New Federal Regulations for Medicaid HCBS Now in Effect; OLTL Seeking Public Input on Transition Plan

Friends –

New federal regulations are now in effect that require Pennsylvania to ensure that its Medicaid home and community-based waiver services are provided through a person-centered planning process and provided in appropriate, integrated settings.  Information on the federal regulations can be found here.

Pennsylvania is required to develop a transition plan to bring each Medicaid waiver into compliance with the new Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) regulations.  The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released a draft transition plan for the Aging, Attendant Care, and Independence Waivers, which can be found here.  OLTL is asking for public input on the transition plan.  Please take the time to comment on the transition plan and whether or not you believe it includes sufficient activities for OLTL to comply with the new HCBS regulations.  Every comment matters.

The comment period has been extended to June 26, 2014.  Comments can be submitted via email to RA-waiverstandard@pa.gov or by regular mail to:  Department of Public Welfare, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management, Attention:  John Esposito, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-8025.  You can also send a copy of your comments to Francis McCullough, Associate Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Suite 216, The Public Ledger Building, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 but be sure to send your original comments to the Department of Public Welfare at the email or mailing address above.

Please contact Kelly Whitcraft, Policy Coordinator for the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, at kwhitcraft@drnpa.org or at 800-692-7443, extension 323 with any questions.

Thank you,

Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
1-800-692-7443
www.drnpa.org