Round Up News: 2018 Compensation & Benefits Survey, ICF Vacancy Media Campaign & More

Round Up

February 16, 2018

DODD Proposed Waver Amendments
2018 Compensation and Benefits Survey
ProviderGuide Plus Roll Out
OPRA to Launch ICF Vacancy Media Campaign
Emergency Preparedness Inspection Update
2018 Spring Conference Schedule & Session Descriptions
DD Awareness Day Speaker Schedule
Upcoming OPRA Events

Proposed Wavier Amendments and Rule Changes

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is currently soliciting public comments on proposed amendments to all three of the waiver programs. The proposed amendments, which will be submitted to the federal Medicaid office for approval, includes increasing rates for respite services and the addition of competency-based rate add on for direct support staff who meet certain training and longevity requirements . Click here to read more about the revisions to the waivers. If you have questions or comments you would like to include in OPRA's response, please send them to OPRA Policy Analyst Christine Touvelle by February 20th.

DODD is also soliciting public comment on the introduction of a new rule and the revisions (see below) of an existing rule regarding the Home and Community Based Services waiver waiting list. You can read more about the changes here . OPRA has been collaborating with the Department and other stakeholders to develop the new rule and other revisions. If you have comments you would like to have included in OPRA's response to the request for public comment, please submit them to OPRA Policy Analyst Christine Touvelle by February 23rd.

New Rule: 5123-9-04 Home and community-based services waivers - waiting list

Existing Rule: 5123-4-01 Administration and operation of county boards of developmental disabilities.

Compensation and Benefits Survey Now Available

Please Complete by February 26, 2018

Issues of salaries/pay rates, employee turnover and recruitment remain critical, in light of Ohio’s downsizing and system re-alignment efforts. Therefore, we encourage all OPRA members to participate in the 2018 Compensation and Benefits Survey.

The results of the 2018 survey will be used in multiple ways including OPRA's lobbying and education initiatives with legislators and state departments, and your organization's internal benchmarking of pay, benefits and turnover along with other OPRA members.

Please click the button below to access the Excel survey file. The spreadsheet includes instructions on how to complete the survey. Please refer to the sheet tabs at the bottom of the page and click on each section to complete the required information.

Thank you in advance for your participation this year!

Click here to access the 2018 Compensation & Benefits Survey

ProviderGuide Plus to be Rolled Out Statewide

Since 2014, OPRA , the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB) , and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) have been working together to develop a new provider information and selection tool, called ProviderGuide Plus , for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to research agency providers that will best meet an individual's needs. Individuals and their families are able to read reviews of the service provider and anonymously submit their own feedback to the agency. As individuals and families provide feedback on ProviderGuide Plus, service providers can respond to the feedback privately in an anonymous message thread. Currently ProviderGuide Plus is functional for service providers in Knox, Coshocton, and Cuyahoga County, but will go live for rest of the state later this year. OPRA, OACB, and DODD will be working together to provide training to stakeholders on how to best use the tool throughout the first half of the year. To learn more about ProviderGuide Plus you can visit the website here and watch the video below.

OPRA to Launch ICF Vacancy Media Campaign

OPRA is currently working with our advertising agency, Fahlgren Mortine , to develop an online campaign plan aimed at increasing awareness of immediate care facility openings in Ohio. The campaign is designed around families with a member who has a developmental disability that requires medical assistance.

The campaign will consist of pay per click advertising on Google with keyword search terms designed to drive more traffic to the ICF vacancy Registry on the OPRA website. In addition, Facebook ads will be used to target specific demographics aimed at increasing website visits.

Keyword search terms are currently being worked on by OPRA with input from families. The campaign is scheduled to begin at the end of the month and run through the balance of 2018. Ads for this campaign will be available to view in the next issue of Round Up.

Emergency Preparedness Inspections Requirements

The Ohio Department Health has observed many intermediate care facilities are not prepared for Emergency Preparedness inspections by omitting significant parts of the Emergency Preparedness plan or failing to even start implementation of an Emergency Preparedness plan.

On September 8, 2016, the Federal Register posted the final rule Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers. The regulation went into effect on November 16, 2016. Health care providers and suppliers affected by this rule (including intermediate care facilities) must comply and implement all regulations within one year after the effective date.

The purpose of the emergency preparedness rule is to establish national emergency preparedness requirements to ensure adequate planning for both natural and man-made disasters, and coordination with federal, state, tribal, regional and local emergency preparedness systems.

Each intermediate care facilities must be in compliance with Emergency Preparedness regulations to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid program effective November 15, 2017.

OPRA will be hosting a session regarding emergency preparedness during the Spring Conference.

C lick here for more information and resources regarding this topic.

ATTENTION OPRA MEMBERS: If your organization has an interesting story to tell or news about promotions, please contact OPRA. We are always looking for engaging content for your newsletters.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT NEWSLETTER CONTENT

OPRA Spring Conference April 4-6, 2018

Schedules and session descriptions for the Spring 2018 OPRA Conference are now available online.

To learn more, click here to visit the conference site.

Save the Date:

3/7/2018 Developmental Disabilities Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse.

DD Awareness Day Speaker Schedule:

10:00—10:05 | Shari Cooper

Welcome

10:05—10:15 | Christine Brown

Introduction by, Jeff Davis

10:15—10:25 | Wallace Peck

Introduction by, Sharon Dorsey

10:25—10:35 | Ed McClain

Introduction by, Dana Charlton

10:35—10:45 | Josh Anderson

Introduction by, Suzie Burke

10:45—10:55 | Director Martin

Speaker Wrap Up

10:55—11:00 | Shari Cooper

Closing

Upcoming OPRA Events

February 19th: President's Day- Office Closed

February 20th: Policy Committee Meeting

February 26th: Employment First Workgroup

February 26th : Day Services Workgroup

For a full calendar of events, please visit the OPRA website.