NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES
Availability of the Office of Developmental Programs' Proposed Community Living Waiver
[47 Pa.B. 5111]
[Saturday, August 26, 2017]The Department of Human Services (Department) is making available for public review and comment the Office of Developmental Programs' (ODP) proposed Community Living Waiver.
Background
The proposed Community Living Waiver has been developed in accordance with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-2018 budget for the development and implementation of a new intermediate waiver that will provide services to approximately 1,000 individuals with an intellectual disability or autism, as well as children under 9 years of age with a developmental disability that has a high probability of resulting in an intellectual disability or autism. The proposed Community Living Waiver will support individuals to live more independently in their homes and communities through the provision of a variety of services that promote community living, employment, communication, self-direction, choice and control. The proposed Community Living Waiver is modeled on ODP's Person/Family Directed Support Waiver with the following notable differences:
• There will be a $70,000 per person per fiscal year total limit for all Community Living Waiver services with an exception for supports coordination services.
• Life sharing services will be available at needs group levels 1 and 2 and for individuals who need less than 30 hours per week of service on average.
• Supported living services will be available at needs group levels 1 and 2.
• Vehicle accessibility adaptations will be limited to $20,000 during a 10-year period.
The anticipated effective date for the Community Living Waiver is January 1, 2018. New home and community-based waivers permitted under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 1396n(c)) must be approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for a 3-year period.
The proposed documents regarding the Community Living Waiver are available at http://www.dhs.pa.gov/learnaboutdhs/waiverinformation/communitylivingwaiver/index.htm.
Fiscal Impact
It is estimated that there will be an additional cost to the Commonwealth of $32.00 million ($15.418 million in State Funds) in FY 2017-2018 and an annualized cost of $64.000 million ($30.752 million in State Funds) in FY 2018-2019 and subsequent years.
Public Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the proposed Community Living Waiver. Comments should be addressed to Julie Mochon, Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs, 625 Forster Street, Room 501, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments may also be submitted to the Department at RA-odpcomment@pa.gov. Comments received within 30 days of publication of this notice will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the proposed Community Living Waiver.
The Department will also hold two webinars to receive comments on the proposed Community Living Waiver. The dates, times and registration link to participate in these webinars are September 18, 2017, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and September 20, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The following link must be used to register for any of the previously listed webinars: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/283400605580855811. Participants are able to participate in the webinar by phone, but will need a computer to provide comments during the webinar. To assist the Department in accurately capturing comments provided during the webinars, individuals are asked to submit a written copy of their comments by e-mail or mail to a previously listed address.
Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service by dialing 711 or by using one of the following toll free numbers: (800) 654-5984 (TDD users), (800) 654-5988 (voice users), (844) 308-9292 (Speech-to-Speech) or (844) 308-9291 (Spanish).
Copies of this notice and the proposed Community Living Waiver may be obtained at the regional ODP in the corresponding regions:
• Western Region: Piatt Place, Room 4900, 301 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (412) 565-5144
• Northeast Region: Room 315, Scranton State Office Building, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, (570) 963-4749
• Southeast Region: 801 Market Street, Suite 5071, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 560-2242 or (215) 560-2245
• Central Region: P.O. Box 2675, DGS Annex Complex, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 772-6507
TERESA D. MILLER,
Acting SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-1176. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2017-18 is $15,418,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2018-19 through 5th Succeeding Year 2022-23 are $30,752,000; (4) 2015-16 Program—$1,349,000,000; 2014-15 Program—$1,203,000,000; 2013-14 Program—$1,075,000,000; (7) ID—Community Waiver Program; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-1423. Filed for public inspection August 25, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]
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