• OPWDD has signaled that they are very close to final approval on a statewide policy for the closure or reduction in capacity of day programs. This news comes in the wake of the White House recommending that meetings in groups of more than 10 individuals be restricted. 

• OPWDD hopes to get this guidance out shortly and is just waiting for final approval.

• In the meantime, OPWDD officials are encouraging providers to begin cross training staff in preparation for the eventual close of these programs so that resources can be reallocated within an agency.

• The Care Coordination Organizations across the State have asked that as individual agencies make decisions to close day programs that they notify the CCO’s that they work with in order to stay coordinated. 

• As we reported this morning, OPWDD is applying for a waiver to relax certain regulations and retain the ability to continue to direct funding to providers in the event that programs can no longer function. 

• State officials have a call tomorrow afternoon with CMS to discuss the waiver application.

• There is currently no timetable for approval.

• State officials have acknowledged that there have been some challenges in areas of the State with regard to access to personal protective equipment. In many cases there is just simply not enough equipment to go around at this point and this has been raised at the highest levels of State government. 

• OPWDD is currently seeking guidance from DOH on what measures providers should be taking in the event that they should be using PPE but cannot because of the lack of supplies.

• OPWDD is reporting that the process of raising individual agency issues through this forum is working well and agencies should continue to utilize this vehicle to report issues and potential cases of Covid-19 for staff and people that are served.

• The current process in place is agencies should submit issues and cases to the following mailbox in order to raise issues with the incident management unit email address that is being repurposed for this emergency: quality@opwdd.ny.gov. The email box is being monitored 24/7.

• In addition to enhanced flexibility being sought through the Appendix K Waiver, the NY Alliance and other provider associations are advocating for additional financial flexibility from the State as part of the 3for5 Campaign. That additional flexibility would include the ability to get an advancement on State funding which would later be reconciled. This would allow providers to sustain their operations as billable services diminish.

• Establishing immediate enhanced payments during the current State of Emergency to provider agencies to provide added flexibility to deal with the pandemic but also to be able to provide enhanced “hazard pay” to all direct care and clinical staff to be able ensure adequate staffing for programs and residences and well as to prevent workforce retention issues.

• Prohibiting potential 7/1/20 rate cuts from being implemented. 

• OPWDD programs and services to be eligible and included in any omnibus aid appropriation to deal with COVID-19.