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ODPANN 24-078 Release of Performance-Based Contracting Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of this communication is to notify stakeholders that ODP has published a Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

Free Disability Rights and Resources Fair in Harrisburg - August 28, 2024

Free Disability Rights and Resource Fair in Harrisburg - Including Voter Registration!
August 28, 2024, 11AM-3 PM
Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Grove
Commonwealth Avenue across from the Capitol Building fountain
All are invited. There will be food trucks and resource tables. Speak with disability support organizations, learn about disability history and rights. And - you can register to vote! Stop to take a picture with The Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice 2024 on its national tour!

2024-2024 Charting the LifeCourse: Applying Principles and Using Tools to Support a Good Life

2024-2025 Charting the LifeCourse: Applying Principles and Using Tools to Support a Good Life
Charting the LifeCourse was created to help individuals and families of all abilities and ages to develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find, or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. These standalone training sessions are for all professional stakeholders. Each session will cover the same content.
Participants in this training will:
  • Learn about the National Charting the LifeCourse Community of Practice.
  • Apply LifeCourse Principles and LifeCourse Framework.
  • Practice Using LifeCourse Tools.
Dates:
September 27, 2024, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
(Registration on MyODP opens at 8:00 AM on 8/16/2024.)
December 11, 2024, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
(Registration on MyODP opens at 8:00 AM on 10/30/2024.)
February 28, 2025, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
(Registration on MyODP opens at 8:00 AM on 1/17/2025.)
April 10, 2025, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
(Registration on MyODP opens at 8:00 AM on 4/8/2025.)
Registration:
All dates are visible in the course, but registration links will open about five weeks in advance of each session.

Quality Assessment & Improvement Training Requirement Matrix

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing a new tool designed to support Administrative Entities and ODP staff when Providers or Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) choose to provide agency-developed or agency-identified training that meets the General Orientation and Annual training requirements of the 55 PA Code 6100.The reviewer determines if the identified staff completed each required annual training core courses based on Provider training records including, but not limited to: a description of the course, sign-in sheets, transcripts or certificates of completion from the training. ODPANN 24-036 is being included as a reminder of the annual training requirements.

Please review the tool and announcement for details.

ODPANN 24-077: 2024 Certified Investigator (CI) Manual Now Available

The purpose of this announcement is to communicate the availability of the 2024 Certified Investigator (CI) Manual and the 2024 CI Manual Overview Updates document.

Please review the announcement for additional information.

Office of Developmental Programs' (ODP) September 2024 Training and Events Calendar

The Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the September 2024 training and events calendar. Please share widely.

Important Update for ODP Providers: The Comprehensive Guide to Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), Version 3.0, is Now Available!

Message from ODP to providers:

Exciting news! We're thrilled to announce the release of Version 3.0 of the Office of Developmental Programs' Comprehensive Guide to Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). This updated guide is packed with valuable information to support you in navigating EVV requirements effectively.

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New TRAIN group forming through AID in PA

New TRAIN Group Forming Through AID in PA
Individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism (ID/A) are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma! Yet, few therapists are skilled in both trauma and ID/A support. Psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program that focuses on:
  • Trauma-focused mental healthcare
  • Types and prevalence of trauma
  • Disclosures of abuse
  • Ethical principles of reporting abuse
  • Expressions of trauma
  • Assessing trauma and trauma-focused interviews
  • Psychoeducation
  • Trauma response management strategies
  • Trauma processing
  • Resiliency and self-care

This program was developed for

  • Therapists
  • Counselor
  • Clinical social workers
  • Participants who already have experience working with clients who have an ID/A diagnosis and are looking to gain knowledge and skills related to trauma therapy. Therapists who do not have experience with ID/A clients are also welcome to participate, but the expectation is they would be committed to taking such clients into their practice after completing the program as the purpose is to build capacity in this area across the state.

Requirements

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ODPANN 24-015 Implementing Changes to Remote Supports and Assistive Technology in the November Waiver Amendment

The purpose of this communication is to provide guidance for implementing changes to Assistive Technology and Remote Supports in the amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) and Adult Autism Waivers. Please note: this communication is being reissued with an update to Attachment B only. The other attachments are being included for reference.

Please review the announcement here.

Employment Symposium & Job Fair Registration Now Open

Registration Now Open: Employment Symposium & Job Fair
October 10, 2024
9 AM – 4 PM
Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel
This conference is for employers, business owners, people with disabilities, their family members, and anyone interested in competitive integrated employment!
Please see the flyer for registration information and additional details.

PA-TRAIN Webinars for LTCFs

The Bureau of Epidemiology will be hosting two webinars for LTCFs related to respiratory virus prevention and outbreak control available on PA-TRAIN. Act 58 CE credits are available and NHA CE credits are pending.

  • September 4 @ 1 PM: “PA-EPI: LTCF Readiness and Prevention of Respiratory Viruses.” ID: 1120331
  • September 18 @ 1 PM: “PA-EPI: LTCF Respiratory Virus Outbreak Control and Response.” ID: 1121319

Invitation to Provide Brief Program Overview at OVR Office Hours

Message from OVR:

As you all know, OVR has resumed their Supported Employment Office Hours. They are held once per month for the providers, and then also once per month for OVR staff.

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Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series

Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series Virtual Session presents: Insidious Trauma: Context, Impact, and Considerations for Care. Registration now open: September 11 from 10 AM – 1 PM.
See the announcement for a session description, presenter biography, and how to register.

Resource Guide for Supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Individuals

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is excited to announce the annual publication of the Resource Guide for Supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Individuals. The purpose of this guide is to offer resources in one central location for those who support or care for someone who is Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind and receives supports from ODP. The Guide provides some of the most frequently accessed resources to assist in addressing the unique needs of these populations, such as information about American Sign Language (ASL) courses, home modifications, assistive technology, a foundational organizations directory, and so much more!

Development of this guide included input from individuals within the Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing, and hearing communities and will be revised annually.

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Upcoming PROMISe URL Changes

In accordance with DHS rebranding and the Governor’s Office Customer Service Transformation Initiative, the Office of Medical Assistance Programs will be implementing changes to the old URLs to reach PROMISe hosted applications and websites. The old URLs, using a domain naming convention of dpw.state.pa.us, will be changing to dhs.pa.gov in phased implementations beginning August 7th, 2024, and wrapping up in October 2024. Please review the attached pdf containing the impacted production environment URLs.

Who is Impacted?

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ODPANN 24-075: Now Open: Registration for Certified Investigator (CI) Initial Certification Course

The purpose of this announcement is to communicate that registration for the September – December CI Initial Certification Course cohorts is now open in MyODP.

Please review the communication for additional details.

Postponed: Supportive Technology Open House - August 6, 2024 10 AM - 2 PM

The ODP's Supportive Technology Open House scheduled on August 6, 2024 hosted on Temple University’s campus is being rescheduled. It was recently shared that a presidential candidate will be holding a rally on Temple's campus that day, which will cause disruptions with crowds, traffic, parking, and public transportation in the area. For those reasons, ODP has made the decision to postpone this event until a later date. Stakeholders will be notified once the new date and time have been scheduled.

ODP Technology Open House August 6

ODPANN 24-074 Performance-Based Contracting Residential Provider Data Submission Tool Link is Live for August 2024 Submissions

The purpose of this announcement is to inform residential providers that the link to the Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Data Submission Tool is now available.

Please review for additional information.

ODPANN 24-071: Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Waiver Submissions and Supporting Documents

The purpose of this announcement is to inform stakeholders that the PBC 1915(b)4 Waiver and 1915(c) Waiver amendments have been submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Please review the announcement and attachments for additional information and details.

Bulletin 00-24-01: Performance Standards for Residential Services

The purpose of this bulletin is to announce the performance standards that will be used to assign providers of Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living services (hereafter referred to as “Residential services”) to a tier as part of the Office of Development Programs’ (“ODP”) implementation of performance-based contracting. Attachment 1 provides the expected timeline for implementation of residential performance standards and tier assignment. Attachment 2 provides the evaluation standards that will be used to assign tiers to providers.

Please review the announcement and attachments for additional information.