HomeMy WebLinkAboutIDD Provider Meeting Minutes 11-20-20Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Provider Meeting
Friday, November 20, 2020
MEETING MINUTES
Welcome & Introductions
This meeting was held via Google Meet. Jane Cline confirmed which providers were
present prior to the beginning of the meeting.
William R. Smith – 9-1-1 Training & Quality Coordinator
William was unable to attend this meeting. Franklin County Department of Emergency
Services’ Evacuation Registration Request Form for Functional Needs Registry Program
will be sent out with the meeting minutes. Information from this form is stored in the
Department of Emergency Services’ computer system and used to alert their staff when
an individual needs special arrangements to evacuate from their residence. The form
can be completed for individuals at residential provider facilities and private family
homes. It should be updated regularly.
David Thom – SafeinHome
David provided an overview of SafeinHome’s remote supports and assistive technology.
SafeinHome was formed in 2013 after receiving patents for algorithms and proprietary
software that analyze an individual’s activities/behavior patterns through various
sensors in order to generate alerts. The company began supporting individuals in 2017
with an initial focus on the senior community in Ohio. SafeinHome eventually shifted its
focus to the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities community with approximately
350 individuals currently supported in Ohio and has since expanded to Indiana,
Tennessee, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. David has been working with the Office of
Developmental Programs (ODP) to explain what SafeinHome does and how its services
fit within state regulations and Individual Support Plan (ISP) Manual requirements.
SafeinHome is now licensed and approved to operate in all of Pennsylvania’s counties.
SafeinHome develops person-centered solutions which seek to determine how
technology can be utilized to achieve the goals/outcomes that are in an individual’s
ISP. SafeinHome’s remote supports and assistive technology emphasize the
development of decision making skills over being directive. When individuals have
opportunities to make their own choices, they can become more independent/self-
directed and less reliant on Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). SafeinHome works
closely with an individual’s natural supports and Supports Coordinator to create a
detailed care plan that addresses their unique needs. Remote supports and assistive
technology are becoming increasingly relevant due to a severe shortage of DSPs that
has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and the necessity of limiting physical contact
during the pandemic.
Individuals that receive SafeinHome’s services are given a tablet which can only be
used to contact 24/7 Remote Support Staff. These staff have received the same training
as DSPs in addition to completing an apprenticeship program. They are committed to
forming relationships with individuals through regular check-in calls. Every call between
individuals and Remote Support Staff is documented with attention given to details
IDD Provider Meeting
such as time of day, call length, and demeanor. Remote Support Staff also have
access to the individual’s ISP and care notes for reference during the calls.
SafeinHome’s sensor devices collect data 24/7 and generate weekly reports to track
various aspects of the individual’s daily activities at home (i.e. movements, room
temperature, cooking, bathroom use/sleep patterns) and path of travel in the
community through geo-fencing. Alerts can be sent to family members and the
Remote Support Staff can contact the individual if they go outside their typical path of
travel or other unusual activities are detected (i.e. attempting to leave their residence
in the middle of the night). Likewise, the Remote Support Staff will be notified
immediately if an individual’s emergency response device or seizure alert bracelet is
activated. SafeinHome will not deploy cameras in the home unless the entire support
team agrees that they are needed for the individual’s safety and consent is received.
SafeinHome’s care plans are very individualized and can be changed at any time
based on data that is recorded in weekly reports or input from the individual’s family
members and Supports Coordinator. Individuals are most commonly referred to
SafeinHome for assistance with one or more of the following: seizure management
solutions, elopement mitigation, medication management, overnight remote supports,
fall risk mitigation, and kitchen safety. David provided examples of individuals that have
benefited from SafeinHome’s remote supports and assistive technology in these areas.
Supports Coordinators may start the evaluation process for SafeinHome’s services by
completing and emailing a Request for Service (RFS) Assessment Form to David
(dthom@safeinhome.com). David will send this form to Marion Rowe so that it may be
distributed to providers.
SafeinHome will examine the individual’s needs, goals and, outcomes from their current
ISP and conduct an assessment prior to developing a care plan proposal with specific
recommendations for supports and assistive technology. The SafeinHome Client
Services Team will then work with the individual’s Supports Coordinator to incorporate
this proposal into their ISP and draft the care plan itself. Installation of equipment and
any necessary training can occur while the care plan is being reviewed and finalized.
SafeinHome’s services are authorized under the Person/Family Directed Supports
(P/FDS), Consolidated, Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers. SafeinHome is
listed in both the Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) and
Provider Reimbursement and Operations Management Information System (PROMISe™)
as Alchera, Inc., its parent company. SafeinHome can be billed directly through
PROMISe™ as a vendor or as a sub-contractor when services take place in a group
setting. The procedure code that should be used for PROMISe™ billing is T2028 (non-
medical assistive technology). ODP can approve billing for an individual’s remote
supports over the $5,000 annual limit mentioned in the ISP Manual if the Administrative
Entity (AE) emails a request for additional funding to their ODP Regional Manager.
IDD Provider Meeting
Lori Young
Provider Qualifications Updates
Provider Qualifications will not be delayed due to COVID-19. Provider
Qualifications will be due for providers with a Master Provider Identifier (MPI)
numbers ending in zero (0), one (1), or two (2). These providers should receive a
link to begin the process by February 1st. This will be the start of Cycle 2 Year 1 for
Provider Qualifications.
Regional Collaborative Update
York/Adams has joined the Regional Collaborative on LifeCourse Tools. A virtual
Regional Collaborative Stakeholders Group Meeting will be scheduled for later in
January. These meetings usually take place each quarter. Any providers that are
interested in attending the meeting or being added to the contact list for the
Stakeholders Group may reach out Lori.
Marion Rowe
Incident Management Updates
ODP will be issuing the revised Incident Management (IM) Bulletin in March 2021.
A series of trainings and webinars on the revised IM Bulletin will take place from
March to June before it goes into effect on July 1st. ODP Announcement 20-107
outlines the expected timeline of the revised IM Bulletin’s rollout. This
announcement will be sent out with the meeting minutes.
Marion advised providers to begin reviewing the original IM Bulletin in
preparation for the upcoming rollout. For example, providers should be aware
that Individual to Individual (I2I) Abuse will no longer be considered its own
category and will require an investigation like any other abuse incident.
Residential providers can plan now to make changes within their programs
which reduce the likelihood of conflict between individuals that do not get
along.
Marion observed that the amount of incident reports related to individuals
testing positive for COVID-19 has increased significantly within the past two (2)
weeks. There have been at least two (2) positive tests reported every day.
Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU) Updates – Katie Freeman
As per ODP’s request, the HCQU will continue to send check-in emails to
providers to request updates on the progress of individuals that have tested
positive for COVID-19 and to provide information/resources on the disease. The
HCQU will forward specific individuals’ updates to Marion and ODP.
The HCQU will be offering its expanded virtual syllabus through at least the first
quarter of 2021. A syllabus schedule for this quarter will be released in the coming
weeks. Providers may contact Katie (kf1@theadvocacyalliance.org) to request
trainings on specific topics to be added to the syllabus schedule.
IDD Provider Meeting
Reports
Friendly reminders of due dates for our Base funded providers
(See Procedure Statement MHIDDEI-416)
o November 15th – Quarterly Report of Expenditures (July – September)
o December 31st – Audited Financial Report (Fiscal Year ending June 30th)
o January 10th – Audit Engagement/Extension (Calendar Year ending
December 31st)
o January 31st – Progress Report on Outcomes in Appendix A
o February 15th – Quarterly Report of Expenditures (October – December)
If you have any fiscal questions, please contact Ashley McCartney
(almccartney@franklincountypa.gov).
Round Table/Provider Updates
Occupational Services, Inc. (OSI) – Gabby Snider
OSI will be closed until Franklin County’s community transmission of COVID-19 is
no longer at the Substantial level.
Person Directed Supports (PDS) – Rachel Travis
PDS has stopped in-person family visitations due to the community transmission of
COVID-19 being at the Substantial level. Virtual meetings are now being set up
between individuals and their family members so they can still celebrate the
holidays together and keep in touch.
PDS staff will hold a Thanksgiving parade to deliver meals to their individuals’
homes. There will also be a holiday door decorating contest.
PDS has had some individuals test positive for COVID-19 over the past month but
they are all currently doing well. PDS staff continue to follow COVID-19 safety
protocols.
Keystone Human Services – Chuck Nussbaum
Keystone Human Services staff have recently planned drive by birthday
celebrations and vehicle decorating events to keep individuals energized.
Keystone’s new handicap accessible house has been licensed. Two (2)
individuals will be moved into this house during the first week of December.
Keystone has sent a letter to all families to explain how the holidays are being
handled this year. Most families understand the current situation and have been
very supportive.
The Arc of Franklin & Fulton Counties – Lorrie Miller
The Arc will be hosting a Holiday Drive Through event in its office parking lot (2314
Philadelphia Ave, Chambersburg) on December 22nd from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
IDD Provider Meeting
Individuals will receive a gift during this no contact event. There will also be a
Night to Shine virtual streaming event in February. Flyers for both events will be
sent out with the meeting minutes.
The Arc is currently looking for another provider agency to be its certified
investigator. Any interested providers may contact the Arc to discuss contracting
for this service.
Service Access & Management (SAM), Inc. – Matt Yingling
SAM continues to have bi-weekly meetings with IDD staff and providers.
AHEDD – Sarah Guyer
AHEDD has moved towards providing telehealth instead of going out in the
community for one-on-one visits at job sites as more individuals have been
testing positive for COVID-19. AHEDD staff are working to develop a consistent
protocol for addressing this transition to telehealth.
AHEDD is still accepting referrals. Intake and follow-up meetings can be
conducted via Zoom, Skype, or Google Duo. Phone meetings are also available
for individuals that do not have access to video conferencing technology.
Upcoming Trainings
See attached December 2020 HCQU Syllabus
Next Provider Meeting
Friday, February 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
2021 Provider Meeting Schedule
February 19th May 21st August 20th November 19th
Minutes by Dan Rhodes