Homecare Services Likely to See the Greatest Impact of HR1 Spending Cuts, Per KFF Study
Fady Sahhar
Fady is responsible for policy and regulatory matters related to Physical Disabilities and Aging, with primary focus on personal assistance, employment services, and service coordination. Emphasis is placed on engaging the Office of Long-Term Living and the Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations, coordination of care with Behavioral HealthChoices MCOs, and collaborations with other advocacy and provider associations. Fady is also the President / CEO of ProVantaCare, an RCPA-affiliated company focused on contracting with MCOs, and is the President of XtraGlobex, a consulting firm focused on Value-Based Payment contracting. He brings extensive experience in the advocacy and operations of human services providers in physical disabilities and aging, from his role at Liberty Resources, Inc., and his service with a number of nonprofit services providers. He earned an MBA in Marketing from The University of Tennessee and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Capella University.
OLTL Announces Participant Directed (Consumer) Personal Assistance Services Rate Increase
The Fiscal Year 2025/26 budget, signed into law on November 12, 2025, includes a $21 million investment to strengthen the workforce through increased wages for direct care workers providing services in the Participant Directed Model for Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) programs. This additional funding provides for a rate increase in the OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program for Participant Directed (Consumer) Personal Assistance Services procedure codes W1792 and W1792 TU, effective January 1, 2026.
In anticipation of the upcoming rate increase, OLTL is updating the OLTL Home and Community-Based Waiver Services Rates fee schedule, for which additional communication will be sent in the future. To support the January 1, 2026, effective date, OLTL will be updating their systems to include PROMISe™ and the Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) with the revised rates. Service Coordinators do not need to make any service plan updates for the upcoming rate change, as a HCSIS system-wide update is being implemented to make the necessary service data rate updates to the affected service plans.
Please contact the OLTL Provider Inquiry Line at 800-932-0939, OPTION 2, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Inside Aging December 2025 Newsletter Now Available
April – June 2026 LTSS Subcommittee Meetings Changed to Hybrid
On November 12, 2025, the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget was signed into law, removing travel restrictions. As a result, OLTL will resume holding hybrid LTSS Subcommittee meetings. The meetings scheduled for April 2026 – June 2026, which were changed to webinar and remote streaming only earlier this year, are now scheduled to be held as both in-person and webinar with remote streaming.
Since the travel ban has been lifted, reimbursement for Subcommittee members’ travel expenses may be submitted with an itemized receipt for review.
The Office of Long-Term Living appreciates your understanding and flexibility.
Please share this message with staff, participants, and any other interested parties.
If you have questions about the LTSS Subcommittee Meetings, please send them electronically.
Upcoming Quarterly Support Coordinator Training for the Office of Long-Term Living
Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) will be conducting the quarterly Support Coordinator Training for OLTL. The session will be led by PPL Account Managers Tiffany Angel and Elise Mercer and will cover topics including participant enrollment, navigating BetterOnline™, Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), and supporting Common Law Employers in their responsibilities.
The first training session is scheduled for December 16, 2025, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST. To register, please visit PPL’s OLTL page and scroll to the “What’s New” section. Select “Click here for Registration Links.” You may also access all registration dates directly by visiting PPL’s OLTL Training Schedule.
For assistance or additional information, please submit your questions electronically or call 855-243-8775.
PA L&I OVR State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation Quarterly Meeting Announcement
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Start time: 10:00 am
End time: 2:30 pm
Break: 12:00 pm – 1:10 pm
This meeting will be virtual via Zoom with on-site access at Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112). The public is invited to attend or register for this meeting using this link.
Note: The public Zoom link requires Webinar registration prior to meeting access.
CART and sign language interpreters will be available during this meeting. Those using a screen reader can connect here. Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please email the State Board Resource Account.
The agenda for this meeting can be found on the State Board’s web page. Anyone who would like to make public comment prior to the meeting may submit their comments via email.
RCPA PD&A Division December Meeting Cancelled; Next Meeting on February 12
Due to conflicts for the presenters, RCPA will be cancelling the Physical Disabilities & Aging Division meeting that was scheduled for December 17, 2025. We apologize for the late notice. The next PD&A meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026; registration information will be sent in mid-January.
If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.
Inside Aging November 2025 Newsletter Now Available
Personal Care Assistant Accommodations Guidance Open for Public Comment
AUCD to Host Webinar to Raise Awareness of National Disability Employment
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is hosting a special webinar titled “Honoring the Contributions of Americans With Disabilities to the Workforce and National Progress Through University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs).” This webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
People with disabilities have long played a vital role in strengthening America’s workforce and driving innovation. This webinar will explore their impact through three perspectives – past, present, and future – highlighting the ways in which their contributions continue to shape national progress. The webinar will also showcase how UCEDDs provide essential services that empower individuals with disabilities and serve as catalysts for American innovation and economic growth. To help celebrate the spirit behind this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme of “Celebrating Value and Talent,” the webinar will feature a panel of five subject matter experts from across the UCEDD Network and its partners.
Please register for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The webinar will provide live captioning and American Sign Language interpretation. Additional accommodation requests can be submitted via email by October 10, 2025.
For more information, please visit the AUCD website.
