Saliva Test for Concussions, Which Penn State Researchers Helped Create, Receives U.S. Patent
Melissa Dehoff
Melissa Dehoff is responsible for all medical rehabilitation and brain injury service issues. Ms. Dehoff attends multiple state-level meetings to advocate on behalf of members on brain injury and rehabilitation issues and is a member of the Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board.
Update: ARPA Funding Reporting Portal Initial Reporting Due Date Extended to February 2023
The Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding portal was launched September 30, 2022. Since the launch of the ARPA Funding Reporting portal, OLTL has received a higher than anticipated volume of portal access change requests, causing a delay in access to the portal. OLTL has also identified portal functionality and data discrepancy issues for which they are working with the Information Technology (IT) Development team to implement resolutions. As OLTL works to resolve the issues, the ARPA Funding Reporting Portal initial reporting due date of November 30, 2022, is being extended to February 28, 2023. Please reference the chart below for updated bi-annual reporting periods.
| Report Period | Due Dates |
| 07/01/2021 – 12/31/2021
01/01/2022 – 06/30/2022 07/01/2022 – 12/31/2022 |
2/28/2023 |
| 01/01/2023 – 6/30/2023 | 8/30/2023 |
| 07/01/2023 – 12/31/2023 | 2/28/2024 |
Portal Training & Support
Providers can use the DHS ARPA Reporting Portal User Guide to help navigate the new reporting portal. For portal access requests or questions, please contact the OLTL Provider Helpline at 800-932-0939, Option 2, or via email.
DHS Webinar on December 12 Will Focus on Developing Effective Plans of Correction
The Department of Human Services (DHS) released an announcement about an upcoming webinar that will focus on developing timely and acceptable Plans of Correction (POC). The webinar has been scheduled for December 12, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
The webinar, led by Jeanne Parisi, Director of the Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL), and Joshua Hoover of the Division of Training and Professional Development, will review DHS’ timelines for licensing activities, BHSL licensing procedures, the necessary elements for developing a quality POC, the basics of root-cause analysis, and the resources and assistance that are available. Attendees will also have the opportunity to workshop POC with fellow providers and BHSL staff.
The webinar is approved for Personal Care Home (PCH) and Assisted Living Residence (ALR) annual training hours. Members interested in participating in this webinar should register here. Questions about the webinar or the registration process can be sent electronically.
CMS Issues FAQ on How Contractors Will Conduct Medical Reviews After COVID PHE
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document that addresses how their review contractors (Medicare Administrative Contractors, Recovery Audit Contractors, and the Supplemental Medical Review Contractor) will conduct medical reviews after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Read the FAQ here.
BI Provider Meeting Planned With OLTL and CHC-MCOs on January 12
DHS Releases MA Fee Schedule Revisions in OBRA Waiver & Act 150 Program
The Department of Human Services (DHS) published a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for November 12, 2022, that announces revisions to the Medical Assistance (MA) fee schedule for the OBRA Waiver and the Act 150 Program: Personal Assistance Services (PAS) (Agency with Choice) and Respite (Agency with Choice).
DHS proposes the following substantive and technical changes to the OBRA Waiver:
- Add Agency with Choice as a Financial Management Services model for the participant-directed services of PAS and Respite;
- Revise the Benefits Counseling service definition;
- Amend the responsibilities of the Fiscal/Employer Agent;
- Update the Quality Improvement Strategy to the current process;
- Add a new performance measure for Agency with Choice; and
- Remove a performance measure that is duplicative.
The proposed OBRA Waiver amendment and a summary of all revisions are available for review on the OLTL Waiver Amendments, Renewals, and Accompanying HCBS Transition Plans web page under Additional Resources.
The following table provides the procedure code and rates for PAS (Agency with Choice):
| Region | OBRA Waiver and Act 150 |
Procedure Code | Modifier | Rate | Unit |
| 1 | X | W0164 | N/A | $4.02 | 15 minutes |
| 2 | X | W0164 | N/A | $3.89 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | X | W0164 | N/A | $4.12 | 15 minutes |
| 4 | X | W0164 | N/A | $4.58 | 15 minutes |
The following table provides the procedure code and rates for Respite (Agency with Choice):
| Region | OBRA Waiver and Act 150 |
Procedure Code | Modifier | Rate | Unit |
| 1 | X | W0165 | N/A | $4 | 15 minutes |
| 2 | X | W0165 | N/A | $3.90 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | X | W0165 | N/A | $4.12 | 15 minutes |
| 4 | X | W0165 | N/A | $4.59 | 15 minutes |
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding these fee schedule rates and the proposed amendment to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, Attention: Robyn Kokus, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments can also be sent via email. Use ”OBRA 2023” as the subject line. Comments received within 30 days will be considered in subsequent revisions to the fee schedule or for revisions to the proposed amendment.
The revisions to the fee schedule and the amendment are proposed to take effect April 1, 2023.
Proposed Amendment to CHC Waiver Released for Public Comment
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) published the proposed amendment to the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for November 12, 2022.
DHS and OLTL are proposing to amend the CHC Waiver by adding Agency with Choice as a Financial Management Services (FMS) model for the participant-directed services of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) and Respite. This would modify Service Coordinator and Service Coordinator Supervisor qualifications to align with the CHC Agreement and to amend the service definitions for the following CHC waiver services:
- Benefits Counseling;
- Nursing Services;
- Physical Therapy Services;
- Occupational Therapy Services; and
- Speech and Language Therapy Services.
Also proposed is a technical change to the waiver by revising performance measures.
The proposed CHC waiver amendment and summary of all revisions are available for review on the OLTL Waiver Amendments, Renewals, and Accompanying HCBS Transition Plans web page under Additional Resources.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the proposed waiver amendment to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, Attention: CHC 2023 Waiver Amendment, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments may also be submitted to the Department via email. Use ”CHC 2023 Waiver Amendment” as the subject line. Comments received within 30 days of publication of this notice will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the proposed waiver amendment.
The proposed amendment will be effective April 1, 2023.
RFA Released for Long-Term Care Quality Investment Pilot
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Long-Term Care Quality Investment Pilot, which will distribute approximately $11.7 million in federal funds to long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), personal care homes (PCHs), assisted living facilities (ALFs), and intermediate care facilities (ICFs) for the purpose of building resilience. These funds are designed to be invested in key areas such as workforce development and retention, infection prevention control, emergency preparedness, and improvements to facility infrastructure.
Please note the following:
- Facilities must be enrolled in the LTC RISE program’s quality improvement projects in order to be considered eligible for funding.
- Facilities in Philadelphia are not eligible for this funding.
DOH encourages facilities to apply for this opportunity. The application deadline is 1:30 pm on December 31, 2022. Additional details and information can be found by here.
Questions about this funding opportunity should be addressed by submitting questions through the formal procurement process, which is detailed in the RFA.
OLTL Update for Brain Injury Committee — November 16, 2022
Due to a scheduling conflict with the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) participating in RCPA’s Brain Injury Committee meeting on October 26, 2022, OLTL has agreed to provide their update via a separate webcast. The update/webcast has been scheduled for November 16, 2022, at 11:00 am and will be led by Randy Nolen. The topics of discussion include:
- Clarification of the role of the Service Coordinators and the process providers should use for reporting inaccuracies, etc. Providers are experiencing an increase of SCs telling families and providers that job functions are not their job, including not assisting participants, families/support persons, and providers with issues such as the participant needing a higher or lower level of care.
- Updates on the next RFP for the CHC-MCOs.
- Consideration of a bed hold provision and how this could help ease some financial strain for the BI providers. Is this something that can be included in the next RFP for the CHC-MCOs?
- Possibility and consideration of having a BI Specialist within OLTL and the CHC-MCOs.
- With only 25% of ARPA funds spent, is there a possibility of applying for more?
- Status/update on the checklist that was shared in April 2022.
- Updates on next steps from OLTL regarding CMS’ HCBS quality measure set.
Register to participate in this discussion here. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Dehoff.
ACL Grant to Establish National Center to Strengthen Direct Care Workforce
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has awarded a five-year grant totaling over $6 million to establish a national center to expand and strengthen the direct care workforce across the country. This initiative will provide technical assistance to states and service providers and facilitate collaboration with stakeholders to improve recruitment, retention, training, and professional development of the direct care workers who provide the critical services that enable people with disabilities and older adults to live in their own homes and communities.
Long-standing workforce shortages have reached crisis levels during the COVID-19 pandemic; today, more than three-quarters of service providers are not accepting new clients and more than half have cut services as a result of the direct care workforce shortage. The high turnover of staff has also meant that individuals who are able to receive services often experience service disruptions and receive inconsistent care. As a result, increasing numbers of people are left with no option but to move to nursing homes and other institutions, people who want to leave these facilities cannot, and the health and safety of those who live in the community are at risk.
The national Direct Care Workforce Capacity Building Center will serve as a hub, providing tools, resources, and training to assist state systems and service providers and to support the development and coordination of policies and programs that contribute to a stable, robust direct care workforce. The center’s website will share resources from the federal government, highlight state and local model policies and best practices that can be replicated or adapted, and share training and technical assistance materials. In addition, the center will facilitate peer-to-peer sharing of lessons learned and promising practices through learning collaboratives and support collaboration between state systems, including Medicaid, aging, disability, and workforce agencies; service providers; and aging, disability, and labor stakeholders. Additional information is available on the ACL website.
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