following boards:

o Chiropractic
o Dentistry
o Medicine
o Nursing
o Optometry
o Pharmacy
o Podiatry
o Psychology
o Osteopathic Medicine
o Nursing Home Administrators
o Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure
o Physical Therapy
o Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors
o Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
o Veterinary Medicine

Currently, no Pennsylvania law prohibits the practice of telemedicine.

Additionally, the department is working with the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and Department of Human Services to identify regulations and requirements that can be suspended to give medical providers and facilities the flexibility they need to respond to the crisis. We will publish these notifications on our website as they become available.

Governor Wolf also granted the department’s request for a suspension to allow licensed practitioners in other states to provide services to Pennsylvanians via the use of telemedicine, without obtaining a Pennsylvania license, for the duration of the emergency. Out-of-state practitioners must:

o Be licensed and in good standing in their home state, territory, or country.

o Provide the Pennsylvania board from whom they would normally seek licensure with the following information prior to practicing telemedicine with Pennsylvanians:
• their full name, home or work mailing address, telephone number and email address; and
• their license type, license number or other identifying information that is unique to that practitioner’s license, and the state or other governmental body that issued the license.

Please submit the information requested above to the appropriate board resource account listed on the BPOA website.

All practitioners using telemedicine in Pennsylvania must remain informed on all federal and state laws, regulations and guidance regarding telemedicine, including a practitioner’s obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and recent guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Authorization to engage in telemedicine from a professional licensing standpoint is separate and apart from any insurance coverage/payment issues that fall under the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Insurance, or any other state or federal agency.

The Department of Human Services issued guidance for Behavioral Health Services Telemedicine here. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released Telehealth guidance for their programs and providers here.

Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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The Application and Approval Process for certification as a specialized setting outlined within the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) Bulletin # 3680-20-02, 3800-20-03, Specialized Residential Settings for Children and Youth, was released February 14, 2020.

OCYF understands the strains placed on provider agencies by the Government response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In an effort to ensure all agencies licensed under Chapter 3800 as a child residential facility, or Chapter 3680 as a Supervised Independent Living Program, interested in participating in the voluntary certification process for specialized services outlined in the above bulletin are able to submit all necessary documentation for consideration for certification, OCYF will extend the following deadline (which appears in Attachment B of the bulletin as 3/15/2020):

3/23/2020 – Interested providers must submit a letter of intent that will trigger an automatic 45-day extension of DHS’ requested due date (3/1/20) for pre-contractual budget documentation through this resource account. Acknowledgement of receipt will be sent from the resource account.

All other guidance and instruction within the bulletin and pertaining to the application process still applies. Those who have already submitted the letter of intent do not need to resubmit.

This specialized settings certification process coincides with the end of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2019–2020, in order to allow the certifications to be issued in advance of SFY 2020–2021. Any agency or provider unable to participate in the certification process for SFY 2020–21 may participate in the process for SFY 2021–22. OCYF will provide information and instructions prior to the window for letter of intent and application submission for SFY 2021–22 certification.

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RCPA has been hearing from members regarding supplies they need to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. We have heard from members that they are running short on masks/respirators, hand sanitizers, gloves, etc. Regarding masks/respirators, RCPA understands there is a shortage of these items. Providers are in need of masks/respirators to take care of residents in group homes, inpatient facilities, etc. If a resident in one of these facilities is stricken with COVID-19, then staff will have to follow CDC protocol and be required to use masks/respirators. If providers do not have any to give to staff, then providers will have to transport the resident to the hospital. We understand hospitals would rather keep individuals in their current location.

In most instances, providers are working with their local hospitals to get masks/respirators, but there are limited quantities, if any. To try and combat this shortage, providers should contact their County Emergency Management office. RCPA understands that the mask/respirator issue is a major concern for providers and we are working with our state partners for assistance.

If providers are experiencing any other shortages such as medicine, food, or other supplies, please contact a member of the RCPA staff as soon as possible or as needs arise, so we can inform the applicable state agency. Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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In an effort to provide feedback to CMS, ANCOR sent this letter to CMS Administrator Verma and Director Lynch regarding the COVID-19 crisis and assistance for I/DD service providers.

The letter identifies additional FAQs needed around state flexibility, funding, technology, and more. ANCOR has been closely following what you and your states are doing. The intention of the letter to CMS is to fortify the statewide asks and to expedite the emergency response waivers that are starting to be submitted.

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Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and pandemic, OLTL has granted permission for brain injury providers to conduct the following services via virtual therapy on a temporary basis:

  • In-home CRT;
  • Structured Day in the residence; and
  • Counseling and Behavior Therapy.

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The Community HealthChoices (CHC) Third Thursday webinar is scheduled for March 19, 2020 at 1:30 pm. Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) Deputy Secretary Kevin Hancock will be providing updates on COVID-19. To register for the webinar, use this link.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions, please contact the OLTL Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management at 717-857-3280.

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