2023-03
On March 9, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House to enhance and broaden Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The goal of the HCBS Access Act (S….
Last week, the CMS Innovation Center announced that the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model will be extended for calendar years 2025 through 2030 and will introduce changes…
Harrisburg Happenings: Budget Hearings
March 27, 2023Last week kicked off the first week of budget hearings in the PA House and Senate. This is the first opportunity for members of Governor Shapiro’s cabinet to explain their…
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, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) added two new training resources to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Training webpage:
CGS Shares Tips on Responding to Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) for Hospice Claims
March 27, 2023Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) CGS has shared the following information to help providers respond to Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has released a cybersecurity implementation guide to help the public and private health care sectors prevent…
PHA Board Member Bryant Greene Recognized as Top Franchisee by International Franchise Association
March 20, 2023Bryant Greene from Always Best Care Senior Services and PHA Board member was named a 2023 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). Greene was one of 97 individuals…
On March 15, 2023, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) issued its March 2023 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy. As part of its annual report, MedPAC included the following home health and hospice recommendations:
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…
PHA Responds to Gov. Shapiro’s First Budget Address; DHS Secretary Holds Stakeholder Call
March 13, 2023Last Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro gave his first budget address, setting the stage for the new Administration’s legislative and policy priorities. His proposed spending plan totals $44.4 billion, an increase…
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…
Last week, PHA submitted comments to CMS on proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. PHA raised concerns about the proposal’s potential impacts on premiums and benefits for MA beneficiaries and…
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…
What’s Happening in Washington: Biden Budget Edition
March 13, 2023Late last week, President Joe Biden visited Philadelphia, where he outlined his budget priorities. His administration’s $6.8 trillion plan, up from $6.2 trillion in the current fiscal year, includes a focus…
ODP Issues Reports on Annual Data, Waiting Lists
March 13, 2023Last week, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) issued two reports:
Guest Column: Long Term Disability Benefits Review
March 13, 2023Although long term disability (LTD) benefits may lack the appeal of other more often utilized programs in a company’s benefit portfolio, for an employee who becomes disabled due to an…
New Video Shows Value of Home Health Care
March 6, 2023The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare has developed a video demonstrating the value of home health and the importance of protecting the home care community from Medicare cuts.
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…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has shared additional guidance on submitting claims with the new G-codes for telehealth encounters, including:
Harrisburg Happenings: PA House Makes History
March 6, 2023Last week, House Speaker Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) resigned his post as expected. Rep. Joanna McClinton, formerly the Democratic Caucus Leader, was voted as the new Speaker of the House, making…
Advocacy in Action: Our Doors Are Always Open
March 6, 2023Last week, PHA was joined by several members at the Capitol as we hosted our first open house coffee event with legislators. The event provided legislators and staff with an…
On February 24, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a proposed rule intended to govern the prescribing of controlled substances via telemedicine at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)….
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