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Tags Posts tagged with "OBRA Waiver"

OBRA Waiver

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) recently released the Request for Information (RFI) to gather feedback regarding the implementation of Agency With Choice (AWC) services for the participants of Medical Assistance (MA) managed care programs, the 1915(c) MA home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program, and a state-funded program.

Through these programs, eligible participants receive long-term services and supports (LTSS) and other benefits, depending on the particular program. Specifically, this RFI seeks information to assist OLTL in determining how it may improve options for LTSS participants to self-direct their services in the Community HealthChoices Program (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and the state-funded Act 150 Attendant Care Program through the procurement and implementation of AWC.

Through this RFI, OLTL is seeking to become more aware of and knowledgeable about current efforts to increase opportunities for self-direction and feedback on the implementation of AWC through a potential, future procurement. OLTL encourages interested parties, including vendors and stakeholders, to provide feedback in response to this RFI or any part of it. An interested party may respond to all or any of the specific questions or topics included in this RFI.

RFI responses are due by12:00 pm on March 25, 2022. Responses must be submitted electronically with “OLTL Agency With Choice RFI” in the email subject line. While OLTL does not intend to respond to questions or clarifications during the RFI response period, interested parties and individuals may submit administrative questions related to this RFI electronically using “OLTL Agency With Choice” in the email subject line. OLTL may or may not respond based on the nature of the question.

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The next Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for April 1, 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 (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: 1 (415) 930-5321
Access Code: 847510418#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

A Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for March 4, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. This public meeting will include a discussion on the upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 Programs. Representatives from both the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) will be in attendance to discuss the upcoming changes.

Registration is required to participate. Once registered, participants 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) 247-8321
Access Code: 625418280#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

A Financial Management Services (FMS) Stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for February 18, 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 the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss these changes.

Those interested in participating should register prior to the meeting. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing information about joining the webinar.

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

Dial in: 1 (415) 930-5321
Access Code: 159291259#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar

This email is to provide notice of an FMS Stakeholder meeting scheduled for Friday, February 4, 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 and CHC Managed Care Organizations will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. Meeting details are below:

Friday, February 4, 2022
1:00 PM | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) | 1 hour 30 minutes

Join meeting

More ways to join:

Join from the meeting link:
https://pa-hhs.webex.com/pa-hhs/j.php?MTID=m875f603c23c0d55929713197aaab9643

Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 2631 989 4527
Meeting password: Stakeholder

Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-408-418-9388,,26319894527## United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110,,26319894527## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

Join by phone
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
Global call-in numbers

Join from a video system or application
Dial [email protected]

You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has updated the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medical Assistance (MA) Fee Schedule. The updates reflect the fee schedule rates for Personal Assistance Services (PAS) procedure codes W1793, W1793 TT, W1792, and W1792 TU in the referenced Pennsylvania Bulletin below.

The updated OLTL HCBS MA Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2022) may be found here. The new rates for the OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program were announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on November 6, 2021, in the Volume 51, Number 45 issue and can be found here.

Questions related to this update should be directed to the OLTL Provider Inquiry Line at 800-932-0939, option 2, Monday–Friday between 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm.

Effective January 1, 2022, there will be a rate increase in the OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program for Personal Assistance Services (PAS) procedure codes W1793, W1793 TT, W1792, and W1792 TU. The new rates for the OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program were announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on November 6, 2021, Volume 51, Number 45 issue and can be found on the Pennsylvania Bulletin website.

New rates are based on the participant’s county of residence. Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) service plans will be updated by December 31, 2021. SCs do not need to make any service plan updates for this rate change, as an HCSIS system-wide update is being deployed to make the necessary service data rate updates onto the impacted service plans.

A chart listing the OBRA Waiver and the Act 150 Program counties, categorized by fiscal region, is located here. If you have any questions related to this email, please contact the OLTL Provider Inquiry Line at 1-800-932-0939, OPTION 2, Monday–Friday from 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm.

A Financial Management Services (FMS) Stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for December 3, 2021 from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. The purpose of this public meeting will be to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under Community HealthChoices (CHC), the OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living and CHC Managed Care Organizations will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. The meeting agenda is outlined here. Meeting details are below:

Meeting Link

Meeting Number:
Meeting Number (Access Code): 2634 089 4999
Meeting Password: Stakeholder

From a Mobile Device (attendees only):
+1-408-418-9388,,26340894999## United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110,,26340894999## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

By Phone:
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

By Video System or Application:
Dial [email protected]
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) published a notice in the November 6, 2021 Pennsylvania Bulletin that announces a change in the fee schedule rates in the OBRA waiver and the Act 150 Program for Personal Assistance Services (PAS) procedure codes W1793, W1793 TT, W1792, and W1792 TU. Comments on these changes to the fee schedule rates will be accepted and should be sent to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025.

Comments can also be sent virtually. The public comment period ends on December 6, 2021. Comments received within the 30-day comment period will be considered in subsequent revisions to the fee schedule.

Message from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL):

This communication is a reminder that the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is allowed to continue available temporary changes to the CHC waiver, OBRA waiver, and the Act 150 Program under Appendix K, Emergency Preparedness and Response, until six months after the end of the federal public health emergency related to COVID-19.

On October 15, 2021, the federal public health emergency was extended by 90 days; however, it’s possible the federal government will decide to extend the emergency further. Please visit this public health emergency website to see the current and future public health emergency declarations related to COVID-19. OLTL will issue guidance in the future when the Appendix K flexibilities are closer to expiring.

For further information on the available OLTL Appendix K flexibilities, please visit the OLTL Resources page. If you have questions about the information, please contact the OLTL Provider Helpline at 1-800-932-0939.