Inside Aging November 2025 Newsletter Now Available
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.
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.
PA ABLE Webinar to Be Held October 29
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is offering a webinar on the PA Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Savings Program. A PA ABLE savings account gives individuals with qualifying disabilities (eligible individuals) and their families and friends a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining government benefits. The state and federal tax-free investment options are offered to encourage eligible individuals and their families to save private funds to support health, independence, and quality of life.
Some of the topics that will be discussed include: eligibility requirements for opening a PA ABLE account; federal and state tax benefits of PA ABLE; and how a PA ABLE account interacts with current benefits.
Please register for the PA ABLE Savings Program webinar, which will be presented by Diana Fishlock, Outreach Specialist for PA ABLE with the PA Department of Treasury. This webinar is scheduled for October 29, 2025, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please send them electronically.
If you have questions regarding this email, please contact Randy Loss, OLTL.
Inside Aging October 2025 Newsletter Now Available
November 2025 LTSS Subcommittee Meeting Confirmed for November 12
The correct date for the November Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting will be held Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Please disregard the previous communication sent on October 1, 2025. The meeting will be held as a webinar with remote streaming only, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
If you need an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and/or another accommodation, including an alternative method for submitting questions or comments about meeting topics, please send an email no later than October 17, 2025, so an ASL interpreter or other accommodations can be scheduled.
Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Remote captioning and streaming services will be provided. If you require these services, please visit this remote captioning and streaming services link.
Service Coordinators Needed: Apply for OLTL Advisory and Grievance Committee
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) Advisory and Grievance Committee is currently accepting applications, and they need representation from Service Coordinators (SCs). While OLTL has received applications from other stakeholder groups, no applications have been submitted by SCs, who have a perspective essential to the committee.
The committee will meet virtually every quarter to:
- Discuss self-direction and Public Partnerships (PPL) services under the OBRA waiver and Act 150 program;
- Evaluate program grievances; and
- Share and review feedback from participants, common law employers, and direct care workers.
Committee membership is designed to reflect a diverse group of Pennsylvanians. Having SCs on the committee is critical to ensuring well-rounded discussion and decision-making. Applications are due by September 19, 2025. If you applied before July 20, 2025, please submit a new application, as previous applications were not received due to a technical issue.
If you have questions or need assistance completing the form, please contact PPL at 877-908-1750. Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your expertise and ensure that SCs’ voices are represented.
Inside Aging September 2025 Newsletter Now Available
OMAP Issues New EVV Bulletin, Affecting OLTL and ODP Services
The PA Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) issued a new Bulletin that applies to personal assistance and community habilitation services under the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). The key changes from earlier guidance include:
- Providers 85% Compliance Requirement Effective January 1, 2025: Providers must ensure at least 85% of EVV records are verified without manual edits.
- Starting January 2026, DHS will issue alerts to fee-for-service providers whose manual edits exceed 15% in the prior quarter. Managed care organizations (MCO) will also receive lists of noncompliant providers for follow-up.
- Providers failing to meet the 85% thresholds for two consecutive quarters will be required to submit corrective action plans. Continued noncompliance may lead to sanctions, potentially including loss of license.
- FMS and Participant-Directed Models are also responsible for EVV compliance. Persistent noncompliance can result in termination from participant-directed service models.
- Additional Resources: DHS EVV Guidance and Handbook now available.
- Compliance Reports are available on the Sandata platform. The reports allow providers to identify the non-compliant visit dates, participants, and caregivers to initiate internal corrective action.
If you have any questions, contact Fady Sahhar.
ADvancing States Launches Foundational Leadership in HCBS Certificate Program
ADvancing States, which represents the nation’s 56 state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities as well as long-term services and supports directors, has partnered with the Department of Health Policy and Management at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health to create a first-of-its-kind online training program to support our nation’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program workforce. The initial Foundational Leadership in HCBS: Building Expertise to Better Support People in their Homes and Communities certificate program launches in September 2025.
The core training sessions deliver essential curriculum covering HCBS systems, policies, and operations — everything participants need to enhance their effectiveness and advance policy advocacy in this critical sector. Fewer than 20 spots remain in the September pilot session, and there will be another session offered in January 2026. The course fee is $600 for government and non-profit employees and $1300 for corporate employees. Group registration opportunities are expected to be available for the January 2026 session.
Quick Registration Links:
The course is offered exclusively online and is self-paced so learners can set their own schedules, but the course will require the equivalent of about two hours per week for 10 weeks. Participants will learn more about populations utilizing LTSS, the organizations and individuals providing LTSS, and the varied sources of funding for LTSS, with a focus on HCBS, plus key policy areas, including the Older Americans Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and the processes by which individuals access services. Please view the Course Overview and Syllabus for additional details about course topics and learning objectives.
Sign up using the links above; for questions about the HCBS Certificate program, contact Annie Kimbrel via email.
