DHS
PHA CEO Highlights Importance of Medicaid Program, Advocates for Additional Support at PA Capitol
May 1, 2023Last week, PHA’s CEO participated in a legislative information briefing at the Capitol. PHA joined fellow members of the PA Provider Advocacy Coalition to provide an overview of the Medicaid…
Office of Developmental Program (ODP) providers should be aware of an upcoming change to the EIM system related to the identification of targets. Effective May 1, 2023, when the selection…
On March 30, 2023, the Department of Human Services (DHS) submitted proposed regulations to implement the Adult Protective Services Act (APSA). The proposed regulation is intended to strengthen and clarify the…
Last week, the Office of Developmental Programs released the Quality Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) Individual Interviews Report for Interim Year 1 (FY 20-21) and Interim Year 2 (FY 21-22). The report provides…
On Friday, the Department of Human Services held an EVV Public Meeting that included program updates for both personal care services (PCS) and home healthcare services (HHCS). The full slide deck…
Last week, PHA received confirmation from the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living that the 2023 Community HealthChoices Amendment has been approved by the Centers for Medicare…
On March 6, the Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking stakeholder feedback on the Community HealthChoices (CHC) program. DHS will use the feedback to evaluate opportunities…
OLTL Updates Critical Incident Management Bulletin
March 13, 2023Last week, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) distributed its updated Critical Incident Management Bulletin, effective February 23, 2023. The bulletin is intended to clarify the definition of critical incidents and provide…
UPMC Updates Policy on Use of Consumer Cell Phones
March 13, 2023As reported in last week’s Connections, the Department of Human Services (DHS) addressed the use of consumer cell phones for EVV at the March MLTSS meeting, clarifying that DHS does not have…
ODP Issues Reports on Annual Data, Waiting Lists
March 13, 2023Last week, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) issued two reports:
At last week’s Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Committee meeting, the Department of Human Services (DHS) clarified that the Department does not have a policy related to the use…
ODP Issues Guidance on New Report Supports Requirements
February 20, 2023Last week, the Office of Developmental Programs issued additional guidance on the requirements for the new Remote Supports service definition approved in the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support, and Community Living…
DHS Issues Bulletin on Shadow Nursing for Pediatric Patients
February 20, 2023On Friday, February 17, the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) issued Bulletin 05-23-02, 16-23-01, Coverage of Case Specific Training/Shadow Nursing for Private Duty/Shift Nursing Services for MA Beneficiaries Under 21…
ODP Publishes Everyday Lives: Values in Action 2022 Report
February 20, 2023The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)’s Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) has released its Everyday Lives: Values in Action Annual Report for 2022. This annual report includes statistical information…
DHS Says Parents Can Continue as Paid Home Health Aides for Medically Fragile Children
February 13, 2023Last week, PHA received notice that parents may continue serving as paid home health aides for medically fragile children, after the Department of Human Services (DHS), PHA, and other stakeholders…
Members Ask; PHA Answers: Nurse Shadowing for Pediatric Services
February 13, 2023In December, the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) issued a Bulletin adding a rate for nurse shadowing for pediatric services. The nurse shadow rate is effective for claims with dates of…
2023 Community HealthChoices Agreement Now Available
February 6, 2023The 2023 Community HealthChoices Agreement between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the CHC MCOs is now available. Changes and clarifications include the following:
OLTL Updates Monthly Data Dash
January 16, 2023The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has posted its November 2022 Data Dash, providing a snapshot on statewide participation in OLTL waiver programs as of October 2022. The report includes…
As previously reported, last month the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) voted to approve the final-form regulation allowing providers enrolled in the Medical Assistance (MA) program to co-locate. Last week,…
DHS Issues Bulletin Reinstating Provider Enrollment Requirements in February + Remember to Revalidate!
January 9, 2023On December 29, 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a Bulletin reinstating provider enrollment requirements that were temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).
DHS Adds New EVV Question to Provider Enrollment Application
January 9, 2023Beginning December 16, 2022, home health, homecare and other provider types will see a new question concerning Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) on the Additional Information page when completing a provider enrollment application:…