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Tags Posts tagged with "OBRA Waiver"

OBRA Waiver

A Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for January 6, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. During this public meeting, there be a discussion on the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss the FMS program.

Please register using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: (631) 992-3221
Access Code: 335417876#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

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.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) will conduct a Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder webinar on October 7, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. This public meeting will be to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. Registration is required to participate in the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:

Dial in: (631) 992-3221
Access Code: 988871316#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

The next Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 2, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes.

Please register using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation containing information about joining the webinar.

If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: 562-247-8422
Access Code: 834499387#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

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This is a reminder that there is a Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting today, August 5, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm.

The purpose of this public meeting is to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes.

Please register using this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: 415-930-5321
Access Code: 264854023#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

The next Financial Management Services (FMS) Stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for August 5, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm.

This public meeting is being held to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 Programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations (CHC MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes.

Please register using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: (415) 930-5321
Access Code: 264854023#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced the next Financial Management Services (FMS) Stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 3, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. This public meeting will be held to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 Programs. Representatives from OLTL and CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes.

In order to participate, registration is required. Please register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:

Dial in: 562-247-8422
Access Code: 268096146#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

A Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for May 6, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. The purpose of this public meeting is to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations (CHC MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes.

Please register using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Those participating via phone, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: (562) 247-8422
Access Code: 214973439#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) recently issued a reminder for Service Coordination Entities (SCEs) regarding the annual review process in HCSIS for the Act 150 Program and OBRA Waiver. Included in this reminder are the procedures and instructions for entering these service plans in HCSIS beginning April 4, 2022. OLTL encourages SCEs to use this annual review process to review caseloads and finalize any dis-enrollments or inactive service plans. The Waiver/Program Transfer instructions are here for reference. Please also reference the “OLTL Fiscal Year 2022/23 Annual Review Instructions for HCSIS” for additional information on how file closures may impact the current Annual Review process.  

If you have any additional questions or wish to receive the above forms in alternate formats, please contact Brian Lester at (717) 346-0716 or via email.