DHS COVID-19 PROVIDER GUIDANCE // ODP
ODP Announcement 20-041 Update:
Provider Guidance for Reporting Cases
of COVID-19
Issued: April 6, 2020; Updated: April 8, 2020
Audience
All Qualified Providers,
Supports Coordination Organizations (ID/A and AAW),
Administrative Entities,
Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/ID)
Purpose
The purpose of this communication is to give guidance to providers, ICF/IDs and SCOs
when reporting cases of COVID-19 for individuals and Direct Service
Professionals/provider staff.
Discussion
To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is
requiring providers, ICF/IDs and Supports Coordination Organizations to report cases of
COVID-19 for individuals (1) receiving services and for (2) Direct Service Professionals or
provider staff that work directly with service recipients.
The requirement to report incidents of COVID-19 testing and positive cases extends to
all individuals, regardless of service provision at the time of the incident.
SCOs are required to report incidents related to COVID-19, unless the incident was
reported and documented by another source.
Providers are responsible for reporting DSPs and SCOs are responsible for reporting SCs
in order to eliminate duplication of effort.
Reporting for individuals
Beginning April 3, 2020, providers, ICF/IDs and Supports Coordination Organizations can
document suspected/confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses in EIM incident reports by entering
an incident and documenting when an individual has been tested or has a confirmed
diagnosis of COVID-19. Please refer to Announcement 20-037 for additional guidance.
When to use the EIM indicator
- An individual was administered a COVID-19 virus test (awaiting results).
- An individual was administered a COVID-19 virus test that indicated a positive
result.
- An individual was diagnosed with COVID-19 virus by a health care practitioner,
regardless of testing.
When not to use the EIM indicator
- An individual displays symptoms but is not referred for testing and not given the
diagnosis of COVID-19 by a health care practitioner.
- An individual displays symptoms and is sent home with a recommendation for
quarantine/self-quarantine.
Providers will discontinue reporting cases for an individual has been tested or has a
confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 to the ODP Regulatory Administration Unit.
Reporting Direct Service Professionals/Provider Staff
ODP is requiring providers to report all cases of staff that have been tested or has a
confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Providers should continue to notify the ODP
Regulatory Administration Unit at RA-PW6100REGADMIN@pa.gov
Please provide the following information when reporting a staff member that has been
tested or has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19:
- Master Provider Index (MPI)
- Addresses of each home staff member works in
- Type of setting (ICF/ID, 6400, 6500)
- Region of each home
- Census of each home
- Scope of potential exposure (how many individuals and staff members)
- Testing site
- Results of Test
- Staff member(s) title
State Centers are not required to report staff to the ODP Regulatory Administration Unit
as they are required to report to ODP, DOH and DHS through other communication
channels.
Questions about this Announcement can be directed to the ODP Regulatory
Administration Unit at RA-PW6100REGADMIN@pa.gov.