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2025 CHC and OBRA Waiver Comments Due July 14th

Erin Guay

The Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) seeks stakeholder comments on the proposed Community HealthChoices (CHC) and OBRA waiver renewals, which will take effect January 1, 2025.  These comments will be considered by OLTL before each waiver is submitted to the federal government for approval. More information about the proposed changes on which OLTL seeks comments, including how to submit comments, is outlined below. 

 

CHC Waiver 

OLTL has proposed several changes to the 2025 CHC waiver to help improve the programs and services offered.  A side-by-side comparison of the proposed CHC Waiver changes is available here.  The changes will start January 1, 2025, pending approval by the federal government. Highlights of the proposed changes include:  

  • Adding Chore Service as a new waiver service -The new Chore Service would provide heavy household chores to participants when necessary to continue using their home or to provide a clean, sanitary and safe environment.  Examples of covered Chore Services include washing floors, windows, and walls, seasonal installation and removal of window air conditioners, and moving or removing large household furnishings and heavy appliances to provide safe access and egress for the participant, the direct service worker, and/or emergency personnel.  

  • Modifying the service definitions for benefits counseling, employment skills development, home adaptations, and telecare. For the home adaptation service, the revised definition specifies what home accessibility durable medical equipment may be covered by the regular Medicaid benefit package (i.e., MA State Plan) when medically necessary. Waiver services are to be used only when Medicaid (or other insurance that someone might not have) will not cover the same service.  

  • Adding teleservices to Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy Services and Counseling Services. 

  • Shortened timeframe for developing and implementing Person-Centered Service Plans from 30 days to 15 days following the completion of the assessment or reassessment.  

Comments are due Sunday, July 24, 2024. Interested stakeholders should complete the CHC Comment Form and submit their comments by e-mail at RA-waiverstandard@pa.gov (use “CHC 2025 Waiver Renewal” as the subject line) or by mail to: 

Department of Human Services 
Office of Long-Term Living 
Bureau of Policy Development & Communications Management 
Attention: CHC 2025 Waiver Renewal 
P.O. Box 8025 
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025 

More information about the CHC waiver renewal and proposed changes is available here.

 

OBRA Waiver  

As with the CHC waiver, OLTL has proposed several changes for the 2025 OBRA waiver. A side-by-side comparison of the proposed OBRA Waiver changes is available here. The changes will start January 1, 2025, pending approval by the federal government. Highlights of the proposed changes include:  

  • Modifying the service definitions for benefits counseling, employment skills development, home adaptations, and personal emergency response system (PERS) - the changes to the home adaptations definition match the changes proposed for the CHC Waiver (see above); for the PERS definition, it specifies what is and is not included to be considered a personal emergency response system.  
  • Adding teleservices to Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy Services and Counseling Services 
  • Extending the timeframe to appeal and keep existing waiver services in place from 10 days to 15 days.

  • Adding the HCBS CAHPS survey as a patient experience of care/quality of life survey. 
     

Comments to the OBRA waiver are due Sunday, July 14, 2024. Interested stakeholders should complete the OBRA Waiver Comment Form and submit their comments by e-mail at RA-waiverstandard@pa.gov (use “OBRA 2025 Waiver Renewal” as the subject line) or by mail to: 

Department of Human Services 
Office of Long-Term Living 
Bureau of Policy Development & Communications Management 
Attention: OBRA 2025 Waiver Renewal 
P.O. Box 8025 
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025 

More information about the OBRA waiver renewal and proposed changes is available here.