Our WNY team spent the day learning and networking at the 2026 Developmental Disability Awareness Day Conference on May 28. We were grateful for the opportunity to showcase our services, connect with community partners, and catch up with many familiar faces.

Self-Direction Updates & Reminders

We have included several important updates in this newsletter that may affect your Self-Direction services and supports. Please take time to review the information carefully, and remember that our team is available to answer questions and provide guidance whenever needed.

New Budget Submission Process (Effective June 1)

As of June 1, OPWDD is now requiring that all budget submissions include:

• A current Life Plan, and
• A current CAS or CANS assessment on file
• CAS (for adults) must be completed within the past 2 years
• CANS (for children and teens) must be completed within the past 1 year

If your assessment is not current, your Care Coordinator can help you schedule an updated assessment. Click here for more information on the CAS and CANS assessments.

Summer is Here - Important ESY Reminder ☀️

Medicaid-funded services cannot be used during times when a school-aged individual is able to receive school-provided instruction. This includes Extended School Year (ESY) services.

OPWDD has clarified that any individual who is eligible for ESY services—whether or not they choose to participate—may not receive Medicaid-funded services during the hours ESY services are offered. This applies even if the family declines ESY.

As a result, Medicaid-funded services cannot be reimbursed or paid during ESY school hours, including:

• Self-hired staffing hours, and
• Classes, programs, or camps that occur during ESY hours.



(State-funded services such as Family Reimbursed Respite and OTPS are not impacted by this change.)

If you have a school-aged loved one and have not done so already, please send your Fiscal Intermediary (FI) confirmation of the following:

1. Whether your loved one is eligible for Extended School Year (ESY) services, and
2. If they are eligible, the days and times ESY services are offered (for example, full day or half day).

This information is necessary so we can ensure services and reimbursements are processed correctly.

Upcoming Training Compliance Changes

Effective July 1, Heritage Christian Services will implement an updated training policy, across all departments, as part of our ongoing commitment to compliance, safety, and the delivery of high-quality services.

All Heritage Christian Services staff members, including self-hire employees, have been asked to review and acknowledge the updated training policy in Relias, our Learning Management System. The revisions include clearer expectations and enhanced accountability measures for training completion.

The most important updates to be aware of include:

• Employees who do not complete required training within 30 days after the due date will be subject to formal corrective action and may be restricted from performing work duties until it is completed

• Employees who do not complete required training within 60 days after the due date will be considered for termination of employment

• Training requirements are suspended for employees on an approved leave of absence at the time training becomes due

• Employees returning from an approved leave of absence will have 60 days from their return date to complete any required training that became past due during their leave

All required trainings are mandated by governing agencies, including the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), the New York State Department of Health (DOH), and New York State. Staff are compensated for time spent completing required trainings and should record this time as indirect time in eVero.

You can support this effort by:

• Discussing training requirements and timelines with your staff

• Encouraging timely completion of all required trainings

• Communicating with your support team if delays or challenges arise

• Helping ensure staff schedules allow time for training completion

• Reminding your staff to keep their contact information up to date in ADP

Thank you for your partnership and continued support in ensuring your staff are well-prepared to provide safe, high-quality services.

We’re Here for You!

Thank you for being a valued part of our Self-Direction community.

If you have questions about any of the information in this newsletter, please reach out to your support team—we're happy to help.

Don't forget:

• Visit our website for helpful staffing resources and tools.
• Follow our Facebook page for updates, reminders, tips, and community connection.

We appreciate the opportunity to support you and your family.

Your Rights and Responsibilities and False Claims Act

Please take a moment to review the False Claims Act resource linked below. Understanding your rights and responsibilities helps protect the integrity of Self-Direction services and supports.

We also ask you to regularly review your self-hired staff's:

• Hours worked
• Mileage submissions
• Staff Activity Fee requests

If something appears incorrect or concerning, report it right away to your FI or the Compliance Hotline at (585) 340-5797.

Need help reviewing staff submissions in eVero? Contact your FI for assistance. We are happy to help you understand how to view and monitor staff activity.

Recognize a Team Member!

At Heritage Christian Services, we love to recognize our employees for their great work. You have the opportunity to do the same! Fill out the form below and we’ll pass it on to the employee that you’re recognizing and their supervisor.

Self-Direction Participant Spotlight

Attila says that he and his guitar are one in life. He is a gifted musician and singer who loves Elvis. For nearly two decades he and his mom performed his music at St. Anne's Community Nursing Home and the Baird Road Nursing Home.

Then, his father passed away and COVID hit and Attila was afraid to leave his house for a long time. 

Eventually he agreed to try self-hired community hab. He was still pretty anxious about going out of his home and they have slowly been working up to more community activities.

Recently, Attila’s self-hired staff, Anthony, heard that there would be an Elvis show at Casa Larga Winery and asked Attila if he would like to go. Attila was a little nervous but wanted to try it. Attila's community hab staff, reached out to Casa Larga (with Attila's permission), letting them know of his love of Elvis music and his anxiety with crowds. The events manager arranged a table for just them right in front of the stage! When they arrived at Casa Larga, the event staff brought Attila back to meet the musician who was going to be performing. The artist said he'd heard that Attila is pretty good at singing Elvis songs and handed Attila his guitar to play. Attila played and sang Heartbreak Hotel and the artist was impressed.

Three songs in at the concert, the singer stopped and invited Attila to the stage, gave him his guitar and asked him to sing:

 Click here to see Attila perform 

(written in collaboration with Attila)

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Finger Lakes Fiscal Intermediary Team will launch a centralized after-hours on-call number to support urgent situations outside of normal business hours. The WNY On-Call number is currently active and managed by FI leadership team members.

Please use the on-call line only for urgent concerns that cannot wait until the next business day and that impact the health and/or safety of the person supported. Routine questions should continue to be directed to your FI Coordinator during business hours.

If there is an immediate emergency, call 911.

For urgent after-hours support:

Finger Lakes On-Call: (585) 487-3536 (effective July 1)

WNY On-Call: (716) 242-5626

Home Enabling Supports (HES) is a new OPWDD service that helps people access technology, equipment, home modifications, and other supports that increase independence and promote health and safety at home and in the community. Examples may include certain assistive technology, safety devices, communication supports, or other tools that help a person live more independently.

OPWDD requires that HES be explored before other Self-Direction funding sources, including Individual Directed Goods and Services (IDGS) and Other Than Personal Services (OTPS), for items and services that may qualify under HES. If you are interested in an item or service that may be covered through HES, your Care Coordinator must help you explore that option first. This requirement may also apply to items or services that have been approved through Self-Direction in the past. If HES is available for the item or service, IDGS or OTPS funding cannot be used instead. As a result, some requests and renewals may take longer to process while HES eligibility is reviewed and a decision is made.

While this change adds an extra step, it also creates an exciting new avenue for support. HES may provide access to technology, equipment, and other resources that promote independence, health, and safety, while allowing limited OTPS funds to remain available for other reimbursement needs and supports that cannot be funded through HES.

If you are seeking reimbursement or requesting funding for an item or service that may fall into this category, please reach out to your Care Coordinator and Fiscal Intermediary team as early as possible so we can help determine whether a HES review is required before other Self-Direction funding options can be considered.

Please remember to notify your care team if you experience any changes related to your housing, household, or income. This includes changes such as moving, adding or losing a roommate, changes in rent or utility costs, starting a new job, changes in wages, or changes to Social Security benefits. These updates may affect your OPWDD Housing Subsidy eligibility, payment amount, or ongoing subsidy payments.

The OPWDD Housing Subsidy must be recertified each year. We are already well underway with completing 2026 recertifications. When it is time for your recertification, please work closely with your support team to gather and submit all required documentation as quickly as possible to help avoid delays.

Helpful Resources

Cooling Assistance Benefit

• May provide eligible households with assistance toward the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or fan.
• Learn more about eligibility and how to apply: Cooling Assistance Benefit Program

Social Security Benefit Verification Letter

• Need a current copy of your Social Security Benefits Letter? You can access and download one online: Social Security - Get a Benefit Verification Letter

New York Housing Resource Center

• A valuable source of housing information, tools, and resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD): New York Housing Resource Center

If you have questions about your Housing Subsidy, please contact your care team or one of our Housing Supports Coordinators. If you would like to learn more about available housing supports and resources, we encourage you to reach out. We are happy to help explore options that may support your housing goals.

Finger Lakes Housing Coordinator:

Joshua Bielemeier (he/him)

Email: jobielemier@heritagechristianservices.org

WNY Housing Coordinator:

Angela O'Mara (she/her)

Email: housingwny@heritagechristianservices.org

We are excited to share that Stephanie Lopez has joined our Training and Compliance Support Team alongside Dina Garnham. Together, they help onboard new self-hired employees and support ongoing compliance with required trainings and employment requirements. Stephanie brings more than 15 years of experience in the field and a strong commitment to supporting people in achieving their goals.

In Stephanie's own words:

"I started my journey with Heritage Christian Services as a Fiscal Intermediary Coordinator and I’m excited to bring my background into this new role. Being part of Heritage Christian Services has been an amazing experience and I am beyond grateful for this wonderful opportunity. Supporting people to achieve their goals is truly rewarding and my ultimate 'why.'"

We are thrilled to have Stephanie in this role and are grateful for the expertise, support, and enthusiasm she brings to our team. 

Wishing you the best,

Your FI Team at Heritage Christian Services

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