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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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With the passing of the FY 2024/25 PA budget last week, intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism (ID/A) associations are attempting to obtain clarity regarding its impact on services. The Governor’s Office announced, however, that the scheduled meeting to review these impacts has been postponed in order to allow the Department of Human Services (DHS) more time to analyze the details of the budget. The Governor’s Office shared the following message:

The Commonwealth’s enacted FY24-25 budget includes a philosophical shift in how Pennsylvania approaches service delivery for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism – a much needed and overdue course change to invest in dignity and opportunity for this community. In February, Governor Shapiro announced the intent to tackle the waiting list for services with a new approach, the Multi-Year ODP Program Growth Strategy. Accompanying this structural change is a substantial investment in services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism totaling $354.8M combined state and federal funds – an investment that supports providers, direct support professionals, and families who help make our vision of Everyday Lives a reality.

Included in the total funding is $280M in federal and state funds, which averages 7 percent rate increases for FY24-25. DHS is continuing the analysis of the funds appropriated for FY24-25 for ID/A services and how this will reflect in final rates that will take effect for FY24-25. Also included is an investment of $74.8M in combined federal and state funds for FY24-25 to put the commonwealth on a path to end the emergency waiting list by offering 1,500 adults enrollment in the Consolidated or Community Living Waivers and altering the management of home and community-based services capacity.

In addition to rate increases, the enacted budget includes funding for the implementation of performance-based contracting and the addition of sign language interpretation services. Performance-based contracting is scheduled to be implemented for residential services beginning in FY24-25. Sign language services will be added to ODP’s home and community-based waivers beginning January 1, 2025, pending approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

We know there is great interest to further discuss the impact of the enacted budget on your programs and services. DHS will provide additional information to stakeholders related to the necessary recalculation for the fee schedule rates for FY24-25 and performance-based contracting upon completion of the analysis.

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Happy Summer! Please share these important workshops and Good Life Groups with your network! Register for upcoming events at the PA Family Network website.                 

Support Groups     

LifeCourse Workshops

Waiver Workshops

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HARRISBURG, PA (July 12, 2024) – Intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) advocates and providers are calling the final 2024/25 Pennsylvania budget a “strong step forward” that will “change so many lives for the better.” The approved budget includes additional funding for increased rates and more capacity to serve the waiting list. As Gov. Josh Shapiro noted last night in his final budget remarks, “The ID/A community was finally heard in these halls of power.”

“I am grateful for the partnership and collaboration with Pennsylvania Advocates and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities (PAR), The Provider Alliance, MAX Association, The Alliance of Community Service Providers, The Arc of Pennsylvania, and RCPA,” said Richard Edley, PhD, CEO and President of Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA). “It was this unique and unified advocacy that has led to this important step forward in the administration’s multi-year growth strategy. Thank you, Governor Shapiro, and the House and Senate, for listening. We look forward to our continued work together.”

View the full press release here.

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ODP Announcement 24-068 is to remind trainers and learners about changes in the Medication Administration (MA) Training course and possible impacts of those changes:

  1. Written Documentation – Part 1: Pharmacy Label/Medication Record Comparison (Exam)
  2. Lesson Quizzes (1 through 9)

New Trainer and Recertification Face-to-Face classes have been added to the July schedule, and additional Summer and Fall classes will be announced soon. If you have any issues with registering, please submit a ticket electronically.

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On July 11, 2024, Governor Shapiro signed a bipartisan 2024/25 budget that invests in a range of fields, from health care to public transportation to education. The details of the budget are available in the Governor’s Press Release, which highlights each field and dollar amounts signed. In particular, the budget addresses:

  • Supporting PA’s ID/A community and Direct Support Professionals (DSP);
  • Investing in gun violence prevention;
  • Increased funding for nursing homes and the Aging Our Way plan;
  • Combatting maternal mortality; and
  • Further investments in mental health.

RCPA Policy Staff will be reviewing the budget in great detail over the next few days. We plan to reach out to our members with updates and key information as more becomes available and analyzed. If you have any questions regarding the budget, please reach out to your Policy Director.

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