The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is accepting comments on Pennsylvania’s Final Statewide Transition Plan for Home and Community-Based Services. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Rule to ensure all individuals receiving services and supports through Medicaid waivers have full access to the benefits of community living, including receiving services in the most integrated setting.

To receive final approval of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Transition Plan, the Department is required to complete the following remaining steps and submit an updated plan with this information included:

An assessment of all services, including an assessment of each provider owned or operated setting where services are rendered;

• How issues found during the assessment will be resolved by March 2023;
• The plan for identifying and evaluating settings presumed to have institutional characteristics (Heightened Scrutiny);
• A process for communicating with people receiving services that will not meet requirements; and
• A process for ongoing monitoring and quality assurance.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s Statewide Transition Plan including the full plan PDF and an overview webcast from DHS policy leads, follow this link.