Stay Informed

PA State Budget Overview
On Tuesday, February 4th, Governor Tom Wolf revealed his 2020-2021 Proposed State budget of $36.1 billion. To read the Governor’s press release on protecting Pennsylvania’s vulnerable populations, go to: https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolfs-2020-21-budget-will-further-protect-vulnerable-populations/.

Some Governor Proposed Budget highlights specific to the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Community include:

• Department of Human Services
  • $15 million initiative for the Waiting List
    • 732 individuals on the Emergency Waiting List will go onto the Community Living Waiver
    • 100 individuals on the Emergency Waiting List will go onto the Consolidated Waiver
    • This includes moving up to 40 children with complex medical needs into the Community Living and Consolidated Waivers to support their transition from congregate care settings
  • $212 million increase to the Community Waiver line item
  • $14 million increase to Early Intervention (Birth – 3) * Increase does not include a rate increase for providers.  $11.8m is growth and $2.5m is a 3% increase to county administration 
  • $1.2 million to enhance Direct Care Worker Training
  • $4 million increase to counties to support individuals with intellectual disability or autism with more resources
• Department of Education
  • $25 million increase to Special Education
  • $11 million increase to Early Intervention (Three to Five)

Some resources available on the Governor’s proposed budget:

• 2020-21 Budget In Brief (PDF)
• 2020-21 Proposed Budget Slide Presentation (PDF)

It is important to note that these numbers will be up for negotiation throughout the remainder of the budget process. The General Assembly will be holding their Appropriation hearings over the end of February and beginning of March. Following this, the General Assembly and Governor will continue to negotiate on a State Budget to the end of fiscal year deadline on June 30, 2020. We will continue to monitor as the budget process continues, and we will send you updates as they become available.

---

---

PENNSYLVANIA NEWS

Office of Developmental Programs Releases Chapter 6400 Compliance Guide
The Chapter 6100 regulations and revised versions of Chapters 2380, 2390, 6400, and 6500 became fully effective on February 1, 2020.  The Pennsylvania Code has been officially updated to reflect these changes.  The complete chapters of regulations can be accessed at www.pacodeandbulletin.gov.    Hard-copy regulation booklets are currently being printed.  Stakeholders are reminded that the Department will focus on training and technical assistance during the initial implementation period of these regulations.  Sanctions will only be applied when absolutely necessary to compel regulatory compliance or to protect the health, safety, and rights of individuals with an intellectual disability or autism.   Find Chapter 6100 here.

PA Department of Human Services unveils new initiative to connect Medicaid recipients with employment
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced a new program designed to connect the state’s Medicaid recipients with job training services without the use of work requirements.  The Departments new “Medicaid Work Supports” initiative, asks all individuals eligible for or enrolling in a new Medicaid health plan if they are interested in job training or educational opportunities.  If the person answers yes, the Department of Human Services will work with PA CareerLink and managed care organizations to connect them with the right resources, including job search help, job training programs and opportunities to obtain a GED or high school diploma.  

Department of Human Services Announces One-Day Closure of County Assistance Offices, COMPASS Services for System Update
County Assistance Offices (CAO), processing centers, and customer service centers will be closed to the public on February 14, 2020, in order to install a statewide system update. The offices will remain closed as scheduled on Monday, February 17 in observance of Presidents’ Day and will reopen on Tuesday, February 18. The closure also will affect the COMPASS benefits application system.  During the closure CAO workers will not be able to access case information, print new EBT cards, or process applications, renewals, or document uploads. The COMPASS website and the myCOMPASS PA mobile app will also be offline during the closure.

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Opens Order of Selection
Effective February 1, 2020, OVR opened the Order of Selection on an intermittent basis and will serve a set number of customers from the waiting list, starting with individuals who have been on the waiting list the longest. The number of customers served will be determined by OVR based on the availability of resources. The customers will be notified that OVR may proceed with services. All other customers will remain on the waiting list. This announcement and other resources about the Order of Selection can be found on OVR’s webpage here.  

Early Intervention Highlights Provided at Recent Meeting of State Interagency Coordinating Council

• The number of infants and toddlers in Early Intervention (EI) continues to grow.
• 98% of infants and toddlers receive evaluations in a timely manner.
• 95.31% of preschool children receive evaluations in a timely manner.
• 100% of infants and toddlers receive their services in a timely manner.
• 66% of preschoolers receive services in inclusive environments, which is up 5% since 2013.
• Last year, preschool IEP developed & implemented by their 3rd birthday was at about 97%. It is at 90% for this year, which is a significant change. Advisors are supporting programs who are struggling and further analysis is being done.
• No formal complaints, mediation requests, or due process hearings were filed, received, or requested in infant toddler Early Intervention.
• 9 formal complaints with 1 substantiated in preschool EI
• 27 mediation requests were received with 23 agreements reached

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES (From Katie Yost) 

Senate Bill 906:  The Governor is expected to veto the bill on February 12th.  The bill would have stopped the closure of Polk and White Haven Centers.  Please remember to contact the Governor's Office to thank him for this action!

Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda 1366 — (Senators Yudichak, Baker, Gordner, Brooks, Hutchinson, and Boscola).  A memo for a bill that aims to mitigate economic impacts of state facility closures.  The legislation would provide assistance to communities impacted by the closures of SCI Retreat and the White Haven Center. The bill would allow for community response teams to aid areas affected by facility closures in securing financial resources to help communities recover from financial impacts.  A separate bill would allow qualifying workers at the state facilities to take early retirement. 

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda - Rep. Rosemary Brown has circulated a co-sponsorhip memo for a resolution designating the week of July 20-27, 2020 as "ADA Week" in Pennsylvania.

Community Inclusion for All - A new resource, Pennsylvania Community Inclusion for All, highlights the importance of and provides resources for meaningful Community Inclusion, geared towards Pennsylvania children, ages birth to grade 6, and their families.  The materials can be used to increase opportunities of meaningful interaction between families and children with and without disabilities. It also provide professionals the resources for Community Inclusion to share with the families they serve and use the resources when practicing coaching in the community with families.