28 Mar 3/24/20 OPWDD Update
On today’s OPWDD Update call, the following key items were presented:
- OPWDD is moving forward with CMS; Appendix K submitted today and it’s not subject to public comment and they expect they will soon receive authorization from CMS. On the 1135, they are working closely on the getting both that and the 1115 waivers expanded to allow NYS the flexibility it needs to support the DD sector.
- OPWDD received a letter from Providers regarding COVID-19 funding priorities (attached) and OPWDD staff said they are reviewing and that they will be able to answer the points at tomorrow’s provider briefing.
- PPE – OPWDD is trying to help agencies triage and again told providers to put their ticket/request into the county OEM’s with specific requests. Identify if your agency can’t take people back from hospital due to not having PPE; please get ticket number, date of submission, address of submitting agency if you want follow up assistance from the State. Email for incident reporting: Opwdd.sm.incident.management@opwdd.ny.gov
- Emergency Housing Proposal – a group met with OPWDD today and will regroup tomorrow morning to provide additional feedback on the OPWDD plan/proposal. More to come.
- OPWDD’s policy on people going home to their families is still under review by OPWDD regarding whether they can return to the certified home before the crisis is over; they expect to provide it soon. (IT WAS JUST RELEASED – SEE LINK BELOW/ATTACHED)
- If providers receive inconsistent guidance from local DOH, we have been instructed to send issues to incident management. OPWDD is working to ensure that there are ways to ensure most recent relevant information is available.
- Providers identified an inability to meet Matilda’s law – there is no way any agency will be able to comply with the mask requirement. If we don’t have the equipment – how can we comply? OPWDD is working on guidance related to this problem.
- Contact tracking form – OPWDD has been working to eliminate redundancy in the form and a few of the items; the Justice Center fields will be incorporated into the form. OPWDD hopes to have an updated and streamlined process/form by Thursday.
- CBC flexibility – no new information at this point, but the abbreviated training guidance was issued today (see below).
FROM OPWDD DAY HAB WEBINAR (OPWDD BILLING GUIDANCE ATTACHED – WE WILL GO OVER THIS ON TOMORROW’S 9 a.m. CALL):
Reviewed Billing rules presented on the afternoon’s webinar; implementing parts of the waiver although it hasn’t been approved by CMS. Interim guidance on retainer day billing will be provided later today – for the period 3/18/20 – 3/31/20. Billing for retainer days must be for active participants and only for the individual’s pre-existing schedule to ensure continuity of revenue. Can bill the regular schedule for day services, and supports provided do not need to be delivered on the days the retainer is billed – continuity of care is critical. Use existing provider ID, use existing rate codes for half and full units for day hab and pre-voc – use existing 15 minute units for community pre-voc. Use revenue code: “0180 – Leave of Absence” for retainer day billing.
Flexibility and Relief Measures – services may be delivered in an alternate location to the best of our ability; day hab can be provided in residences.
Face-to-face Service delivery may be provided remotely (phone or other technology) used for com hab, prevoc, pathway to employment, support brokerage, day hab, supported employment and intensive behavioral service. Sound clinical judgment can determine use of telehealth.
Documentation: they would like (it’s not required) documentation of what happened – service provided and start/end time, not necessarily correlated with the claim (not a formal documentation requirement).
ABBREVIATED TRAINING GUIDANCE
From: opwdd.sm.info <info@opwdd.ny.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 9:28 AM
To: opwdd.sm.info <info@opwdd.ny.gov>
Subject: COVID-19 Interim Guidance Related to Abbreviated/Refresher Training and Recertifications
OPWDD has released the below interim guidance related to
Abbreviated/Refresher Training and Recertifications to Address COVID-19 Emergency Response:
Find more guidance on COVID-19 at the following link:
https://opwdd.ny.gov/coronavirus-guidance
**(Please note, OPWDD has launched its new website and the page at the above link will appear differently than it has from prior emails. All of the guidance can be found under Guidance for Providers if you scroll down the page.)
COMMUNITY OUTING AND HOME VISIT GUIDANCE
OPWDD has released the below interim guidance related to Community Outings and Home Visits:
Suspension of Individual Community Outings and Home Visits
Find more guidance on COVID-19 at the following link:
https://opwdd.ny.gov/coronavirus-guidance
**(Please note, OPWDD has launched its new website and the page at the above link will appear differently than it has from prior emails. All of the guidance can be found under Guidance for Providers if you scroll down the page.)
FAMILY CARE GUIDANCE
From: opwdd.sm.info <info@opwdd.ny.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 3:07 PM
To: opwdd.sm.info <info@opwdd.ny.gov>
Subject: REVISED: COVID-19 Interim Guidance Related to Family Care Services
OPWDD has released the below revised interim guidance related to Family Care services updated on 3/24/2020:
Management of Coronavirus/COVID-19 in OPWDD Family Care Homes
Find more guidance on COVID-19 at the following link:
https://opwdd.ny.gov/coronavirus-guidance
**(Please note, OPWDD has launched its new website and the page at the above link will appear differently than it has from prior emails. All of the guidance can be found under Guidance for Providers if you scroll down the page.)