Legislative
Keep the Momentum Going by Contributing to HomePAC, PHA’s Political Action Committee! Every dollar contributed is a step towards securing critical increases for direct care workers and nurses in next year’s budget….
Late last week in a whirlwind of committee meetings and floor votes, the General Assembly finalized the state’s fiscal year 2024-25 spending plan. The key budget-related bills—including the General Appropriations…
A significant sticking point remains education funding, as lawmakers struggle to determine the appropriate amount for schools. Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman emphasized the complexity of achieving “fair funding” across…
SB 1080 Passes Senate, Headed to the House!
July 8, 2024We are thrilled to announce that the Pennsylvania State Senate has unanimously passed Senate Bill (SB) 1080, sponsored by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver! This crucial bill addresses a significant issue in…
State Budget Negotiations Continue into Next Week; PHA Advocates for rate increases; Combats inequitable increases among models of care
July 1, 2024The state budget will not be completed by the June 30 constitutional deadline, but legislative leaders and Governor Josh Shapiro are optimistic that a deal will be reached next week….
In a detailed letter to House Labor and Industry Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie, the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA), the Pennsylvania Association of Home and Community-Based Services (PA-HCBS), the Rehabilitation & Community Providers…
On June 13, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced a discussion draft of the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act), focusing on hospice payment reform and program…
On June 12, 2024, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee and the Senate Aging and Youth Committee convened for a joint hearing to discuss the “Aging Our Way,…
PHA and Stakeholders Unite to Address OAPSA Concerns
June 24, 2024PHA, alongside key stakeholders in the long-term care community, have united to express concerns over the recently proposed reforms to the Older Adult Protective Service Act (OAPSA). In a letter to…
Bipartisan House Companion Introduced Allowing Hospice LPNs to Make Death Pronouncements
June 24, 2024The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is celebrating the introduction of House Bill 2434 sponsored by Rep. Paul Takac (D-Centre). This legislation is identical to SB 1080 which was passed by the…
PHA Opposes Burdensome OAPSA Revisions
June 17, 2024PHA quickly responded to a request for feedback on revised Older Adult Protective Services (OAPSA) language presented to stakeholders by the administration and the House Aging & Older Services Committee. OAPSA has…
Two Democratic senators from Massachusetts have introduced a bill they say is meant to “root out corporate greed and private equity abuse” in nursing homes, assisted living communities, home health…
#FreetheData Bill Passes PA Senate
June 17, 2024On June 12, legislation to #FreetheData passed the Pennsylvania Senate 48-0. The bill will #FreetheData, providing workforce boards and stakeholders with enhanced access to critical workforce information, ensuring that workforce…
Senate Health and Human Services Committee Passes SB 1080, Allowing Hospice LPNs to Make Death Pronouncements
June 17, 2024The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is celebrating a legislative victory with the unanimous passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1080 by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Sponsored by Sen. Lynda…
This week, the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA), alongside several providers committed to our budget advocacy, took to Capitol Hill to advocate for increased rates for direct care workers and nurses….
PHA and Collaborators Unite to Highlight Rate Increases and Combat State Mandated 80/20 Rule
June 10, 2024This week House Bill 2372 was released entitled “Agency Accountability and Livable Wages for Pennsylvania’s Home Care Workers.” Sponsored by Reps. Jessica Benham and Jason Ortitay, the bill specifically: The Pennsylvania Homecare…
OP-ED: PHA CEO Mia Haney Speaks Out for Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Who Deserve Equal Access to Home Care
June 3, 2024It is heartening to witness leadership that prioritizes the needs of our most vulnerable citizens; however, Governor Shapiro’s recent proposal to increase funding for home care services for Pennsylvanians with…
On May 23, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) and Mike Kelly (PA-16) introduced the Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services (DUALS) Act of 2024. This bipartisan bill aims to…
Representatives Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) and Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny, Washington) recently issued a co-sponsorship memorandum titled “Agency Accountability and Livable Wages for PA’s Home Care Workers.” While PHA supports the request…
House Labor and Industry Committee Holds Informational Hearing on the Nursing Workforce Crisis
May 13, 2024An informational hearing conducted by the House Labor and Industry Committee on the Nursing Workforce Crisis delved into the pressing challenges faced by the nursing workforce in Pennsylvania. Here are…
On April 30, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing titled “Legislative Proposals to Increase Medicaid Access and Improve Program Integrity” that included discussions regarding…
Pa. House Human Services Committee Informational Hearing on the ODP: Proposal for Performance-Based Contracting
May 6, 2024The Pa. House Human Services Committee convened an informational meeting to discuss the Pennsylvania Office of Development Programs (ODP) proposal regarding performance-based contracting for residential services. This proposal aims to…
On April 23, Pennsylvania will hold its Primary Election, where voters decide candidates for various positions. On the ballot are candidates for president, U.S. House and Senate, Pennsylvania’s three row…
PROPOSED NEW STANDARDS FOR PDN: Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2024
April 22, 2024The Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2024 (S 4122) was introduced this week in Congress. This bill intends to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to develop…
NAHC Advocacy Day Recap
April 22, 2024Over 100 home care, home health, and hospice advocates, including representatives and members of PHA, came to Washington, D.C. April 16 and 17 to make the case for expanded access…
Amidst Caregiving Crisis, Casey, Kaine, Baldwin Introduce Bill to Revitalize Nation’s Long-Term Care Workforce
April 22, 2024Despite greater need for caregiving than ever before, care workers across the Nation are overworked and underpaid, resulting in a severe workforce shortage. U.S. Senators Bob Casey, Tim Kaine, and Tammy…
Last month Representatives Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) and Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny, Washington) issued a co-sponsorship memorandum titled “Agency Accountability and Livable Wages for PA’s Home Care Workers.” While the memo included…
NEW Study: Costs and Benefits of Enhancing Private Duty/Shift Nursing Payment Rates in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Program
April 22, 2024The Pennsylvania Homecare Association engaged The Menges Group to conduct a cost savings study for private duty nursing with a purpose of proving what an investment in increased reimbursement rates…
Today, PHA’s President of the Board of Directors, CJ Rambler, will be testifying on behalf of PHA at a House Health and Human Services Committee Informational Hearing on the Delivery…
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has finalized a rule aimed at enhancing access to care and safeguarding…
On Monday, April 8 PHA’s President of the Board of Directors, CJ Rambler, will be testifying on behalf of PHA at a House Health and Human Services Committee Informational Hearing…
MAAC Reviews OLTL 2024–2025 Budget Proposal
April 1, 2024At the March Medical Assistance Advisory Committee, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) presented their proposed Fiscal Year 2024–2025 budget, which included modest increases in utilization and cost of care…
On March 27, CMS issued a release regarding the Biden-Harris Administration’s final rule aimed at enhancing the enrollment process and maintaining health coverage for millions of Americans under Medicaid, the Children’s Health…
Recently, Representatives Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) and Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny, Washington) released a co-sponsorship memorandum titled “Agency Accountability and Livable Wages for PA’s Home Care Workers.” Unfortunately, this memorandum included unfounded…
Representative Jessica Benham and Representative Jason Ortitay issued a co-sponsorship memorandum calling for “Agency Accountability and Livable Wages for PA’s Home Care Workers.” The memorandum calls for four action items: The memorandum…
On March 9, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 was signed into law by President Biden to partially fund the government through Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). Included in the bill is a one-year…
PHA organized a sign-on letter to House leadership sharing opposition from providers to House Bill 876, sponsored by Rep. Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne), is pending consideration by the House of Representatives and…
PHA Signs-on to Letter Raising Concern Over Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage Program
March 18, 2024Last week, PHA, along with a diverse group of stakeholders, joined in signing an open letter coordinated by the Better Medicare Alliance. The letter, addressed to CMS, expressed concerns regarding the proposals…
White House Releases FY2025 Budget Proposal
March 18, 2024President Biden’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, totaling $7.26 trillion, offers insights into his administration’s priorities, though Congress ultimately decides on spending. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)…
The final week of budget hearings concluded with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh testifying before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Appropriations committee members…
Pennsylvania Budget Hearings Continue
March 4, 2024The House and Senate Appropriations Committees continued their respective slate of agency budget hearings this past week. While this process does include value from the standpoint of understanding programs and…
Senate Bill 1080 sponsored by Sen. Lynda Culver (R- Columbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, and Snyder) and championed by PHA, was introduced on February 23. Senate Bill 1080 aims to allow Licensed…
New Reports Highlight Impact of ARPA Funding on HCBS
February 19, 2024Advancing States and the ARPA HCBS TA Collective have released a new report that summarizes the impact of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding on home and community-based services. This report highlights…
PHA Participates in Senate Majority Policy Committee Hearing on Rural Health Care Challenges
February 19, 2024The Senate Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing about rural health care on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Public Policy Committee member and Vice President of Redstone@Home, Geoff Gehring, testified on PHA’s behalf. The goal of…
U.S. Senators Express Concerns about Medicaid Access Rule
February 19, 2024Eleven Senate Republicans sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) a letter expressing concerns about the Medicaid Access rule its consequences on February 15. The letter recommends that CMS: On…
Governor Shapiro Delivers Fiscal Year 2024–25 Budget Address
February 12, 2024On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled his budget for the 2024–25 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, in a joint session of the House and Senate earlier…
PHA’s Budget Press Statement
February 12, 2024Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, issued a statement on Tuesday, February 6, in response to Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal. Haney called on the governor and the General…
Governor Supports Workforce; Calls for PAS Rate Study
February 5, 2024On Friday February 9, 2024, the Department of Human Services held a stakeholder presentation led by Secretary Valerie Arkoosh regarding the Governor’s recent budget which included an important call to…
Advocacy in Action: PHA Outlines 2024 Funding Need for Pa. Progressive Caucus Members
February 5, 2024On February 1, PHA Members Laura Ness from Bayada Hearts for Home for Home Care, CJ Weaber from Honor Health Network, and Teri Henning from Aveanna Healthcare, along with Alex…
Governor Shapiro to Deliver Second Budget Address
February 5, 2024Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is set to share insights on his year two agenda during the 2024 budget address on Feb. 6. Early indications point to a prioritization of senior…