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Tags Posts tagged with "Pennsylvania Bulletin"

Pennsylvania Bulletin

A Joint Statement of Policy was released in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on January 13, 2024, by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the State Board of Nursing, and the Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding the application of Pennsylvania’s partial implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact Act. The partial implantation of the Nurse Licensure Compact Act (2021 Act 68) allows Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) who hold current multistate licenses from other compact states to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without obtaining a license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, so long as the licensee’s principal place of residence is not in this Commonwealth.

What does this mean for Personal Care Homes (PCH) and Assisted Living Residences (ALR)?

The Joint Statement of Policy clarification on the partial implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact Act means that PCH/ALR providers may consider a RN or LPN with a multistate license who does not have their principal place of residence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be equivalent to a RN or LPN who holds licensure through the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Any reference to “Registered Nurse,” “RN,” “Licensed Practical Nurse,” “LPN,” or “nurse” in 55. PA Code Chapter 2600 and 55. PA Code Chapter 2800 and their corresponding Regulatory Compliance Guides (RCG) may be interpreted to include eligible multistate licensed nurses, regardless of whether or not the regulation specifically indicates that licensure is required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

All other statutory and regulatory requirements continue to apply. All nurses being utilized in PCH/ALR settings must be able to provide services at the physical location if their job description, facility policies and procedures, and/or resident needs require direct resident assessment, evaluation, or treatment.

Visit here for more information on multi-state nurse licensure, including identification of states participating in the compact. Questions about this communication may be directed via email.

The Office of Developmental Program (ODP) has shared Final Fee Schedule Rates for Select Services Funded Through ODP’s Waivers and Guidance About Community Participation Support Impacted By the End of Appendix K. The purpose of this communication is to announce that the following Fee Schedule Rates have been published as final in the Pennsylvania Bulletin:

  • Residential Habilitation Needs Group 5 services funded through the Consolidated Waiver;
  • Group Music Therapy, Art Therapy, and Equine Assisted Therapy funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) waivers; and
  • Adoption of the enhanced rates as the fee schedule rates for Community Participation Support (CPS) funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS waivers and Transportation Trip funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, P/FDS and Adult Autism waivers.

This communication also provides guidance about implementing Fee Schedule Rates and procedure codes for Community Participation Support/Day Habilitation teleservices in the Consolidated, Community Living, P/FDS and Adult Autism waivers that become effective November 11, 2023, when Appendix K flexibilities end.

Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) announced the issuance of the final public notice for proposed fee schedule rates and department-established fees, as well as the public notice for the proposed rate-setting methodology, which are available in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Two notices were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin Volume 48, Number 4 on Saturday, January 27, 2018. The first notice informs stakeholders of the final fee schedule rates and department-established fees for Fiscal Year 2017/2018. The title of the notice is Fee Schedule Rates and Department-Established Fees for Consolidated and Person/Family Directed Support Waivers Services, Targeted Services Management and the Community Intellectual Disability Base-Funded Program.

The second notice informs stakeholders of the cost-based methodology for Fiscal Year 2017/2018. The title of the notice is Rate Setting Methodology for Consolidated and Person/Family Directed Support Waiver-Funded and Base-Funded Service for Individuals Participating in the Office of Developmental Programs Service System.

As a result of public comments received in response to the notices regarding the proposed rate setting methodology and proposed fee scheduled rates released in the summer of 2017, the department made changes to Agency with Choice/Financial Management Services, rates for In-Home and Community Support and Respite (15 Minute and Day) services effective July 1, 2017.

The announcement provides links to the two notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as well as a summary of comments received and the department’s responses, and a link to the DHS website.