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Policy Areas

ODP Announcement 22-114 reports that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) contracts with Temple University Harrisburg to deliver the ODP Certified Investigator Program. ODP and Temple University are conducting Certified Investigator Friday Forums. These forums are an opportunity for current Certified Investigators and other interested parties to receive up-to-date information about the incident investigation process. See the announcement for full details.

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Power up your December with the Self Advocacy Power Network for All (SAPNA)!

SAPNA is a project of the PA Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), managed by Self Advocates United as 1 (SAU1). See the flyer for info on December events. Each item below is linked to the event, or you can join from the SAU1 Events Calendar.


Friday, December 2, 2022
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Let’s Talk About Your Vision for YOUR Everyday Life

  • What do YOU want in your life?
  • How do you make it happen?
  • Who can help?
  • Learn how to plan for, and get, the life YOU want!

Monday, December 5, 2022
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Let’s Speak Up!

  • Do you know your rights?
  • Are you getting what you want and need?
  • Join us to learn all about speaking up.
  • Tell us ways YOU speak up!

Monday, December 12
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
All About Jobs!

  • Your rights
  • Planning to work
  • Finding a job
  • Keeping your job
  • Workplace accommodations
  • ODP-funded supports
  • Other supports
  • Work and your benefits

Friday, December 16
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Power Talk With ODP!

  • Join us to talk about services, issues, and COVID.
  • Get the answers you need to speak up, and live your life, your way.
  • Call or email us by December 1 with your questions and comments,, and we will share them with ODP!

Date: November 16, 2022
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm EST

The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule was made effective on March 17, 2014. The settings rule set specific requirements for settings presumed to have institutional characteristics, including settings in institutions, settings on the grounds of or adjacent to a public institution, and settings that have qualities that isolate Medicaid beneficiaries. Referred to as “presumptively institutional settings,” states are required to assess these settings and, where the state has determined that the setting overcomes the institutional presumption and the setting complies or will comply with the settings rule by March 17, 2023, submit to CMS documentation that demonstrates the setting’s compliance. CMS has launched a series of heightened scrutiny site visits to presumptively institutional settings in states. This training will cover:

  • An overview of CMS’ heightened scrutiny site visit process;
  • Overarching themes identified during CMS’ heightened scrutiny site visits; and
  • Considerations for states moving forward.

Following the presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to share any questions, comments, experiences, or suggestions with CMS and the presenter.

Please register for this webinar here.
Conference Line: 844-875-7777; Access Code: 715810#

Please note that closed captioning will be provided.

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.