The ODP Training Calendar for July 2022 is now available. The full listing of available trainings is below. Click the session title in the document to register, and be sure to keep up-to-date with schedule adjustments by checking emails from the ODP listservs.
ODP Announcement 22-078 announces a second opportunity for providers to have staff person(s) participate in a virtual certification program with the goal of receiving a Work Incentives Practitioner credential.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is pleased to announce that it will cover the cost of the certification program and credential for an additional 25 people (up to two staff persons per provider). Providers will be selected using a competitive application process.
Please read the announcement for details regarding the application process. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Smith.
ODP Announcement 076-18: Re-Issue is to inform providers that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requiring newly enrolling providers of Residential Habilitation Services to complete the ODP-approved Dual Diagnosis Training curriculum. This applies to new Residential Habilitation providers who will be enrolled and qualified to provide these services effective September 1, 2018, and thereafter. This re-issue is to announce that the 2022 Dual Diagnosis Curriculum is now available on MyODP, and a new link has been linked in the Discussion section of this announcement.
ODP Announcement 22-077 reports that the United States General Services Administration announced a change for the rate of Transportation Mile reimbursement rate, procedure code W7271, beginning July 1, 2022, and is effective for the remaining months in 2022. The new rate is $0.625 per mile.
The mileage rate is being adjusted to better reflect the recent increase in fuel prices. This communication provides notice of the rate change as well as provides instruction for Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) on how to add transportation mileage to the vendor screen. It also instructs direct service providers on how to submit claim adjustments, if applicable.
From Kristen Houser, Deputy Secretary, DHS/Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services:
I am writing to request your participation to inform the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the PA Department of Human Services of the values and desired outcomes and objectives that you would like to see reflected in a crisis behavioral health response system of services.
On July 16, 2022, the new, easy to remember, three-digit phone number to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will become active. People experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress – will be able to call 9-8-8 to be connected to trained staff at a National Lifeline Crisis Call Center for immediate support and referrals to appropriate local resources, including mobile response teams or first responders such as law enforcement or EMS if needed.
We know that communities across Pennsylvania have access to very different local resources to help them during a mental health-related crisis, and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the PA Department of Human Services is about to embark on a multi-year plan to work with counties to enhance and expand the availability of mobile crisis response teams. Included in the plans for a full continuum of crisis intervention services is access to walk-in and crisis respite centers.
As a first step, we are reaching out to individuals across multiple disciplines to request input to ensure the values and desired outcomes and objectives we utilize to build these services is informed by stakeholders from across the Commonwealth.
Please take a few minutes to answer the questions within by July 8. The short survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
ODP Announcement 21-031: UPDATE highlights that the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides a temporary 10% increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain Medicaid expenditures for home and community-based services (HCBS). The funding is to be used to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS beyond what is available under the Medicaid program.
On June 3, CMS notified states that they have an additional year to use funding made available by ARPA, expanding eligible expenditures to March 31, 2025. To provide guidance about the process for providers to request one-time payments and address staff training, credentialing, and business associates programs for employment, the application deadline for this initiative has been extended to October 31, 2022.
Providers interested in applying will complete and submit the Staff Training, Credentialing, and Business Associates Programs for Employment Supplemental Payment Application and submit via email to Rick Smith. Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2022.
ODP Announcement 22-074 is in regards to the “Human Rights Webinars: Making A Determination” recordings and is an updated (renumbered) release from earlier this week. This announcement was released on June 27, 2022. This is the same announcement with a corrected announcement number dated June 29, 2022.
ODP Announcement 22-076 serves to announce that the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver renewals, collectively known as the Intellectual Disability/Autism (ID/A) waivers, will not be effective on July 1, 2022, as requested.
This extension does not apply to the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW). The currently-approved AAW was most recently amended on April 1, 2022.
Discussions between the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have been occurring since the submission of the waiver renewals. During recent discussions, it has become clear that the process to renew the waivers will not be complete by July 1. ODP requested a 90-day extension of the currently-approved waivers on June 27, 2022, since the Consolidated and Person/Family Directed Support waivers expire on June 30, 2022. CMS granted the extension request on June 27, 2022.
Until CMS approves the ID/A waiver renewals, the waiver amendments approved with an effective date of June 1, 2022, remain in effect. They can be found on the Department of Human Services website at the following links:
The ID/A waiver renewals submitted to CMS on April 1, 2022, are also available.
Additional changes will be made to the waiver renewals as a result of ongoing discussions with CMS. ODP will inform all stakeholders when the waiver renewals have been approved. The final approved versions of the waivers will be made available online at that time.
ODP Announcement 22-046 serves to remind the field about a recent update to recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters. Updates are indicated in red.
Questions about this announcement may be directed via email.
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance on documentation needed to substantiate a claim as well as provide guidance on the service documentation processes. This information is applicable to providers and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) that render services through the Consolidated, Community Living, P/FDS, and Adult Autism Waivers as well as Targeted Support Management (TSM) and base-funded services.
Documentation to provide a record of services delivered to an individual must be prepared and kept by the provider, SCO, or common-law employer for the purposes of substantiating a claim and documenting service delivery. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has developed Technical Guidance for Claim and Service Documentation for providers of services in the Adult Autism Waiver and providers of services for all other waivers and base-funded services, which provide specific information for providers and SCOs on the documentation that must be kept for each service in order to support a claim and to document service delivery. These apply to services rendered by providers and SCOs that have enrolled directly with ODP, organized health care delivery systems, and services delivered through both self-directed services models, Agency with Choice, and Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent.
Providers are encouraged to review and consider using the Medical Assistance Provider Self Review Protocol to proactively identify and address any claim documentation-related problems. The protocol can be found here.
