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Tags Posts tagged with "LTSS"

LTSS

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ADvancing States, which represents the nation’s 56 state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities as well as long-term services and supports directors, has partnered with the Department of Health Policy and Management at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health to create a first-of-its-kind online training program to support our nation’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program workforce. The initial Foundational Leadership in HCBS: Building Expertise to Better Support People in their Homes and Communities certificate program launches in September 2025.

The core training sessions deliver essential curriculum covering HCBS systems, policies, and operations — everything participants need to enhance their effectiveness and advance policy advocacy in this critical sector. Fewer than 20 spots remain in the September pilot session, and there will be another session offered in January 2026. The course fee is $600 for government and non-profit employees and $1300 for corporate employees. Group registration opportunities are expected to be available for the January 2026 session.

Quick Registration Links:

The course is offered exclusively online and is self-paced so learners can set their own schedules, but the course will require the equivalent of about two hours per week for 10 weeks. Participants will learn more about populations utilizing LTSS, the organizations and individuals providing LTSS, and the varied sources of funding for LTSS, with a focus on HCBS, plus key policy areas, including the Older Americans Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and the processes by which individuals access services. Please view the Course Overview and Syllabus for additional details about course topics and learning objectives.

Sign up using the links above; for questions about the HCBS Certificate program, contact Annie Kimbrel via email.

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On July 14, the National MLTSS Health Plan Association submitted comments on the “Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable Population – Closing a Health Care-Related Tax Loophole” proposed rule. Per the Association:

This rule proposes to refine how CMS evaluates whether a health care-related tax is considered “generally redistributive.”

In our comments, we noted that we appreciate CMS’ efforts to strengthen the oversight and quality of Medicaid programs but raised concerns about the timelines and administrative burden on states, as well as the potential impact on individuals receiving long term-services and supports (LTSS).

The recommendations included:

  • Extending the transition period to three years for all states.
  • Providing clear implementation guidance and technical assistance to states.
  • Postponing finalization of the rule until further research and data analysis on provider-related taxes and impacts are conducted.

Read the full letter here.

In Pennsylvania, this rule would impact participants’ funding of approximately $1B in federal matching funds for HealthChoices, Community HealthChoices, and Behavioral HealthChoices. No immediate action is required. If you have any questions, contact Fady Sahhar.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) released the rate study that was commissioned last August after RCPA and other industry associations collaborated to access the information needed to establish rates for services.

For background purposes, HCBS are offered through Medicaid as an alternative to facility or institutional care. Reimbursement rates for these programs are set by DHS and are informed by an actuarial rate setting process and a public comment process. Long-term services and supports (LTSS) help older Pennsylvanians and adults with physical disabilities.

The rate study revealed the need for substantial and immediate rate increases for the services which were evaluated. The study concluded, “Given the comparisons to benchmark rates, it appears that revisions to the rates studied for this report would be appropriate. The tables below show detailed results from the benchmark rate comparison.” The specific rate gaps were:

  • Adult Day                                                                     19%
  • Employment and Training Services                             35%
  • Personal Assistance — Agency                                   23%
  • Personal Assistance — PDS                                       12%
  • Residential Habilitation                                                44%
  • Structured Day Habilitation                                          22%

Findings of the study are used to inform the Commonwealth’s budget and future rate setting processes. View the results here.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar or Melissa Dehoff.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that they will be presenting a six-session webinar series that will focus on housing issues. The live, interactive webinars will be conducted from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm in April and May and will focus on the following topics:

2024 OLTL Spring Housing Series Curriculum

  • April 2: Understanding Housing Nuances in Pennsylvania
  • April 9: Recommended Relationships to Have in the Housing Sector
  • April 16: Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant Issues with the Housing Equality Center of PA
  • April 23: OFF
  • April 30: Types of Housing Funding Sources
  • May 7: Keeping Participants Housed with Landlord Engagement Techniques AND Housing Information Resources to be Aware of
  • May 14: Assistive Technology and Housing with the PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF)

Target Audience

The webinar series targets Service Coordinators, Managed Care Organizations (MCO), and Service Coordination Entity support staff who assist program participants in securing and maintaining affordable, accessible housing through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The target audience for these webinars includes individuals and organizations who provide long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older Pennsylvanians and people with physical disabilities.

Important Information

The information covered in this webinar series will be similar to the information covered in the 2023 OLTL spring and fall housing webinars (except for an added session on assistive technology). Since the information is similar, if you attended the 2023 housing webinars, you do not need to attend this series unless you wish to refresh your knowledge on the topic, participate in a session that you missed, or participate in the new assistive technology session.

This webinar series builds on information already provided in the Online Housing Training Modules and the Self-Determination Housing of Pennsylvania (SDHP)/Inglis’ Prepared Renter Program (PREP) curriculum.

The content in each webinar builds on prior content. Participants will get the most out of the series by taking all of the webinars.

To participate in the webinars, registration is available here.

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Friendly nurse cares for an elderly woman in a nursing home.

ADvancing States has announced the release of a new issue brief “Person-Centered Approaches: Connecting Individuals to Services and Benefits.” Developed with support from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), this brief describes person-centered approaches, which are practices and techniques used by human services professionals to learn about an individual’s goals, needs, and preferences to live the life they desire and value. In aging and disability networks, person-centered conversations aid in the understanding of an individual’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs and preferences, resulting in improved access to services and benefits. Community-based organizations, including Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Area Agencies on Aging, and Benefit Enrollment Centers, can strengthen their connections and engagement with LTSS access systems through person-centered approaches and state efforts, such as No Wrong Door Systems. Additionally, the issue brief highlights states that have implemented promising person-centered approaches.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

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ADvancing States announced the release of a new issue brief “No Wrong Door (NWD) Systems: A Guide to Fundamentals and Engagement for Community Organizations.” Developed with support from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), this brief describes the fundamentals of the NWD System initiative in developing a one-stop resource hub and access point for long-term services and supports (LTSS) and benefits in states and territories, and the important roles community-based organizations (CBO) can serve in a NWD System. Additionally, the history of NWD and significant milestones, key elements of a coordinated NWD System, as well as CBO engagement in NWD Systems to facilitate access to services and benefits, are explained. As identified in the issue brief, states provide a range of opportunities for CBOs to connect with NWD Systems, from the inclusion of a CBO’s services in a NWD’s database to partnering with aging and disabilities network agencies and public outreach. The issue brief highlights NWD System development and state approaches to CBO partnerships in several states.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released two reports focused on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). The reports are the Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Annual Expenditures Report, Federal Fiscal Year 2020, and the Medicaid Section 1915 (c) Waiver Programs Annual Expenditures and Beneficiaries Report.

These reports provide information on the LTSS rebalancing trends and patterns in expenditures for different home and community-based services (HCBS) and institutional care, both nationally and across states.

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