NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES

Availability of Renewal for the Office of Long-Term Living's Home and Community-Based Community HealthChoices 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 renewal for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. The proposed renewal will be effective January 1, 2025. The Department proposes the following substantive and technical changes to the CHC waiver:

 • Amend the following service definitions:

 ◦ Benefits counseling.

 ◦ Employment skills development.

 ◦ Home adaptations.

 ◦ Telecare.

 • Add teleservices to the following services:

 ◦ Cognitive rehabilitation.

 ◦ Counseling services.

 • Add Chore Services as a new waiver service.

 • Remove references to the organized health care delivery system and the participant review tool.

 • Modify timeframes for developing and implementing person-centered service plans.

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

 • Update Appendix G: Participant Safeguards to the current process.

 • Update the quality strategy to current process.

 • Modify language throughout for better readability.

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

Background

 To continue receiving Federal matching funds for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that existing HCBS waivers be renewed every 5 years. See 42 CFR 430.25(h)(2)(i) (relating to waivers of State plan requirements). The proposed CHC waiver renewal is to be submitted to CMS by no later than October 3, 2024.

 The proposed CHC waiver renewal 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 waiver renewal to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, Attention: Keeley Anglin—CHC Waiver Renewal, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments may also be submitted to the Department at RA-waiverstandard@pa.gov. Use ''CHC Waiver Renewal'' in the subject line. Comments received within 30 days will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the proposed waiver renewal.

 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-1634. No fiscal impact; recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-845. Filed for public inspection June 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]

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