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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 22-243

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES

Availability of Renewals of the Office of Developmental Programs' Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support and Community Living Waivers

[52 Pa.B. 1072]
[Saturday, February 12, 2022]

 The Department of Human Services (Department) is making available for public review and comment the Office of Developmental Programs' proposed renewals of the Consolidated, Community Living and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers.

Background

 Home and community-based waivers permitted under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 1396n(c)) are approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a 5-year renewal period. The current Consolidated, Community Living and P/FDS Waivers expire on June 30, 2022; therefore, the proposed renewals of the waivers are to be submitted to CMS no later than April 1, 2022.

 In the request for the renewals of the Consolidated, Community Living and P/FDS Waivers the Department proposes the following substantive changes effective July 1, 2022:

 • Assure effective communication by waiver participants by clarifying the activities that can be performed under the communication specialist service, increasing the amount of communication specialist services that waiver participants can receive each year and requiring the communication specialist to successfully complete training provided by the Office of Developmental Programs.

 • Promote competitive integrated employment by increasing the amount of benefits counseling services that waiver participants can receive each year, expanding companion to support additional waiver participants at their place of employment and allowing supported employment services to support waiver participants during work-related trips.

 • Encourage self-direction, choice and control by expanding options for participant directed goods and services and music, art and equine assisted therapy, creating a separate and distinct waiver service for remote supports and clarifying the purpose of the supports broker service.

 • Support people with complex needs by allowing life sharing to be rendered in homes owned by the provider of life sharing services.

 • Promote health, wellness and safety by expanding the specialized supplies service to cover personal protective equipment, adding provider qualification requirements for residential habilitation, life sharing and supported living providers and allowing the continuation of remote monitoring of waiver participants by supports coordinators.

 • Develop and support qualified staff by adding recertification requirements for supports brokers and clarifying experience and education requirements for supports coordinators and supports coordinator supervisors.

Fiscal Impact

 It is anticipated that there will be no fiscal impact to the Commonwealth in Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and subsequent years.

Public Comment

 The proposed renewals of the Consolidated, Community Living and P/FDS Waivers are available at https://dhs.pa.gov/Services/Disabilities-Aging/Pages/July-2022-ID-A-Waiver-Renewals-Public-Comment.aspx.

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the proposed waiver renewals. 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 the Department at RA-odpcomment@pa.gov using subject header ''Waiver Renewal Comments.''

 Comments received within 30 days of publication of this notice will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the proposed waiver renewals.

 The Department will also hold two webinars to receive comments on the proposed waiver renewals. The dates, times and links for registration to attend the webinars are as follows:

March 1, 2022
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3855221339495759631

March 4, 2022
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9071748704362734348

 Participants who are interested in participating in the webinars may do so by phone, but will need a computer to provide comments during the webinars. 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 the previously listed address.

 Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service by dialing 711 or by using one of the 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 documents containing the changes proposed in the waiver renewals may be obtained by contacting Julie Mochon, Office of Developmental Programs, 625 Forster Street, Room 510, Harrisburg, PA 17120, RA-odpcomment@pa.gov.

MEG SNEAD, 
Acting Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-1494. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-243. Filed for public inspection February 11, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]


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