COVID-19 Update
July 17, 2020

OPWDD Memo on Conclusion of Day Service Retainer Program
This afternoon, The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) published a memo notifying providers that the last service date for submitting retainer claims under the Day Service Retainer Program is July 21, 2020.  The memo reiterates OPWDD's previous statements that the Group Community Habilitation-Residential (Group CH-R) program will continue. Alternate services, such as Community Habilitation, may also continue to be delivered and billed to Medicaid. 
We will provide additional information as it becomes available. 
 
OPWDD Revised FAQ on Interim Guidance Regarding Reopening of Day Services
OPWDD revised their " Frequently Asked Questions: Interim Guidance Regarding Reopening of Day Services." The main revisions are updates to the guidance on transporting individuals to day programs.
 
OPWDD Weekly Data
On Thursday, July 16, OPWDD shared data regarding the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths due to COVID-19 within the service system. The following was shared:
  • 3,185 total infections to date
  • 2,580 of those infections can be attributed to individuals residing in OPWDD certified residential settings
  • 441 Fatalities
  • 90% of deaths are located in the downstate region (NYC, LI, Rockland, Putnam, Westchester, Orange, Nassau, Suffolk)
  • 83% of deaths are attributed to individuals that are 50 or older 
  • 61% of deaths are men 
  • 80% of those who have passed away also had one or more comorbidities (i.e. hypertension, diabetes, dementia, cancer, etc...) 
  • 3,730 staff infections to date
OPWDD has not yet supplied more detailed data regarding COVID-19 cases by setting. As a reminder, New York state maintains data on cases by county here

NYDA Panel Discussion with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand July 23
Join Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) member agencies on July 23 at 11:30 am for a panel discussion on the state of our field. Topics to be discussed include current negotiations for a possible stimulus bill, an update on the New York state service delivery system, the current provider fiscal situation and anticipated OPWDD cuts.

Click  here to register and submit your questions for the panel by close of business Monday, July 20
 
The panel will be moderated by Rhonda Frederick, President & CEO of People Inc & The Developmental Disabilities Alliance of WNY (DDAWNY), with panelists Yvette Watts, Executive Director of New York Association of Emerging and Multicultural Providers (NYAEMP), Susan Constantino, President & CEO of Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, and Senator Gillibrand.
 
This and all related updates will be cataloged on  The Arc New York COVID-19 Resource Page   for future reference. Please contact us if you have questions regarding any of this information.

 
CONTACT: 
Josh Christiana , Associate Executive Director for Quality, Compliance & Chapter Relations

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