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Application

The Division of Licensing Administration has created tutorials to assist with the electronic payment of application, certificate, fines, and appeals fees. A different tutorial has been designed for each program office and payment type. The tutorials give step-by-step instructions for completing the payment of fees for each office.

A new applicant tutorial has also been created. This tutorial will give applicants step-by-step instructions to complete and submit the Application for a Certificate of Compliance (HS633) to become a licensed provider of a human services setting. The HS633 has been revised, and the updated version is available here.

The following tutorials can be accessed on the Application for Human Services License website as well as viewed below:

The Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence has announced the Vamos por Más Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Empowerment and Leadership Academy 2024–2025. This innovative 12-month program aims to select up to 10 behavioral health services personnel from community-based organizations serving Hispanic and Latino populations. Participants will have the opportunity to access mentorship and leadership skill-development sessions, focusing on various behavioral health-related topics. These include fostering culturally responsive leadership, driving system changes to enhance the well-being of Latino communities, and strengthening advocacy skills for Hispanic and Latino populations. Additionally, the program emphasizes building cross-sector partnerships between communities and behavioral health systems. Healthcare providers, including those in substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery, are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity.

Applications can be submitted here. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2024.

The Department of Human Services (Department) is making available for public review and comment the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) proposed application for a section 1915(b)(4) waiver for a selective contracting program as well as amendments to the Consolidated and Community Living waivers required to implement selective contracting for Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living services. The selective contracting program will be referred to as Performance-Based Contracting.

The Department is also making available for public review and comment additional proposed amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), and Adult Autism Waivers that are not related to implementation of selective contracting. Changes are proposed to become effective on January 1, 2025.

When performance-based contracting is implemented, all currently enrolled residential providers will have the opportunity to enter into a performance-based contract with ODP. To help support providers with the new requirements and process, ODP will hold provider trainings so that providers have a clear understanding of the process and expectations. As part of this process, providers will submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the performance areas identified by ODP. Additionally, ODP will use data from participant experience surveys, claims, incident management, health risk screening, administrative entities, and a new Performance Analysis Services vendor to evaluate each provider’s performance against the established standards and determine the tier in which the provider will be placed.

Providers will be placed in one of the following tiers based on their performance:

  • Conditional for providers operating under provisional or revoked licenses;
  • Primary for providers that meet current standards and a few additional standards;
  • Select for providers that deliver at least two of the three residential services in the performance-based contracting model and meet enhanced measures; or
  • Clinically Enhanced for providers that offer clinically enhanced medical or behavioral supports and meet enhanced measures.

The Department proposes the following substantive amendments to the Consolidated and Community Living waivers that will support the implementation of performance-based contracting, effective January 1, 2025:

  • Allow for the Department to contract with a Performance Analysis Services vendor that will provide administrative support with data collection, analysis, and reporting functions;
  • Require residential service providers to sign a residential provider agreement, which requires providers to comply with performance standards and reporting requirements outlined in the agreement and ODP policy; and
  • Implement pay-for-performance supplemental payments for residential service providers that meet or exceed performance targets for staff credentialing, employment of individuals served, transition of individuals to Life Sharing or Supported Living services, and reporting on use of technology.

Supplemental payments will be calculated for residential providers meeting or exceeding performance standards as a one-time or combined payment up to 3% of ODP-eligible service revenue from the applicable review period or established payment amount per qualifying event. Providers that have been determined to be a Primary, Select, or Clinically Enhanced provider are eligible to receive the supplemental payments.

  • Pay Licensed Residential Habilitation, Unlicensed Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living providers that meet the requirements to qualify as a select provider or a Clinically Enhanced residential provider a payment that is in addition to the Medical Assistance fee schedule rate. Select providers will receive a rate add-on of 5% per individual served, and Clinically Enhanced providers will receive a rate add-on of 8%.

Other proposed amendments unrelated to Performance-Based Contracting include:

  • Assuring effective communication for individuals who use American Sign Language through implementation of a new American Sign Language — English Interpreter service. Services will be reimbursed as a vendor service based on the cost that the provider charges to the general public.
  • Promoting health, wellness, and safety by clarifying that individuals who receive services in an acute care hospital will not be disenrolled from the waiver.
  • Supporting the quality of Assistive Technology provided by expanding the qualification requirements for a professional who can complete an evaluation of an individual’s need for Assistive Technology and clarifying that evaluations can be completed for technology costing less than $750 if the service plan team believes it will be beneficial.
  • Increasing community participation and employment by requiring providers of Community Participation Support and Day Habilitation services to annually complete an analysis of each individual’s interests, preferences, skills, and strengths that support the individual’s participation in employment or other community activities.
  • Including revisions to align waiver requirements with regulatory requirements, correct errors, and provide clarification requested by stakeholders.
  • Increasing employment of individuals by allowing indirect activities to be billed through the Benefits Counseling service and improving access to Benefits Counseling for individuals who are not eligible for the Federal Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program.

The Department proposes the following substantive amendments to the Adult Autism Waiver that are not related to implementation of performance-based contracting effective January 1, 2025:

  • Support the quality of Residential Habilitation, Community Home, and Life Sharing services, through alignment of provider qualifications with the qualifications included in the Consolidated and Community Living waivers.
  • Promote health, wellness, and safety by clarifying that Residential Habilitation providers must have a licensed nurse available if the provider serves individuals with needs that require care by a licensed nurse.
  • Promote self-direction, choice, and control by clarifying that Community Transition Services can be used to support individuals transitioning from settings such as Residential Habilitation to private residences in alignment with guidance in the CMS instructions, technical guide, and review criteria for 1915(c) waivers.

View Performance-Based Contracting Information:

View Proposed Changes to the Waivers, Including Changes Not Related to Performance-Based Contracting:

Comments received within 45 days of publication of this notice will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the proposed application for a section 1915(b)(4) waiver as well as proposed amendments to the waivers. Comments should be addressed to Julie Mochon, Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs, 625 Forster Street, Room 510, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments may also be submitted to the Department via email using the subject header ”Waiver Comments.”

RCPA will be scheduling a meeting for members to develop comments in response to these proposed amendments. Please contact Carol Ferenz with any questions.

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RCPA’s 2024/25 membership year begins July 1, and this week marks the beginning of our membership renewal period. You can download the membership applications directly from the RCPA website on our Join/Renew page. Dues are owed by July 1, 2024.

Please contact Tieanna Lloyd at (717) 963-3609 or via email with any questions, and thank you for your continued support of the association. We look forward to working with you during the 2024/25 membership year!

The U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to announce a notice inviting applications on April 5, 2023, for the Disability Innovation Fund Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project (Pathways to Partnerships), Assistance Listing Number 84.421E. The application deadline is June 5, 2023.

The Pathways to Partnership program is the largest discretionary grant administered by RSA, with an estimated $224 million available to fund multiple innovative model demonstration projects administered through partnerships among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, state or local education agencies, and centers for independent living focused on the creation of systemic approaches to improve access to pre-employment transition services for children and youth with disabilities.

As children and youth with disabilities move through the school system, many do not have exposure to self-advocacy training, careers, and independent living opportunities. This historical funding opportunity advances a key goal of the Biden-Harris Administration to pave a clear and robust path to independent living and competitive integrated employment as children and youth with disabilities transition from high school to postsecondary endeavors.


The Notice Inviting Applications and additional information, including the Application Package, can be found at the following resources:

  • RSA website (link to the Federal Register Notice and additional information)
  • NCRTM: OSERS will conduct a pre-application meeting specific to this competition on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET to respond to questions. More details are forthcoming. Please continue to check for more information.
    The teleconference information, including the 84.421E pre-application meeting summary of the questions and answers, will be available within six business days after the pre-application meeting.
  • GRANTS Government website (link to application package)
  • QUESTIONS: OSERS invites you to send questions via email in advance of the pre-application meeting.

The Office of Financial Resources at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be conducting a webinar on how to develop a competitive grant application. The same webinar will be offered on two dates: February 23, 2023, and March 7, 2023, both at 2:00 pm (ET).

Webinar: How to Develop a Competitive Grant Application

The webinar will address:

  • The three registration processes that need to be completed;
  • Preparing to apply for a grant;
  • Key components of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO);
  • Responding effectively to the evaluation criteria; and
  • Resources and technical assistance that are available.

Information on how to access the webinar can be found on the Training Events web page. There is no need to register in advance. If you would like to receive the slides prior to the webinar, you can make a request electronically.