October 23, 2020
2012 CP Logo
CP State News
We're here for you!
Important Health Advisory and Guidance for Congregate Facilities
Mitigation measures for COVID clusters take effect Sunday 10/25
OPWDD and the NYS Department of Health issued guidance today regarding certified facilities located within certain geographic zones designated as high COVID-19 positivity clusters. The mitigation measures outlined in each are effective Sunday, October 25, at 3 p.m., and are part of Governor Cuomo's data-based strategy of aggressively responding to micro-clusters in order to limit COVID-19 spread via the Cluster Action Initiative.
From OPWDD Commissioner Kastner: "Please be advised that the exception outlined by DOH regarding visitation for an essential companion applies only to those instances when an individual with I/DD is temporarily out of the home for hospitalization and requires support. There is no exception for visitation of an essential companion within a certified residential facility at this time. 
Home visits and community outings will remain allowable from OPWDD-certified residential settings to the extent they may be exercised safely and in compliance with all previously issued guidance. We are hopeful that these additional restrictions will be extremely time limited and will help ensure the health and safety of all individuals who live within these areas, as well as their families and the staff that support them. Thank you for your continued support."
New guidelines for instructional mealtime in 4410s
NYSED has issued a policy change to allow mealtime to be included when calculating the instructional hours for full day Preschool Special Class in an Integrated Setting (SCIS) and/or Special Class (SC) programs for preschool students with disabilities.
This is allowable for full day programs that are able to demonstrate meaningful adult-child interactions and opportunities for learning in order for mealtime to be included in instructional hours.
Preschool special education programs may choose to adjust their hours accordingly if instructional mealtime will be included in their hours of operation. If hours are adjusted, each preschool special education program must develop a plan for communicating any changes to parents, families, and to county transportation administrators and for responding to concerns.
Questions on these procedures may be directed to the Office of Special Education Preschool Policy Unit at (518) 518-473-6108 or speced@nysed.gov
Study evaluates Down syndrome as a risk factor for death from COVID-19
The authors of a recent study estimated a 4-fold increased risk for COVID-19–related hospitalization and a 10-fold increased risk for COVID-19–related death in persons with Down syndrome, a group that is currently not strategically protected. This was after adjustment for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and care home residence, which our results suggest explained some but not all of the increased risk.
Of 8.26 million adults in the study cohort, 4053 had Down syndrome. Sixty-eight persons with Down syndrome died, 27 (39.7%) of COVID-19, 17 (25.0%) of pneumonia or pneumonitis, and 24 (35.3%) of other causes. Of the 8 252 105 persons without Down syndrome, 41 685 died, 8457 (20.3%) of COVID-19, 5999 (14.4%) of pneumonia or pneumonitis, and 27 229 (65.3%) of other causes.
New CDC Guidance for Community-Related Exposure
The CDC now defines a "close contact" of someone with COVID-19 as anyone who was within six feet of someone infected for a total of 15 minutes over the course of 24 hours.


COVID-19 Updated Guidance Regarding Influenza Management
OPWDD has released the below guidance regarding Influenza Management:
Find more guidance on COVID-19 at the following link: 
OPWDD issues reminder about Electronic Visit Verification 
From OPWDD, Oct. 21: Service providers who provide Community Habilitation and/or In-Home Respite services will be subject to EVV starting January 2021.
To learn about EVV in NYS and be ready for the January 2021 implementation:
  • Join the EVV Listserv
  • Subscribe to the NYS EVV Listserv at listserv@listserv.health.state.ny.us. Please be sure to include the following in the body of your email sign-up request: SUBSCRIBE EVV-L YourFirstName YourLastName
  • Review the NYS EVV Website, EVV FAQs, EVV Technical FAQs and Document Repository for the latest published EVV documentation and policies.
  • Review the EVV Technical User Guide on the eMedNY.org website
  • EVV Data Submitters must be enrolled with eMedNY
  • For those not already enrolled:
  • Please visit the website at www.emedny.org
  • Click on the Provider Enrollment tab to get the process started
  • Support staff for enrollment with NYS Medicaid can be reached by calling eMedNY Provider Enrollment at (800) 343-9000.
  • Begin working with NYSDOH to test API Connectivity and testing EVV data submission
  • Begin submitting EVV data to the NYS Data Aggregator beginning 1/1/2021
If you have questions, please send them to: EVVHelp@health.ny.gov.
Early voting begins Oct. 24!
Voting information for people with I/DD
Election Day is November 3, and early voting begins October 24. Deadlines to request an absentee ballot or an accessible absentee ballot are less than a week away - October 27.
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as “The Motor Voter Act”) made it easier for all Americans, regardless of ability, to exercise their fundamental right to vote. The Motor Voter Act requires all offices of State-funded programs that are primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities to provide all program applicants with voter registration forms and to assist in their completion and submission.
CP of NYS | cpstate.org