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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 24-844

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES

Availability of Amendment for the Office of Long-Term Living's Home and Community-Based OBRA Waiver

[54 Pa.B. 3499]
[Saturday, June 15, 2024]

 The Department of Human Services (Department) is making available for public review and comment the Office of Long-Term Living's proposed amendment for the OBRA waiver. The proposed amendment will be effective January 1, 2025.

Background

 Whenever substantive changes are made to an approved waiver, the Department must submit an amendment to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for approval. The Department proposes the following substantive and technical changes to the OBRA waiver:

 • Amend the following service definitions:

 ◦ Benefits counseling.

 ◦ Employment skills development.

 ◦ Home adaptations.

 ◦ Personal Emergency Response System.

 • Add teleservices to the following services:

 ◦ Cognitive rehabilitation.

 ◦ Counseling services.

 • Add the Home and Community-Based Services Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey as a patient experience of care/quality of life survey.

 • Modify timeframe for filing for an appeal for waiver services to continue.

 • Reduce the years of experience needed for structured day habilitation support staff to 2 years.

 • Update Appendix G: Participant Safeguards to current process.

 • Modify language throughout for better readability.

 • Clarify when child abuse clearances are needed for direct care workers.

 The proposed OBRA waiver amendment and a summary of all revisions are available for review at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/departments-offices/oltl-info/oltl-waiver-amendments-renewals.html or by contacting the Department's Office of Long-Term Living at (717) 857-3280.

Fiscal Impact

 There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this notice.

Public Comment

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the proposed amendment to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, Attention: Keeley Anglin—OBRA Waiver Amendment, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments can also be sent to RA-waiverstandard@pa.gov. Use ''OBRA Waiver Amendment'' as the subject line. Comments received within 30 days will be considered in subsequent revisions to the proposed amendment.

 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 at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users), (800) 654-5988 (voice users), (844) 308-9292 (Speech-to-Speech) or (844) 308-9291 (Spanish).

VALERIE A. ARKOOSH, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-1635. No fiscal impact; recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-844. Filed for public inspection June 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]


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