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Tags Posts tagged with "Transportation Trip Services"

Transportation Trip Services

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

A message from ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens:

On February 3, 2021, pursuant to authority granted through an approved Appendix K, the Department announced temporary enhanced rates for Community Participation Supports and Transportation Trip services for services rendered January 1 through June 30, 2021. The end dates for the temporary rates were programmed in HCSIS consistent with the timeframe announced in the PA Bulletin; therefore, rates effective July 1, 2021 reverted to the previously published rates for these services.

In May 2021, CMS published SMD# 21-003 RE: Implementation of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Section 9817: Additional Support for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) during the COVID-19 Emergency. The SMD addresses requirements to receive the increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) rate for certain Medicaid expenditures for HCBS, including that federal funds attributable to the increased FMAP must be used to supplement existing state funds expended for Medicaid HCBS in effect as of April 1, 2021.

CMS has advised the Department that it must continue the temporary enhanced rates until the end of the approval of its Appendix K for the Commonwealth to receive the increased FMAP. Accordingly, subject to further CMS guidance, the enhanced rates will continue through the approval of the Appendix Ks. The Appendix Ks for the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), Community Living and Adult Autism Waivers are authorized for 6 months after the federal Public Health Emergency ends.

ODP anticipates that the temporary enhanced rates will be loaded in HCSIS during the week of August 1, 2021. Additional information for handling individual plan authorizations will be transmitted via an ODP communication prior to the rate load in HCSIS.

RCPA, along with the other ID/A Coalition members, requested that CMS require ODP to continue these enhanced rates, so we are pleased to share this news.

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A message from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP):

On February 3, 2021, the Department announced temporarily enhanced rates for Community Participation Supports and Transportation Trip services applied for services rendered January 1 through June 30, 2021. The end dates for the temporary rates were programmed in the Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) as per the timeframe published in the PA Bulletin; therefore, rates effective July 1, 2021 reverted to the previously published rates for these services.

In May 2021, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published SMD# 21-003 RE: Implementation of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Section 9817: Additional Support for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) during the COVID-19 Emergency. The requirements outlined in this SMD include the use of the federal funds attributable to the increased federal medical assistance percentage rate for certain Medicaid expenditures for HCBS to supplement existing state funds expended for Medicaid HCBS in effect as of April 1, 2021. The Department is meeting with CMS to discuss the impact this guidance has, if any, on the temporary enhanced rates.

Information will be shared with providers as soon as possible.

Thank you.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) is implementing temporary increases to the fee schedule rates for community participation support (CPS) and transportation trip services. These increases are being made due to impacts on service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary increases to existing fee schedule rates are retroactive to January 1, 2021. The temporary increases to the fee schedule rates will end on June 30, 2021.

These temporary increases to the rates will also apply to the department-established fees under 55 Pa. Code § 4300.115(a) (relating to department established fees) for base-funded services managed through county programs for individuals with an intellectual disability under the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966 (50 PS §§ 4101—4704); 55 Pa. Code Chapter 4300 (relating to county mental health). The temporary fee schedule rates will be loaded to PROMISeTM, and providers can begin billing the increased fee schedule rates on February 3, 2021.

The Home and Community Services Information System (HCSIS) will automatically be updated to include the new community participation support and transportation trip fee schedule rates, and 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.

The Office of Development Programs (ODP) will be publishing a notice of temporary fee schedule rates in the Pennsylvania Bulletin that includes instructions for submitting public comments.

ODP Announcement 21-017 includes the new fee schedule rates.

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