PHA has developed this webpage to provide home-based care providers with the latest news, guidance, and research related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information on COVID-19 vaccines and testing are available by clicking on the buttons below.

Quick Links

Waivers & Flexibilities 

Pennsylvania (Expired October 31, 2022, except as noted)*

• Act 14 of 2022 (Current Extension of COVID-19 Waivers)
• Act 73 of 2021 (Extension of COVID-19 Waivers)
• Department of Health Flexibilities for Homecare, Home Health, and Hospice Providers (May 2020)
• Department of State Licensure Waivers
• Department of Human Services Suspended Regulations

*Note: A number of waivers applicable to home-based care are authorized by CMS waivers and are not state-dependent. See CMS Waivers, below.

Federal

• Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration (renewed 10/13/22)
• CMS COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Unwinding Webpage
• Communication Toolkit
• CMS COVID-19 Waivers & Flexibilities Webpage
• CMS COVID-19 Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers
• Home Health Flexibilities
  
• Hospice Flexibilities
  
• CMS Approved Appendix K Waivers – the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) have modified certain waivers and flexibilities. See OLTL and ODP links, below.
• OLTL
  
  • Community HealthChoices (CHC) Appendix K Waiver (3/18/20) – initial emergency waiver.
  • OBRA Appendix K Waiver (3/18/20) – initial emergency waiver.
  • OBRA Appendix K Waiver (5/6/20)  – allowing for PCSP process/timing changes, spouses/POAs to provide paid care in some circumstances.
  • CHC Appendix K Waiver (5/6/20) – allowing for PCSP process/timing changes, spouses/POAs to provide paid care in some circumstances.
  • CHC Appendix K Waiver(12/7/20) – allowing ADL Services in participant’s home, waiver services in alternate settings, with approval.
  • CHC/OBRA Appendix K Waiver( 3/11/21) – extending Appendix K flexibilities until six months after the end of federal public health emergency.
  • OBRA Appendix K Waiver (12/13/21) – increases PAS rates by 8%, effective January 1, 2022.
• ODP
• Adult Autism Appendix K Waiver (3/18/20) – initial emergency waiver.
• Consolidated Waiver Appendix K Waiver (3/18/20) – initial emergency waiver.
• Community Living Appendix K Waiver (3/18/20) – initial emergency waiver.
• ODP Appendix K Waiver (7/23/20) – adding PPE for participants, additional flexibilities on location of services, remote services, flexibilities on Individual Support Plans (ISPs), provider qualifications and training requirements, clarifying retainer payments.
• ODP Appendix K Waiver (8/20/20) – adding flexibility on locations where Residential Habilitation and Community Participation Supports can be provided.
• ODP Appendix K Waiver (3/10/21) – extending Appendix K flexibilities until six months after the end of federal public health emergency.
• ODP Appendix K Waiver (3/29/21) – adding temporary increase in rates for Transportation Trip and Community Participation Support services, and interim Quality Assurance and Improvement process for FY21/22.
• ODP Appendix K Waiver (10/22/21)  – authorizing supplemental payments to providers for recruitment/retention.
• ODP Appendix K Waiver (11/4/21) – extending timeframe covered by supplemental (workforce) payments to providers.
• CMS-Approved Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) 1135 Waivers
• 1135 Approval (3/27/20) – temporarily suspending prior authorizations, extending authorizations, modifying certain hearings and provider enrollment rules. 
• 1135 Approval (6/9/20)  – temporarily allowing legally responsible individuals to provide paid personal care services (with conditions), modifying deadline for face-to-face encounter for home health. 
• 1135 Approval (7/29/20) – expanding locations where HCBS services can be provided, temporarily waiving written consent requirements. 
• 1135 Approval (10/6/20) – allowing for clinic services without supervision of a physician or dentist, under-21 Inpatient Psychiatric Services without direction of physician
  

 PA Department of Health (DOH)

General Resources

• DOH Incident Portal for Reporting Positive Cases
• DOH Message Board
• COVID-19 Website
• COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Professionals
• COVID-19 Fact Sheet

PA Health Alert Network (PA-HAN)

• PA-HAN Website
• COVID-19 HAN Summary
• PA-HAN 661: Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Exposure to COVID-19
• PA-HAN 662: Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19
• PA-HAN 663: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• PA-HAN 659: Use of Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Vaccine
• PA-HAN 624: UPDATE Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Settings during the COVID-19 pandemic
• PA-HAN 619: UPDATE: Isolation and Quarantine Periods for COVID-19 for the General Population

Reminder: Homes where care is being provided are considered “healthcare settings.”

For more information on testing resources click here. For more information on vaccination resources click here.

PA Department of Human Services: Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL)

General Resources & Guidance 

• DHS PHE Helpers
• DHS COVID-19 Guidance & Resources Webpage
• Office of Long-Term Living COVID-19 Guidance
• Interim Guidance on COVID-19 for Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Facilities (updated 1/11/22)
• Temporary Changes to the Act 150 Program (updated 3/25/21)
• Transition Plan to Phase Out Temporary Changes to the Act 150 1915(c) Waiver (updated 3/25/21)
• Temporary Changes to the Community HealthChoices 1915(c) Waiver (updated 3/25/21)
• Transition Plan to Phase Out Temporary Changes to the Community HealthChoices 1915(c) Waiver (updated 3/25/21)
• Temporary Changes to the OBRA 1915(c) Waiver (updated 3/25/21)
• Transition Plan to Phase Out Temporary Changes to the OBRA 1915(c) Waiver (updated 3/25/21)

 American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Funding Information

• CMS Memo Extending Deadline for States to Spend HCBS ARPA Funding (issued 6/3/22)
• DHS American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Services Webpage
• PA Spending Plan (revised 11/15/21) 

 Information Specific to OLTL Providers

•  American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Funding Reporting Portal (launched 9/30/22)
• Reporting Portal User Guide
• Update on Reporting Deadlines (Members-only; issued 11/21/22)
• Act 54 Personal Assistance Payments (issued 9/16/22)
• Act 54 HCBS and Life Payment Letter (issued 9/6/22)
• HCBS Provider Quality Improvement Funding Opportunity – Information & Application (issued 5/13/22)
• Long-Term Care Providers ARPA Resource page
• One-Time ARPA Payment FAQs (revised 2/15/22)
• OLTL Provider Attestation form for One-Time ARPA Payments (PAS)
• One-Time ARPA Payments (PAS List)
• OLTL Provider Attestation Form for One-Time ARPA Payments (Adult Day)
• 2022 MA Fee Schedule for OLTL Waiver Services
• Connections Summary of OLTL Spending Plans (Members-Only Resource)

PA Department of Human Services: Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)

General Resources & Guidance 

• DHS COVID-19 Guidance & Resources Webpage
• Medical Assistance Renewal Refresher (training held on 10/24/22)
• Office of Developmental Programs COVID-19 Guidance
• ODP Announcement: Extension of Appendix K Waivers (reissued 3/16/21)
• Updated COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance for Providers (issued 10/7/22)
• Updated Guidance: Reporting Positive Staff Cases (reissued 3/4/22)
• ODP Health Risk Screening (HRS) Tool
• ODP COVID-19 Operational Guide: Version 3 (released 2/4/22)
• COVID-19 Webinar Records

 American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Funding Information

• CMS Memo Extending Deadline for States to Spend HCBS ARPA Funding (issued 6/3/22)
• DHS American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Services Webpage
• PA Spending Plan (revised 11/15/21)

 Information Specific to ODP Providers

• ODP Announcement: One-Time ARPA Payments
• ODP Provider Attestation Form for One-Time ARPA Payments
• ODP Proposed Rate Increases for P/FDS and Adult Autism Waivers
• Connections Summary of ODP Spending Plans (Members-Only Resource)
• Connections Summary of ODP Proposed Rate Increases (Members-Only Resource)

PA Department of Human Services: Office of Medical  Assistance Programs (OMAP)

General Resources & Guidance

• MA Bulletin: Reinstatement of Prior Authorization Requirements for Shift Care Services for Beneficiaries Under 21 Years of Age (issued 7/1/22; effective 11/1/22)
• MA Bulletin: Disposable Surgical Masks (issued 7/6/22; effective 7/1/22)
• MA Bulletin: Program Fee Increase for Disposable Gloves (issued 7/6/21; effective 7/1/21)
• Provider Quick Tips: MA Eligibility During COVID-19 Emergency Disaster Declaration (updated 6/21/21)
• MA Bulletin: Reinstatement of Prior Authorization Requirements for Certain Services (issued 4/30/21; effective 7/1/21)
• Medical Assistance Bulletin 99-21-01: Restoration of Provider Revalidation Requirements (issued 3/23/21; effective 6/1/21)

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS Vaccine Mandate (CMS Standard)

• Regulation
• QSO-23-02: Revised Guidance for Staff Vaccination Requirements (issued 10/26/22)
• QSO-22-10: Vaccination Expectations for Surveyors Performing Federal Oversight (issued 1/25/22)
• FAQs
• CMS Slides on Vaccine Mandate  (11/4/21 Stakeholder Webinar)
• Press Release (issued 11/4/21)
• Connections Summary of CMS Vaccine Standard Guidance (Members-Only Resource)

Setting Specific Guidance 

• QSO-21-08: COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey Tool for Acute and Continuing Care Providers and Suppliers (revised 9/26/22)
• QSO-20-41: Guidance related to Emergency Preparedness- Exercise Exemption based on a Facility's Activation of their Emergency Plan (revised 5/26/22)
• QSO-20-39: Nursing Home Visitation Guidance (revised 9/23/22)

Quality Reporting Programs

• HHQRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet - Second Edition (companion document to First Edition, below; issued 1/26/22)
• HHQRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet - First Edition (issued 07/01/20)
• HQRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet - Third Edition (issued 09/22)
• HQRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet - Second Edition (companion document to First Edition, below; issued 12/28/21)
• HQRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet - First Edition (issued 9/20/20)

State Medicaid Program Guidance

• Top 10 Fundamental Actions to Prepare for Unwinding and Resources to Support State Efforts (issued June 2022)
• Unwinding and Returning to Regular Operations after COVID-19 (issued 3/3/22)

Data

• COVID-19 Data Snapshot

For more information on the CMS vaccine mandate and vaccine billing information click here.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (expired 12/27/21; OSHA encourages continued adoption of practices as satisfying general duty requirements)
• Emergency Temporary Standard on Vaccination, Testing (blocked by U.S. Supreme Court on 1/13/22; OSHA proposing permanent rule)
• Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

General Resources

• COVID-19 Homepage

Guidance for Healthcare Workers

• Strategies for Optimizing PPE Supplies (updated 7/16/21)
• Strategies for Mitigating HCP Staffing Shortages (updated 1/21/22)
• Isolation and Work Restrictions Guidance for Healthcare Personnel (updated 1/21/22)
• Testing Guidance for HCP (updated 6/14/21)

U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

General Resources

• COVID-19 Homepage
• HHS Public Health Emergency (renewed 1/16/22)
• Guidance: Post-PHE HIPAA Compliance for Audio-Only Telehealth (issued 6/13/22)

Provider Relief Fund 

• Website
• FAQs
• Current and Future Payments
• Phase 4 Terms & Conditions
• Application and Attestation Portal
• Reporting and Auditing
• Reporting Portal

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

General Resources

• COVID-19 Resources for Health Professionals

FDA Announcements

• FDA Revokes EUA Use of Non-NIOSH-Approved or Decontaminated Disposable Respirators (issued 06/30/21)
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose (issued 10/1/21)
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for ACON Laboratories Flowflex COVID-19 Home Test (issued 10/4/21)
• FDA Issues Warning on Imported Medical Gloves (issued 11/4/21)