515 Rescheduled public meeting

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Rescheduled Public Meeting

[31 Pa.B. 1638]

   The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing the opportunity for public comment on the plan to implement HealthChoices, the mandatory managed care program for Medical Assistance consumers in Pennsylvania, in the North/Central Zone. HealthChoices was implemented in five counties in the Southeast Zone in 1997, in 10 counties in the Southwest Zone in 1999, and is currently being implemented in 10 counties in the Lehigh/Capital Zone. The Department is now developing the HealthChoices program for the North/Central Zone, representing the balance of 42 counties in the State. The Department plans to divide the North/Central Zone into three Sub-zones: Northeast, Northwest, and Central with enrollment in the Northeast Sub-zone scheduled to begin in January 2003. Implementation in the two remaining sub-zones will occur in 2004 for the Northwest Sub-zone and 2005 for the Central Sub-zone.

   A discussion paper on the plan to implement HealthChoices in the North/Central Zone may be obtained by calling [phone] or accessing the DPW webpage at http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/omap/dpwomap.

   In order to gather comments from all interested parties, the Department scheduled public meetings to discuss plans to implement HealthChoices in the North/Central Zone. Meetings were scheduled in Scranton on March 12, 2001, and State College on March 19, 2001. A third meeting was scheduled for March 5 in Erie, but was cancelled due to inclement weather.

   A meeting in Erie has been rescheduled and will be held as follows:

*  Northwest Sub-Zone--Friday, April 20, 2001
9:30 a.m.--2:30 p.m.
Hirt Auditorium
Erie County Public Library
160 E. Front Street
Erie, PA

   Persons who wish to present comments on the paper must schedule a 5-minute time slot by calling [phone]. The deadline to schedule a speaking slot at the Erie meeting is April 13, 2001. Please bring a written copy of your comments to the meeting.

   Comments may be submitted in writing to DPW/OMAP, Bureau of Policy, Budget, and Planning, P. O. Box 8046, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

   Written comments also will be accepted at the following e-mail address: [e-mail].

   Written comments will be accepted until 4 p.m., April 20, 2001.

FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-515. Filed for public inspection March 23, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]