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Tags Posts tagged with "PAS"

PAS

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On February 28, 2026, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) published a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin announcing a change in the fee schedule rates in the OBRA Waiver and the Act 150 Program for Participant-Directed Personal Assistance Services (PAS) procedure codes W1792 and W1792 TU. This fee schedule rate change is effective January 1, 2026. A revised fee schedule is available here.

Written comments regarding these fee schedule rates can 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 submitted via email. Comments received within the 30-day comment period will be considered in subsequent revisions to the fee schedule.

OLTL previously issued a listserv on December 19, 2025, confirming the Fiscal Year 2025/26 budget, signed into law on November 12, 2025, which included a $21 million investment to strengthen the workforce through increased wages for direct care workers (DCW) providing services in the Participant-Directed model for OLTL Fee-for-Service programs.

To support the January 1, 2026, effective date, OLTL updated the PROMISe™ system and the Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) with the revised rates. Service Coordinators (SC) did not need to make any service plan updates for the rate change, as a HCSIS system-wide update was implemented to make the necessary service data rate updates to the affected service plans.

SCs are encouraged to reach out to OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program participants that utilize Participant-Directed PAS to ensure they are aware of the rate change and that their DCWs may receive increases in their pay rates.

SCs may also receive specific questions from OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program participants that utilize Participant-Directed PAS supported by Financial Management Services (FMS) through the FMS vendor Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL). SCs should refer participants to the PPL Customer Service hotline at 877-908-1750 for specific questions about how the rate increase in the OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program will impact the pay of their DCWs.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released the agenda and call information for the March 11, 2026, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting. This meeting will be held via webinar/remote streaming only from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Some of the agenda topics include an update from OLTL, presentations from the Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations (CHC-MCO) on assisted living in lieu of services option, and personal assistance services (PAS) reductions and time allocated to public comments.

Comments and questions for this meeting should be sent via email.

The conference line for the meeting is:
Bridge Number: 1 (562) 247-8321 PIN: 132-269-143#

For additional information about this meeting, visit the LTSS Subcommittee website.

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A performance-based contracting (PBC) forum is being provided on September 10, 2025, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, to support provider preparedness. This forum aimed at residential providers. Register here to attend.

Topics of discussion include:

  • Updates to measures;
  • Introducing the new Performance Analysis Services (PAS) data submission tool;
  • Technical assistance; and
  • Provider performance review data.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared communication ODPANN 25-036. This announcement is to inform stakeholders that the contract for Performance Analysis Services (PAS) associated with PBC has been awarded.

Effective April 1, 2025, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has executed a competitively procured contract with Deloitte for PAS. The PAS vendor will assist ODP with the following primary functions related to the implementation of PBC:

  • Collect, aggregate, and analyze data and documentation;
  • Create dashboards;
  • Generate reports; and
  • Implement an information system to support the administration of the 1915(b)(4) waiver for residential and supports coordination services for the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS) waivers.

The PAS vendor will support the collection and analysis of data relevant to Pay for Performance (P4P) initiatives associated with PBC. Additionally, systems level data on performance measures will be reported to the Provider Performance Review Subcommittee of the Information Sharing and Information Committee (ISAC).

Please view the announcement for additional information and details.

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The Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) met today and discussed several items of interest. Deputy Secretary Ahrens provided an update on the budget and Performance-Based Contracting, including changes made to the program based on public comment. The Deputy Secretary reported that more than 95% of current residential providers have signed a new contract, and a small number have submitted their data to be evaluated for a tier assignment in the first submission period. The majority of providers appear to be waiting until February 2025 to submit data for tier assignments.

UPDATE: The PowerPoint presentation is now available and can be viewed here.

ODP is still in the procurement process of finding a Performance Analysis Service (PAS) provider.  Madeline Wagner has joined the ODP staff as the PBC Measure Coordinator and began in July. The Supports Coordinator Strategic Thinking Group is planning to reconvene on September 11, 2024.

ODP staff provided updates on the strategies that are being utilized to work toward ISAC recommendations. Recommendation #2, Promote Self-Direction, Choice & Control, and Recommendation #14, Racial Equity were reviewed.

Recommendation #1, Assure Effective Communication, and also Recommendation #8, Simplify the System, were also discussed.

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The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) has a new resource for health care providers that explains how to write a strong letter of medical necessity when requesting Personal Assistance Services (PAS).

The brochure includes some sample language that may be useful in describing your medial opinion. The guide outlines seven key steps:

  1. Introduce Yourself and Why You’re Writing
  2. Describe Your Patient
  3. Explain WHY the Requested PAS Hours Are Medically Necessary
  4. Expand on Your Opinion With Helpful Details
  5. Restate Your Conclusion
  6. Proofread
  7. Sign, Date, & Deliver

Read PHLP’s Guide for Physicians

Read PHLP’s Sample Letter of Medical Necessity

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