Cathy Barrick • January 23, 2026

ODP Issues Reminder to SCOs on Accessing Specialty Telehealth and Assessment Team Resources

Author

Cathy Barrick

Date

January 23, 2026

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The Specialty Telehealth and Assessment Team (STAT) is a 24/7 telehealth service that provides health assessments. 

The service is consultative and provides disability specific advice of when to best seek additional or in-person medical treatment for the participants. This is a service that occurs in the participant’s private home or residential home to help assess their need for medical attention.


This service does not duplicate any service that is available through the state plan, and, very importantly, this service is not intended to replace in-person exams. The goal is not to prevent people from going to the emergency room or seeing a physician in person when needed. It is a support that can help to alleviate the burden of going to the emergency department or urgent care when it is not absolutely necessary for the individual to be seen in person.


The STAT waiver service is provided as a monthly service and billed in monthly units. One unit equals one month at 55 dollars a unit. All individuals that are involved in an ID/A waiver, Person/Family Directed Support (PFDS) waiver, Community Living waiver, and the Consolidated waiver are eligible for this service. The STAT waiver service is available for individuals of all ages and all living situations as long as they are enrolled in one of the ID/A waivers. In order to access this service, STAT must be added to the ISP via a critical revision or at the time of the annual ISP and must be authorized by the administrative entity prior to the service being used. STAT costs are included in the annual limit for P/FDS and Community Living waivers.


STAT is a unique and specialized service. The physicians that provide this service are educated in the guidelines for the provision of health care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All staff who render the service have completed a specialized training curriculum on how to provide medical assessment, treatment interventions, and recommendations regarding the health care needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or autism. This service is provided and overseen by physicians who are licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or have appropriate reciprocity.


The STAT waiver service has been available since March of 2024 and has grown steadily since. There are currently over 5,500 individuals using the service with two providers available, StationMD and Senacare. The service has maintained approximately a 94% treat in place rate since it became available, saving time and resources by avoiding unnecessary Emergency Department and urgent care visits.


We encourage SCs to provide education to individuals, families, and teams about how the STAT service can help.

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ODP Updates the MAAC on Paid Relative Caregiving & Travel Limitations

By Tim Sohosky • May 29, 2026
On Thursday, May 28, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) provided an update to the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) regarding current policies and upcoming regulatory changes following a recent Commonwealth Court decision. On February 17, 2026, the PA Commonwealth Court issued a decision in Dunkelberger v. Department of Human Services that determined that ODP’s limitations on provider model services (specifically the 40/60-hour caps and 90-day travel maximums) were null and void. The decision was based on process rather than policy validity; the Court found that these limitations were not properly promulgated as regulations in accordance with the Commonwealth Documents Law and Regulatory Review Act. To maintain a balanced approach between flexibility and oversight, ODP is moving forward with the following actions: Regulatory Amendments: ODP will amend regulations to establish formal authority for setting service delivery limits that support individual welfare and program integrity. Self-Directed Model Agreements: ODP has already modified agreements for self-directed models to clarify limits on overtime, combined relative service provision, and travel restrictions. Travel Restrictions: Due to the inability to monitor services effectively over long distances, service provision will now be limited to Pennsylvania and contiguous states. Waiver Changes: ODP will seek modifications through the amendment process to the Consolidated, P/FDS, Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers to include: New requirements for agencies providing IHCS and Companion services to disclose a DSP's relationship to participants; and Strengthened programmatic oversight and integrity measures. Life Sharing Alternative: For participants requiring more than 60 hours of paid care from a relative, the Life Sharing (24/7) service model remains the recommended alternative. ODP anticipates a public comment period for these proposed waiver changes beginning in January 2027.
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By Tim Sohosky • May 28, 2026
Press Release from DHS : Published May 27, 2026
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ODP Provides Updates to PBC 2026/27 Residential Pay-for-Performance

By Cathy Barrick • May 28, 2026
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