What You Should Know About Pennsylvania’s Plan to Implement MLTSS

Pennsylvania is changing the way it provides home and community-based care. The plan is called Community HealthChoices.

Here are a few things older Pennsylvanians should know: (also known as MLTSS or Managed Long Term Services and Supports)

WHAT IS COMMUNITY HEALTH CHOICES?

  • A new way to get health care, and home and community-based services (HCBS), with a goal to help more older adults live in their homes.
  • Provided through an insurance company called a Managed Care Organization (MCO): Health Insurance + Delivery of Care + Coordination.
  • MCO manages all health care and services: Hospital Care + Medical Care + HCBS + Prescription Drugs + Preventive Care.
  • Goal to make it easier to get needed HCBS such as meals, or the help of an aide to get washed and dressed.
  • Consumers have a choice of MCO providers and providers within the MCO network such as physicians, home health, etc. MLTSS will provide the option and encourage the use of self-direction of services (consumer-directed model) and the consumer will be the focus of planning for care (person-centered planning)

WHO IS INCLUDED?

  • People who are eligible for Medicare AND Medicaid (Dual-eligible).
  • Nursing Facility Clinically Eligible (NFCE) – including those who may be getting services in nursing facilities or HCBS waivers like the Aging Waiver.
  • Those in the LIFE program are NOT included.

WHAT RIGHTS DO CONSUMERS HAVE?

  • Consumers have the RIGHT to appeal loss of care or care that is denied.
  • Consumers have the RIGHT to complain about problems or the care they get.

WHEN AND WHERE?

  • To start in July 2017 in Western PA.
  • Moving to Southeast in January 2018.
  • The entire state will be included by January 2019.
  • Goal is for a smooth transition away from Aging Waiver services to MLTSS without loss of care and services.

WILL CONSUMERS BE PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS?

CARIE Elderly Advocates logo footer

MAKE A DONATION TODAY

Your support helps us make a bigger difference in people's lives. Every donation you make is a gift of a better life for elders.

DONATE ONLINE