1366 Proposed fee schedule rates for personal assistance services (agency) in the Medical Assistance Aging, Attendant Care, COMMCARE, Independence and OBRA waivers and the Act 150 Program

Proposed Fee Schedule Rates for Personal Assistance Services (Agency) in the Medical Assistance Aging, Attendant Care, COMMCARE, Independence and OBRA Waivers and the Act 150 Program

[44 Pa.B. 4058]
[Saturday, June 28, 2014]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing proposed fee schedule rates for Personal Assistance Services (Agency) in the Medical Assistance Aging, Attendant Care, COMMCARE, Independence and OBRA Waivers and the Act 150 Program under 55 Pa. Code § 52.45(a) and (b) (relating to fee schedule rates). Under 55 Pa. Code § 52.42(b) (relating to payment policies), the Department is also announcing the waivers in which Personal Assistance Services (Agency) are provided. The proposed rates for this service will be effective July 1, 2014.

Rate-Setting Methodology

 The Department is proposing to use the same rate methodology for the fee schedule rates as that used in the notice published at 42 Pa.B. 3343 (June 9, 2012).

Personal Assistance Services (Agency) Proposed Fee Schedule Rates

Region	Aging	Attendant Care	Act 150	CC	IW	OW	Procedure Code	Rate	Unit
1	X	X	X	X	X	X	W1793	$4.38	15 min
2	X	X	X	X	X	X	W1793	$4.87	15 min
3	X	X	X	X	X	X	W1793	$4.58	15 min
4	X	X	X	X	X	X	W1793	$4.88	15 min

CC = COMMCARE    IW = Independence    OW = OBRA

Fiscal Impact

 The Department anticipates that this proposed change will result in a cost of $8.911 million ($4.214 million in State funds) in Fiscal Year 2014-2015: Aging Waiver—$4.896 million ($2.240 million in State funds); Attendant Care Waiver—$0.867 million ($0.414 million in State funds); Act 150 Program—$0.220 million ($0.220 million in State funds); COMMCARE Waiver—$0.199 million ($0.091 million in State funds); OBRA Waiver—$0.457 million ($0.209 million in State funds); and Independence Waiver—$2.272 million ($1.040 million in State funds).

Public Comment

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this proposed notice to the Department of Public Welfare, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy and Regulatory Management, Attention: John Esposito, P. O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments can also be sent to [e-mail]. Comments received within 30 days will be reviewed and considered for any 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 [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (Voice users).

BEVERLY D. MACKERETH, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-888. (1) General Fund;

 (7) Home and Community-Based Services; (2) Implementing Year 2013-14 is $0; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2014-15 through 5th Succeeding Year 2018-19 are $2,240,000; (4) 2012-13 Program—$184,500,000; 2011-12 Program—$175,162,000; 2010-11 Program—$0;

 (7) Attendant Care; (2) Implementing Year 2013-14 is $0; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2014-15 through 5th Succeeding Year 2018-19 are $634,000; (4) 2012-13 Program—$107,830,000; 2011-12 Program—$102,704,000; 2010-11 Program—$97,869,000;

 (7) Services to Persons with Disabilities; (2) Implementing Year 2013-14 is $0; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2014-15 through 5th Succeeding Year 2018-19 are $1,340,000; (4) 2012-13 Program—$195,135,000; 2011-12 Program—$163,987,000; 2010-11 Program—$115,635,000;

 (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1366. Filed for public inspection June 27, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]