2024-08
On August 22, 2024, West Virginia’s Governor announced rate increases for Providers at an average of 15% effective October 1, 2024, with certain line items reaching increases of 34%. Included…
Pennsylvania Senator Tracy Pennycuick: Pennsylvania Needs to Do More to Allow Individuals to Receive Care at Home
August 23, 2024Pennsylvania Senator Tracy Pennycuick, representing the 24th District which includes parts of Berks and Montgomery counties, released an opinion editorial this week highlighting the home health care misses in the recently…
Mission Moment: Jennifer Baker
August 23, 2024Want to be featured and inspire others with your Mission Moment? Click here to submit your Mission Moment.
No Connections Next Week; We’re Moving to Bi-Weekly!
August 23, 2024Due to the Labor Day holiday, there will be no edition of Connections next week. Additionally, as we transition to fall, Connections will be moving to a biweekly schedule, with…
Business Solutions: Save on Workers’ Comp Insurance
August 23, 2024Workers Compensation is the second highest cost for home care and home health providers next to payroll. PHA offers a self-insurance option that saves members up to 10% compared to…
Save the Date: Sept. 9 Mergers and Acquisitions Event & Webinar Series for Home Care Agencies
August 23, 2024Join us on September 9, 2024 for a FREE webinar kicking off our Mergers and Acquisitions series this fall. On September 9, CEO Mia Haney will share the story of her…
Introducing the PHA Recruitment Checklist & Template Job Ad: Your Guide to Building Strong Candidate Pipelines
August 23, 2024Is your organization facing challenges in recruiting the right talent? Use the FREE PHA comprehensive recruitment checklist to discover new ways to optimize your recruitment efforts, broaden your reach, and…
Advertise your Job Fairs on the PHA Site for Free
August 23, 2024Are you hosting or attending an upcoming job fair? You can now advertise in on the PHA site for free. Submit it to the PHA community calendar for candidates to…
The PHA Job Board provides a powerful way to ensure your job postings stand out. For a limited time, you can upgrade to a Featured Listing at 50% off—saving $25….
October 10: Employment Symposium & Job Fair
August 23, 2024Register Here to attend the October 10, 2024 Employment Symposium and Job Fair, a competitive integrated employment conference for employers, business owners, people with disabilities, family members, and anyone interested! Meet…
Office of Long-Term Living Announces Recipients for Community HealthChoices Program Procurement
August 23, 2024The Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) has announced the long-awaited recipients of the Request For Applications (RFA) #31-22 for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Program. This significant procurement process sought…
HCBS Rate and Wage Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
August 23, 2024On August 21, 2024, the Office of Long-Term Living released the long-awaited FAQ from the July 18, 2024, HCBS Rate and Wage Study Provider Meeting. The FAQ includes responses from…
On September 4, 2024, the Office of Long-Term Living will be hosting the LTSS Subcommittee meeting, which is intended to further review progress on the rate study, which includes a…
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) has requested assistance in filling the last two remaining membership slots….
2024 Home Health and Hospice MAC Collaborative Summit
August 23, 2024Registration for the 2024 Home Health and Hospice MAC Collaborative Summit is still open! The theme is Perfecting Performance by Breaking Down Barriers and will be hosted in Las Vegas, NV from October…
On August 21, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a brief explainer video titled, “Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluations (HOPE) Data Collection Timepoints.” This 4-minute, animated explainer…
Providers can now access the latest Provider Preview Reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application. Once released in CASPER, providers will have 30 days during which…
Recognize Your Team with PHA!
August 16, 2024Our member agencies are doing amazing things across Pennsylvania to celebrate and reward their teams. We want to help you celebrate your workforce by posting your events to our social…
Business Solutions Spotlight
August 16, 2024PHA is excited to announce a new partnership with Vitable Health, bringing our members an exclusive offer on QuantiFERON TB tests. Through this partnership, members can purchase TB tests quarterly…
Save the Date(s)! PHA Regional Meetings Return in October
August 16, 2024The PHA Regional Meetings are back this fall! All members are invited to participate in this free event to hear the latest industry updates, learn about PHA’s services, discover business…
Are you looking to expand your professional network and increase your visibility on LinkedIn? You’re in luck! Here are 10 tips for boosting your LinkedIn views and connections organically, ensuring…
The modern work environment is evolving at a remarkable pace. There are countless ways that the workplace today differs from that of just five years ago and it’s unlikely that…
My Learning Center: Recognizing Signs of Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustion, and Hypothermia
August 16, 2024Summer is still in full swing, and it’s important to stay informed about heat-related illnesses. My Learning Center offers a valuable training course on Recognizing Signs of Heat Stroke, Heat…
Reminder: OLTL PAS Rate Study Due Aug 23
August 16, 2024Time is running out to complete the provider survey that will inform the The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) rate study currently being conducted by Mercer Government Human Services Consulting. …
ODP released a QAI tool to ensure compliance when providers choose to utilize agency-developed or agency-identified training to meets the General Orientation and Annual Training requirements of the 55 PA…
ODP Releases Updated EVV Guidance
August 16, 2024The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released Version 3.0 of its Comprehensive Guide to Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), and it’s packed with updates to make navigating EVV requirements easier:…
As Pennsylvania prepares to move to an 85% threshold for EVV compliance on January 1, 2025, PHA is committed to helping you stay prepared. If you missed our review in…
Department of Labor Audits: The Price of Non-Compliance
August 16, 2024The Department of Labor (DOL) conducts audits to ensure that home care and home health providers comply with federal labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These audits…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services held a webinar on August 13, 2024 to review the HHVBP CY 2024 Annual Performance Report (APR). Those interested in reviewing the presentation…
Reminder: Annual DDE/PPTN Recertification Is Due
August 16, 2024As a reminder, each year, providers must recertify each Direct Data Entry (DDE) and Professional Provider Telecommunications Network (PPTN) user’s access. To recertify, complete and fax the Annual DDE PPTN Recertification…
In March 2024, CMS announced that the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Hospice Benefit Component will end on December 31, 2024. CMS issued technical and operational guidance on August 7 for…
CGS Webinar Series: Top Claims Errors and Documentation Tips for Home Health and Hospice
August 16, 2024CGS is diving into the top claims errors later this month with focused webinars for both home health and hospice. These sessions will review the most common errors and provide…
Ensuring the safety of our workforce is a top priority. When entering unfamiliar neighborhoods or homes, it is imperative that staff are trained and equipped to protect themselves. That’s why…
Tell Congress to Stop the Medicaid HCBS 80/20 Pass-Through
August 10, 2024The recent Medicaid Access Rule finalized by CMS requires that by 2026 states implement a provision that no less than 80% of all Medicaid payments be spent on compensation for…
New Website Now Live!
August 10, 2024PHA’s new look is officially complete! Along with our updated logo and brand, the PHA website received a major overhaul and went live last week. If you haven’t visited yet,…
Support Home-Based Care: Contribute to HomePAC Today!
August 9, 2024On behalf of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association’s Political Action Committee, HomePAC, please consider making a contribution for the 2024 year. Your support is crucial in ensuring that the voice of…
Are you ready to transform your homecare agency with Artificial Intelligence? Join our upcoming webinar series to discover how AI can revolutionize your operations, from easing workforce challenges to enhancing…
After much speculation and concern among patients and providers, Keystone First and Temple Health have reached a contract agreement for a new two-year term. The previous contract was set to…
Last week, Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh announced that Pennsylvania will receive approximately $58 million in federal reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Money Follows…
OLTL will be hosting a Transportation Summit by Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Transportation Summit is an open forum for anyone…
New Legislation Aims to Strengthen Nursing Workforce
August 9, 2024Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-8) has introduced the National Urgent Recruitment for Skilled Employees (NURSE) Visa Act to address the severe shortage of nurses in the U.S. This legislation proposes granting…
Join us for an insightful Lunch & Learn session on Monday, August 19 at noon, hosted by PHA’s Workforce Development Director, Becky Jacobs. The session, titled “Recruitment Strategies for Success,”…
Maximize Your Reach with PHA Job Board’s Featured Ads
August 9, 2024The PHA Job Board offers an effective solution to ensure your job ads get the attention they deserve. You can now upgrade one (1) posting to a featured listing for…
DCW & HHA Grant Taskforce Sign-Ups
August 9, 2024In May, PHA was awarded a $600,000 grant through the Department of Labor and Industry for Direct Care Worker Job Quality initiatives. PHA’s grant program will have two learning tracks:…
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), along with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting, have released a provider survey to collect data to inform their ongoing rate study. PHA intends to…
Recap of July 30th CMS LTSS Open Door Forum
August 9, 2024On July 30, CMS hosted a Long-Term Services and Supports Open Door Forum. During the call, CMS reviewed the payment adequacy provisions of the Access Rule, with a particular focus…
PROMISe URL Domain Changes
August 9, 2024In accordance with DHS rebranding and the Governor’s Office Customer Service Transformation Initiative, the Office of Medical Assistance Programs will be implementing changes to the old URLs to reach PROMISe…
On July 30, CMS released the FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update. If you missed our earlier announcement, here are the highlights: The final rule is expected…
OMAP Survey: Pediatric Shift Care Milestones
August 9, 2024In an effort to create the Pediatric Complex Care Resource Center to best fit each family’s diverse needs, the OMAP Pediatric Shift Care Team is requesting feedback from families and…
Expanded HHVBP: Reporting Updates
August 9, 2024The Preliminary July 2024 Interim Performance Reports (IPRs) for the expanded HHVBP Model are now available on iQIES, providing performance data and interim scores for home health agencies. Providers can…
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