The Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the February 2025 training and events calendar. Please share widely.

Summary

• RSV activity is rising rapidly in Pennsylvania, especially among children under age five and adults aged 65 and older.
• RSV is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness, responsible for 60,000-120,000 hospitalizations and 6,000-10,000 deaths annually among adults 65 years and older in the US.
• RSV vaccines (which are not annual) are recommended for pregnant people (32-36 weeks gestation), adults 60-74 years with certain health risks, and for everyone 75 and older.
• RSV vaccines demonstrate moderate to high efficacy in reducing morbidity and mortality especially in older adults.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all babies be protected from severe RSV by vaccinating pregnant individuals at 32-36 weeks gestational age or administering a long-acting monoclonal antibody to infants aged < 8 months entering their first RSV season and for those aged 8–19 months at increased risk for severe RSV infection.

Recommendations:

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached Health Alert, 2025 Cold Weather Alert. Please review the attached Alert for important information on precautions to prevent cold-weather-related health risks.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-004: Notice of a Change to the Federal Reimbursement of Transportation Costs Effective January 1, 2025. The purpose of this communication is to share that the United States General Services Administration announced a change for the rate of Transportation Mile reimbursement rate, procedure code W7271, beginning January 1, 2025, to $0.70 per mile. This communication obsoletes ODP Announcement 24-001.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

• ODP Announcement 25-003: Performance Based Contracting (PBC) Residential Services Implementation Guide Updates
• Performance-Based Contracting Residential Implementation Guide
• PBC Residential Services Provider Self-Assessment Toolkit
  • Provider Performance-Based Contracting Preparedness Self-Assessment
  • Provider Preparedness Workbook
• Residential Performance Based Contracting Attestation

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-002 Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Provider Information Table and its attachment: FINAL JANUARY 2025 AAW Provider Information Table. The purpose of this announcement is to announce to all stakeholders that the most recent version of the AAW Provider Information Table is now published.

Please review the announcement and its attachment for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-001: Guidance for Benefits Counseling Services . The purpose of this announcement is to provide information about:

• The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, including when referrals to a WIPA program are required.
• How to locate WIPA programs in Pennsylvania.
• Benefits Counseling services funded through ODP’s Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Supports (P/FDS) Waivers. To reach out to the MA Help desk if the student does not pass their second attempt at the Post Test for account reset.

Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-129 Changes to Enrollment Process for Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living Services Effective January 1, 2025. The purpose of this announcement is to inform potential providers and stakeholders of changes to the enrollment process for Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living services under the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP).  

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication; ODPANN 24-128: ODP Guide to the American Sign Language (ASL) – English Interpreter Service. The purpose of this announcement is to announce the Guide to the American Sign Language (ASL) – English Interpreter Service.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-127: Medication Administration Online System Notifications, Proof of Qualification, How-to Guidance, and January–March 2025 Train-the-Trainer Face-to Face-Schedule. The purpose of this announcement is to notify Trainers and Learners of the following:

1. To reach out to the MA Help desk if the student does not pass their second attempt at the Post Test for account reset.
2. If a student earns a Post Test total of 89.5 points, it will be rounded up to 90 and considered a passing score.
3. 3 additional Observation checks are now available in the 2024 online student courses for those that did not complete the initial 4 observations within 30 days of passing the exams.
4. A link is now available on the student course page for students to view their User Report.
5. Reminder: The “Trainer Attestation of Qualification” and the “Complete to access Acknowledgement of Qualification” activities serve as the ‘online’ signatures, replacing the physical signatures.
6. Reminder: The 2022 student courses should no longer be used after January 31, 2025. Activities will no longer be available to students after this date. Please complete the 2022 student courses before this date and start new classes with the 2024 student courses.

Contains a Proof of Qualification guide for Qualified Medication Administrators, Certified Trainers, and Qualified Practicum Observers.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 24-126: New American Sign Language English Interpreter Service. The purpose of this communication is to announce the availability of the new American Sign Language (ASL) English Interpreter service codes effective January 1, 2025.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.