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Tags Posts tagged with "Open for Public Comment"

Open for Public Comment

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Open for Public Comment: Proposed Amendments and Fee Schedule Rates for Services Impacted by Waiver Amendments

ODP Announcement 21-072 was distributed by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) today. The purpose of this communication is to announce that the proposed amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), and Adult Autism (AAW) Waivers are available for public review and comment. ODP is also making available for public review and comment the rate setting methodology and proposed Fee Schedule Rates for services in the Waivers that are impacted by the proposed amendments.

Information regarding the proposed waiver amendment changes, including how to provide comments, can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, Volume 51, Number 42, published on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The waiver amendments, the side-by-side documents, and the assumption logs used to develop the Fee Schedule Rates are available.

There is a 30-day public comment period that starts on October 16, 2021, and ends on November 15, 2021. 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 ODP using subject header ”Waiver Amendment Comments.”

This ODP Announcement also includes links to register for three webinars that ODP will hold to receive comments on the proposed Waiver amendments: two webinars for the Consolidated, P/FDS, and Community Living Waivers, and one for the Adult Autism Waiver.

RCPA will be scheduling a member meeting to prepare comments to submit. If you are interested in participating, please contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA Director, IDD Division.

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ODP Announcement 21-053 announces the opportunity for public comment on the draft Room and Board Bulletin. The public comment period is open for 30 days from July 13, 2021 until August 13, 2021.

Under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 6100, room and board agreements:

  • Ensure that individuals have access to essential items such as food, cleaning products, toiletries, towels, bedding, access to a telephone and internet, etc.;
  • Are required whenever an individual receives the Residential Habilitation or Life Sharing Service through base funding, the Consolidated Waver, the Community Living Waiver, or the Adult Autism Waiver;
  • Are not required when an individual receives the Life Sharing service in a home that the individual owns or leases; and
  • Are not required when an individual receives Supported Living service since the individual owns or leases the home.

This bulletin was drafted to provide clarification on policies and procedures to providers for collecting and calculating room and board, provider responsibilities covered under room and board, and instructions on how to complete the Room and Board Residency Agreement.

COMMENTS: Interested stakeholders are invited to review and make comments on the proposed Room and Board Bulletin as outlined below. Comments received by 11:59 pm on August 13, 2021 will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the bulletin.

Comments submitted in writing should be addressed to:
Denise Adams-Moore,
Department of Human Services,
Office of Developmental Programs,
625 Forster Street, Room 510,
Harrisburg, PA 17120.

Comments submitted through email should be sent to ODP using subject header “Room and Board Bulletin Public Comment.”

There will be two webinars offered to provide an overview of the bulletin, answer questions, and provide an opportunity for participants to provide verbal comment. ODP encourages you to sign up for only one session that is most appropriate for your role, as there are limited spaces. These sessions will be recorded and posted on MyODP.

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ODP Announcement 21-040 shares that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is seeking your valuable feedback and comments on Appendices I and J of the renewal of the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW), as well as the proposed Fee Schedule Rates, the proposed Department-established Fees for residential ineligible services, and the rate setting methodology.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approves waivers for a five-year period. The current AAW expires on June 30, 2021; however, CMS has granted ODP a 90-day extension on the currently approved AAW through September 28, 2021. The renewal of the AAW, as well as the final rates, will be effective September 29, 2021.

The following substantive changes are proposed to Appendices I and J:

  • Homemaker/Chore will be added as an AAW service and has been added to the services for which there will be a Medical Assistance Fee Schedule rate effective September 29, 2021.
  • The factors related to estimated annual average per capita Medicaid costs in Appendix J have been updated to reflect the most recent data available. These factors are Factor D’ Derivation, Factor G Derivation, and Factor G’ Derivation.
  • The 5-year average cost per unit of service estimates in Appendix J have been updated to reflect the proposed Fee Schedule Rates contained in the public notice.

A public notice regarding these proposed changes can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, Volume 51, Number 21, published on Saturday, May 22, 2021. Appendices I and J, the proposed Fee Schedule Rates, the proposed Department Established Fees, and the assumption logs used to develop the rates and fees are available on the DHS website.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding Appendices I and J of the AAW as well as the proposed rates. Comments should be addressed to Laura Cipriani, Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs, 625 Forster Street, Room 510, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments may also be submitted to ODP. Use the subject header “AAW Rates.” Comments received by 11:59 pm on June 21, 2021 will be reviewed and considered for revisions.

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ODP Announcement 21-030 provides notice of the public comment period for the temporary increases to the Fee Schedule Rates for Community Participation Support (CPS) services and Transportation Trip services effective January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021. Public comment will be accepted on these changes until 11:59 pm on May 3, 2021.

On February 3, 2021, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) announced the implementation of temporary increases to Fee Schedule Rates to CPS and Transportation Trip services (see ODP Announcement 21-017). This announcement also indicated that a notice would be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and include instructions for public comment on the temporary rate increases. On April 3, 2021, the notice was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin Volume 51, Number 14, marking the start of public comment period. The title of this notice is Temporary Fee Schedule Rates for Community Participation Support and Transportation Trip Services Funded Through the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support and Adult Autism Waivers and the Community Intellectual Disability Base-Funded Program. You may obtain the notice by visiting here.

The increases to the rates for these services are being made due to impacts on service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary Fee Schedule Rates have been loaded to PROMISE, and providers have been able to bill the increased Fee Schedule Rates starting February 3, 2021. The Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) was automatically updated to include the new CPS and Transportation Trip Fee Schedule Rates. Critical revisions to Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will not be necessary to implement the change to the Fee Schedule Rates. Providers should review service authorizations to confirm that they are billing the increased Fee Schedule Rate.

Comments on these temporary increases may be submitted until 11:59 pm on May 3, 2021. Comments received within 30 days of publication of this notice will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the rates. Written comments should be addressed to the Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs, Division of Provider Assistance and Rate Setting, 4th Floor, Health and Welfare Building, 625 Forster Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments may also be sent via email. Use subject header ”PN COVID Fee Schedule.”

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