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Tags Posts tagged with "community healthchoices"

community healthchoices

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The Pennsylvania Departments of Aging and Human Services recently announced an agreement with Aging Well (a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging or P4A that represents all Area Agencies on Aging) to partner on the implementation of Community HealthChoices (CHC).

Under this new agreement, Aging Well will have the following responsibilities:

  • Complete the Functional Eligibility Determinations (FEDs) (via subcontracts with AAAs). Aging Well will conduct the FEDs for participants seeking eligibility for long-term services and supports. Aging Well will also perform the annual in-person re-determinations for people over the age of 60. While FEDs currently need to be completed for individuals applying for the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) waivers, ACT 150 program, Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE), and nursing facility coverage, as the commonwealth begins its implementation of Community HealthChoices, Aging Well will continue to fulfill this role. In addition, as the commonwealth transitions from the existing assessment tool (the Level of Care Determination) to the FED, Aging Well will continue to actively support and facilitate this conversion.
  • Conduct Pennsylvania Preadmission Screening Resident Review Evaluation (PASRR-EV Level II Tool) (via subcontracts with AAAs). Aging Well will conduct the screening for individuals with a mental illness, intellectual disability or related condition, who are seeking admission to Medicaid certified nursing facilities regardless of payer source. These individuals must have the PASRR process completed prior to admission to the nursing facility.
  • Annual re-determinations (via subcontracts with AAAs). Prior to the implementation of CHC, Aging Well will conduct an annual in-person re-assessment within 10 business days of request by a service coordinating entity for all Aging Waiver participants. After the implementation of CHC, Aging Well will review FED assessment data collected by the managed care organizations for all CHC waiver participants in order to confirm annual redeterminations of level of care have been properly conducted. This will be completed as a desk review.
  • Conduct CHC outreach and education activities statewide (via partnerships with AAAs, nursing facilities, and community-based organizations). Aging Well will begin outreach and education activities in July 2017 for the rollout of Phase 1. These activities include 20 public information sessions and training of service coordinators and nursing facility staff.

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Webinar and FAQ Available on Home and Community-Based Settings (HCBS) Requirements

On March 7, 2017 and March 9, 2017, the Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) held webinar presentations on the Home and Community-Based Settings (HCBS) Requirements as described in OLTL Bulletin 59-16-14. This training was to provide guidance on the HCBS Final Rule and provide steps providers of waiver services must take in order to comply with the rule. A recording of this training, the powerpoint presentation, and an FAQ from these training sessions are now available on the DHS website.

Questions on the HCBS Final Rule should be sent via email.  For questions, call 717-783-8412.

A listserv has been established for ongoing updates on the CHC program. It is titled OLTL-COMMUNITY-HEALTHCHOICES, please visit the ListServ Archives page to update or register your email address.

Please share this email with other members of your organization as appropriate. Also, it is imperative that you notify the Office of Long-Term Living for changes that would affect your provider file, such as addresses and telephone numbers. Mail to/pay to addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers may be updated electronically through ePEAP, which can be accessed through the PROMISe™ provider portal. For any other provider file changes please notify the Bureau of Quality and Provider Management Enrollment and Certification Section at 800-932-0939 Option #1.

To ensure you receive email communications distributed from the Office of Long-Term Living, please visit the ListServ Archives page to update or register your email address.

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Join MITC and RCPA on Thursday, June 1, 2017, 10:30 am–12:00 pm, at Penn Grant Centre (RCPA) for a special presentation on Workforce Management Priorities for Physical Disabilities and Aging (PD&A) Division members. This registration was previously an in-person meeting, but is now also available by webcast. We look forward to your participation. Register now to join in on this educational and networking event.

Following this presentation, the Physical Disabilities & Aging Division will meet at 1:00 pm. Deputy Secretary Jen Burnett and other Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) representatives will be in attendance to discuss Community HealthChoices (CHC) and provide other OLTL updates. Also attending will be Josh Sloop, President, Government Programs, PA Health and Wellness, presenting on rebalancing strategies and the importance to CHC success. Register here for the PD&A Division meeting.

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Today Governor Wolf announced that the departments of Human Services (DHS) and Community and Economic Development (DCED) are now accepting applications for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) loan program.

The loans are intended to support long-term care providers as they position themselves to successfully transition to managed care in Community HealthChoices, Governor Tom Wolf’s plan to improve the quality of care for seniors and individuals with disabilities through managed long-term services and supports.

“HCBS will allow seniors and individuals living with disabilities to transition from living in long-term care facilities to residing in the community, ensuring that people have choices about where they live and receive services,” Governor Wolf said. “My administration is committed to serving more people in the community – where they want to live.”

It’s expected that loans – for startups, reconfiguration, or expansion – will range from $50,000 to $200,000.

“These loans will support projects that help the Commonwealth to improve the quality of care for seniors and people with disabilities by building infrastructure so individuals will have more choices available to them,” DHS Secretary Ted Dallas said. “Through these funds, individuals will be served in the right setting with the proper amount of services and supports to help all Pennsylvanians live full, independent lives on their own terms.”

DHS can receive loan applications at any time of the year and will process them on a first-come, first-served basis. DCED will then work with DHS to process the loans.

“The collaborative effort necessary to launch this program is a demonstration of our commitment to Governor Wolf’s government that works initiative for a common goal of creating a better Pennsylvania,” said DCED Secretary Dennis Davin, “DCED is proud to be a part of such an important program.”

Visit here for more information on the HCBS loan program, or here (PDF) for the loan application.

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Today the Wolf Administration issued a document entitled Understanding Community HealthChoices vs HealthChoices to explain the similarities and differences between the two programs.

Community HealthChoices (CHC) is a new initiative that will increase opportunities for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with physical disabilities to remain in their homes. HealthChoices is Pennsylvania’s mandatory managed care program for 2.2 million Medical Assistance participants.

CHC was developed to: (1) enhance access to and improve coordination of medical care and; (2) create a person-driven, long-term support system in which people have choice, control, and access to a full array of quality services that provide independence, health, and quality of life. Long-Term Services and Supports help eligible individuals to perform daily activities in their homes such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and administering medications.

The document describes eligibility, timelines for implementation, and the CHC managed care organizations that will operate in each zone beginning in January, 2018.

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Late on Friday, October 28, the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) released a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for an Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) to manage the enrollment processes for all OLTL programs. The RFP includes enrollments for Community Health Choices when implemented, Home and Community-based Services Waivers, the Act 150 program, and the LIFE program. Comments are due no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, November 21, 2016, and should be submitted via email by using the drop down menus within the comment template.

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DHS and PDA Invite Brain Injury Providers to Meet With MCOs Interested in Community HealthChoices

The Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Aging are continuing to develop Community HealthChoices (CHC), Pennsylvania’s plan for managed long-term services and supports. The success of CHC will be determined by a number of factors, including the relationships between future managed care organizations (MCOs) and existing providers. It is extremely important to continue the conversation with MCOs and Pennsylvania’s experienced providers, to successfully transform the fee-for-service system to managed care.

An invitation has been extended to RCPA’s Brain Injury Committee members to participate in an upcoming MCO meet and greet session, exclusively for brain injury providers. As a part of this invitation, we were asked to establish a panel and presentation, as well as participate in a facilitated discussion with the MCOs. Because of the importance of this meeting, please plan on sending at least one representative from your organization to this event. We have also been asked to submit questions we may have for the MCOs prior to the meeting date.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 14 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North 2nd Street. This will be a working lunch meeting (boxed lunches will be provided to registered attendees). Registration/RSVP is required.

Please respond to Melissa Dehoff if you will be attending. Responses are due no later than Monday, January 11, so the list of attendees can be provided prior to the meeting and the appropriate number of lunches ordered.

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Today, the Departments of Human Services and Aging announced the release of the draft of the request for proposal (RFP) to procure Community HealthChoices (CHC) and the program requirements that will be part of the agreement with the managed care organizations (MCOs).

The draft RFP, program requirements, and a summary document are available on the CHC website. Comments on the draft RFP should be sent via email (with “Community HealthChoices” in the subject line) by Friday, December 11, 2015.

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The Departments of Human Services and Aging have extended an invitation for Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and Home and Community-based Service (HCBS) providers to convene to discuss Community HealthChoices (CHC). The purpose of the meeting is to begin the conversation between the MCOs and providers, as the transition from fee-for-service to managed care begins.

The meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2015, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Radisson Hotel located at 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

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