The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication; ODPANN 24-099: Agency With Choice (AWC) Financial Management Services (FMS) Organization Listing. The purpose of this announcement is to provide a list of current AWC FMS organizations available to support participants and surrogates who have chosen to self-direct some or all of their Participant Directed Services (PDS) using the AWC FMS model under the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) waivers.

Please review the announcement for additional details.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today announced the launch of a new program through its Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), leveraging a $14 million federal grant to assist Pennsylvanians with disabilities earning a subminimum wage obtain competitive, integrated employment (CIE).

The new Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team (InVEST) program builds on PA’s commitment to uphold and advance Employment First. InVEST aims to eliminate some of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities working in sheltered workshops, which typically pay people with disabilities subminimum wage and are often segregated from the greater community. InVEST will empower participants to pursue competitive wages through economically stable career paths by facilitating the transition from subminimum wage positions to CIE.

Dear Providers and Stakeholders,

The Division of Licensing Administration has created tutorials to assist with the electronic payment of application, certificate, fines, and appeals fees. A different tutorial has been designed for each Program Office and payment type. The tutorials give step by step instructions for completing the payment of fees for each office.

Happy Autumn! Attached are the PA Family Network workshop and support groups for November. Thank you for sharing these important workshops and Good Life Groups with your network!

Register for upcoming events at www.pafamilynetwork.org/events.

The Office of Developmental Programs is sharing this important announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) related to possible exposure to an individual positive for measles.

On October 11th, the Pennsylvania DOH was notified by the New Jersey DOH that Pennsylvania residents could have been exposed to measles.

From OVR:

Hello SE Providers!

The Office of Developmental Programs requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-097 Now Available-Amendments to the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The purpose of this announcement is to inform all interested parties that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved amendments to the AAW, effective January 1, 2025. The updated waiver is available on the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) website.  

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-096 PBC and January Waiver Amendment Approval. The purpose of this announcement is to inform all interested parties that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the 1915(b)(4) Performance-Based Contracting waiver and the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waiver amendments effective January 1, 2025. All waivers are available on the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) website.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-095: Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Provider Information Table. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate to all stakeholders that the most recent version of the AAW Provider Information Table has been published.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication update; ODPANN 22-083: Office of Developmental Programs’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant Fund Reimbursement. Please note: Updates are in red. The survey link has been updated and there is a new contact email.

Please review the announcement for details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-094: Current requirements for Tuberculosis Testing in Chapters 2380, 6400, and 6500. The purpose of this announcement is to inform providers of updated guidance for complying with Tuberculosis (TB) Testing requirements in Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) licensing regulations.

Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-093: Modifications to Annual License Inspection Schedule. The purpose of this announcement is to inform providers of modifications to the annual licensing inspection schedule.

Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs requests your assistance sharing the attached Health Alert: Accompanying Individuals to Emergency Rooms. The Health Alert discusses how it is critical that Community Home staff accompany individuals to the hospital, stay informed about treatments, be actively involved in discharge arrangements, and understand the follow-up care required. This Health Alert serves as a reminder of the importance of continuity of care in these situations.

Please review the Alert for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing a proclamation issued by Governor Josh Shapiro for October’s Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Please join us in acknowledgement and appreciation of all the individuals and families who work tirelessly to promote awareness and inclusion.

• Compensated at or above minimum wage and comparable to the customary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities performing similar duties and with similar training and experience.
• The Individual receives the same level of benefits provided to other employees without disabilities in similar positions; at a location where the employee interacts with other individuals without disabilities; and presents opportunities for advancement similar to other employees without disabilities in other positions.

Please assist the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in sharing the attached informational flyer: ODP’s Division of Quality Management’s QM Spotlight, the 11th in a series of quarterly publications. This issue focuses on QM Plan quarterly reports, a very important part of the PDCA cycle. You can find this resource and many others on the QM Templates and Tools page on MyODP, including the very comprehensive ODP QM Certification Handbook.