Pennsylvania Code
Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

• No statutes or acts will be found at this website.

The Pennsylvania Bulletin website includes the following: Rulemakings by State agencies; Proposed Rulemakings by State agencies; State agency notices; the Governor’s Proclamations and Executive Orders; Actions by the General Assembly; and Statewide and local court rules.

PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 22-98

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES

Renewal of Section 1115 Demonstration Project for Medicaid Coverage for Former Foster Care Youth from a Different State and Substance Use Disorder

[52 Pa.B. 426]
[Saturday, January 15, 2022]

 The Department of Human Services (Department) is making available for public review and comment the proposed renewal application for extension of the Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration (Demonstration) titled Medicaid Coverage for Former Foster Care Youth from a Different State and SUD Demonstration (Project Number: 11-W-003083/3). The effective dates of the current approved Demonstration are October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2022. The extension requested will be for an additional 5 years through September 30, 2027.

 The approval of the Demonstration by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) authorized the Commonwealth to continue to provide Medicaid State Plan coverage to former foster care youth 26 years of age or younger who were in foster care under the responsibility of another state or tribe from such other state when they ''aged out'' of foster care at 18 years of age or older (as elected by the state) and were enrolled in Medicaid at that time. CMS approved an amendment to the Demonstration effective July 1, 2018, which authorized the Commonwealth to receive Federal financial participation for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in residential and inpatient facilities that meet the definition of an Institution for Mental Disease for Medicaid beneficiaries between 21 and 64 years of age and who receive services through Managed Care.

 Since the beginning of the Demonstration, there have been an average of 36 individuals at any point in time who were 26 years of age or younger and who ''aged out'' of foster care in a different state and sought or retained Medicaid coverage in the Commonwealth. The Department continues to be committed to providing Medicaid coverage to former foster care youth from a different state and to help provide positive health outcomes for these individuals.

 Since the beginning of the SUD portion of the Demonstration, there have been an average of 7,000 individuals who received residential services at any point in time that would not have been otherwise Medicaid reimbursable. The objectives of the SUD portion of the Demonstration are to promote the objectives of Medicaid and it is expected to achieve the following results:

 • Increased rates of identification, initiation and engagement in treatment.

 • Increased adherence to and retention in treatment.

 • Reductions in overdose deaths, particularly those due to opioids.

 • Reduced utilization of emergency department and inpatient hospital settings for treatment where the utilization is preventable or medically inappropriate through improved access to other continuum of care services.

 • Fewer re-admissions to the same or higher level of care where the re-admission is preventable or medically inappropriate.

 • Improved access to care for physical health conditions among beneficiaries.

 A copy of the Department's proposed Demonstration renewal application and information related to the proposed Demonstration renewal can be found at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/Medicaid-Coverage-Former-Foster-Care-Youth-Different-State-Substance-Use-Disorder-Section-1115.aspx.

 In addition, copies of the application are available upon written request to the Director, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, 11th Floor, Commonwealth Tower, 303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Public Hearing Schedule

 The Department will conduct two virtual public hearings to receive comments from the public regarding the proposed Demonstration renewal application. These meetings will be held as follows:

February 2, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
 To join online use https://pennsylvaniacmhsbg.webex.com/pennsylvaniacmhsbg/j.php?mtid=mb18cf21e6f8601b570f6ac97deb7f264.
 To join by phone dial (415) 655-0001. The meeting access code is 2630-218-0146.

February 4, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
 To join online use https://pennsylvaniacmhsbg.webex.com/pennsylvaniacmhsbg/j.php?mtid=m8393ab7debae5eef634e2ef04cc793dd.
 To join by phone dial (415) 655-0001. The meeting access code is 2632-249-0306.

 The Department will also present updates on the Demonstration renewal application at the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) meeting on January 27, 2022. Individuals can register for the MAAC meeting at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1192383395911684111.

Public Comment

 The 30-day public comment period will begin on January 15, 2022, and end on February 15, 2022. Individuals who wish to speak at one of the public hearings to provide comments on the proposed Demonstration renewal application should schedule a time by calling (717) 705-8154 or e-mailing chtshudy@pa.gov. Individuals may also send a written request to Charles Tshudy, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, 11th Floor, Commonwealth Tower, 303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 during the comment period.

 Even if individuals are not planning to speak at the hearing to provide comments, but are attending, e-mail their name, organization, e-mail address and phone number to chtshudy@pa.gov so the Department has the contact information for the Department's records.

 Individuals may also submit written comments at any of the public hearings or by e-mail to chtshudy@pa.gov or by mail to Charles Tshudy at the previously mentioned address. The Department will consider all comments received by February 15, 2022, in developing the final Demonstration renewal application.

 Persons with a disability who require auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).

MEG SNEAD, 
Acting Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-1486. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-98. Filed for public inspection January 14, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]


No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.

This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.