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Physical Disabilities & Aging

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is providing the below guidance as an update to the guidance issued on June 26, 2020, as updated on July 31, 2020, September 18, 2020, October 26, 2020, November 25, 2020 and January 28, 2021. As the Commonwealth – along with the nation – has obtained more data, deepened our scientific understanding of the COVID-19 virus, distributed vaccinations, and contemplated innovative policy options, our guidance continues to evolve.

Revisions are in red text. Facilities that are certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should also continue to follow all relevant CMS guidance available now and in the future.

Visit the DHS website for the DHS’s long-term care guidance. Visit the governor’s website for the most recent mitigation order.

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Central Penn Business Journal, April 2, 2021

By: Ioannis Pashakis
April 2, 2021 12:27 pm

Two Harrisburg health care associations were awarded a total of $250,000 in grant money as part of a national initiative to make access to telehealth services more equitable.

The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) announced this week that they will be using the funds to work with legislators and support strategies to ensure that as telehealth services expand as a way for patients to receive care from home that it is done equitably.

The initiative follows all-time highs in telehealth usage following the COVID-19 pandemic as providers shifted to virtual care during quarantine.

“Without being able to meet face to face in many cases, telehealth platforms quickly became the service delivery vehicle for providers, consumers, stakeholders, and payors,” said Dr. Richard Edley, president and CEO of RCPA. “As with every crisis, these challenges opened our eyes to new opportunities. But we still have a long way to ensure telehealth expands in an equitable way for providers and the communities we serve.”

RCPA and PACHC are two of six associations spanning eight states to be awarded the funding through the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net. The Delta Center, based in San Francisco, is a national collaborative created to foster innovation in value-based care and payment through policy initiatives.

RCPA is one of the country’s largest health and human services state associations with 350 member agencies and PACHCS represents and supports over 350 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

As part of the grant, the two organizations will:

  • Drive policy and practice changes to ensure access to quality physical and behavioral services and improve integrated care through telehealth.
  • Partner with legislators and stakeholders to develop telehealth standards throughout the Commonwealth.
  • Support actionable strategies to address the social determinants of health
  • Share consumer feedback to develop training and technical assistance, health literacy campaigns and language supports.

“The integration of physical and behavioral health is critical to the future success of delivering high quality health care services to the patients of Federally Qualified Health Centers and behavioral health providers across the commonwealth,” said Cheri Rinehart, PACHC president and CEO. “The incorporation of telehealth services in the delivery of care was essential throughout the pandemic and will continue to be a crucial tool for providers to use in delivering whole person care for the communities they serve.”

Two Harrisburg associations focus on equitable telehealth care with new program. – Central Penn Business Journal (cpbj.com)

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Update provided by ANCOR:

Hello ANCOR members! Last week, we let you know that Congress had sent a bill to the President to extend the deadline to apply to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) from the end of March to May 31 instead. President Biden officially signed that legislation into law this week. Note that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that they will give lenders (banks, etc.) an extra 30 days to process applications as long as those applications are submitted by May 31st. To learn more, we encourage our members to visit the SBA’s website for more information – particularly since, as we mentioned previously, it released new application forms to use to apply for forgivable loans.

For your convenience, we share a synopsis of the extension provided by ASAE below:

PPP Extended

President Biden signed into law the two-month extension to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. As a refresher, the legislation extends PPP through May 31 and allows 501(c)(6) organizations and others more time to pursue a second PPP loan. Further, if eligible organizations apply by May 31, the Small Business Administration will permit lenders an additional 30 days to process and approve any outstanding applications.

Eligibility criteria for a second PPP loan are as follows:

  • The applicant received a first PPP loan and will or has used the loan only for authorized uses;
  • The applicant employs no more than 300 people; and
  • The applicant can demonstrate at least a 25-percent reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.

The maximum loan amount of a second PPP loan is two-and-a-half times the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs, up to $2 million.

Please let us know if you have any questions on this topic.

Sincerely,
——————————
Doris Parfaite-Claude
Federal Advocacy and Research Manager
American Network of Community Options and Resources
Alexandria VA
(703)535-7850 (108)
dparfaite-claude@ancor.org
——————————

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This article informs all Medicare providers and suppliers who requested and received Covid-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments (CAAPs) that we began recovering those payments as early as March 30, 2021, depending upon the 1 year anniversary of when you received your first payment. It also gives information on how to identify recovered payments. Please be sure your billing staff are aware that the recovery has begun, or will begin soon, but no sooner than 1 year from the date we issued the CAAP to you.

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Please SAVE THE DATE for the next OMHSAS Provider / Provider Affiliate / Advocate / Consumer / Family Member stakeholder meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, 2021 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

This webinar will be directed towards Providers, Provider Associations and Consumers, Family Members, and Advocate stakeholders. The next webinar for Counties and County Affiliates is scheduled for Friday, April 9, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. We ask stakeholders to join in only one monthly meeting, whichever one that would best suit their interests.

If you have suggestions for agenda topics, please submit them via email to OMHSAS by close of business on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. We will monitor the account and will reply to the sender if more information is needed. Please be advised that responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.

Below is the webinar registration info for the April 2021 Provider / Provider Affiliate / Advocate / Consumer / Family Member Webinar, which will take place on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 3:00 pm. Please register for OMHSAS Provider/Advocate Stakeholder Meeting on Apr 20, 2021 3:00 PM EDT here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.

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