NOTICES
Medical Assistance Fee Schedule; Final Rates for Additional Services Added to the COMMCARE and Independence Waivers
[46 Pa.B. 7398]
[Saturday, November 19, 2016]This notice announces the Department of Human Services (Department) final Medical Assistance (MA) fee schedule rates for additional services added to the COMM-CARE and Independence waivers, effective October 1, 2016.
Addition of Waiver Services
Under 55 Pa. Code § 52.45(a) and (b) (relating to fee schedule rates), the Department has added the following services to the MA fee schedule for the COMMCARE and Independence waivers, effective October 1, 2016:
1. COMMCARE waiver—Benefits Counseling, Career Assessment, Employment Skills Development, Job Coaching Intensive and Follow-along and Job Finding.
2. Independence waiver—Benefits Counseling, Career Assessment, Employment Skills Development, Job Coaching Intensive and Follow-along and Job Finding.
Rate-Setting Methodology
The Department developed the MA fee schedule rates for the additional services added to the COMMCARE and Independence waivers using a standardized market-based rate setting methodology. Relevant market-based information used to determine the fee schedule rates included Commonwealth-specific wage information from the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, Occupational Wages by County, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employer Costs, cost surveys from providers, Medicare rate information and MA State Plan Fee Schedules.
Public Process
The Department published the Changes to the Medical Assistance Fee Schedule for the Aging, COMMCARE, Independence and OBRA Waivers notice at 46 Pa.B. 5649 (August 27, 2016) announcing the addition of waiver services and proposed MA fee schedule rates and invited interested persons to submit comments. No comments were received by the Department in response to the proposed notice.
The final MA fee schedule rates are available on the Department's web site at http://www.dhs.pa.gov/provider/longtermcareprov/ or by contacting April Leonhard, Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living at (717) 783-8412.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact of this change is estimated at $2.172 million ($1.047 million in State funds) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-2017 and $3.349 million ($1.612 million in State funds) for FY 2017-2018.
Public Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management, Attention: Elaine Smith, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments can also be sent to RA-waiverstandard@pa.gov. Comments received within 30 days will be considered in subsequent revisions to the fee schedule.
Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service by calling (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).
THEODORE DALLAS,
SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-1077. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2016-17 is $1,047,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2017-18 through 5th Succeeding Year 2021-22 are $1,612,000; (4) 2015-16 Program—$339,077,000; 2014-15 Program—$273,538,000; 2013-14 Program—$233,104,000; (7) Services to Persons with Disabilities; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-2008. Filed for public inspection November 18, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]
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