State Representative Jim Struzzi has introduced legislation that would increase the availability of personal assistance services for state residents in need.
House Bill 2563 would look to entice people to join the Home Health Care profession. Struzzi said while the current average hourly rate for a home health aide/personal care attendant in Pennsylvania is $13.40 an hour, medical assistance program providers are not able to simply increase wages, and usually pass the cost on to consumers as the reimbursement rates from Managed Care Organizations are severely limited.
Struzzi’s proposed legislation would:
- Increase the personal assistance services reimbursement rate by 8% to allow an average hourly rate of $15 an hour.
- Set fee-for-service Medicaid reimbursement rates as the lowest rates for personal assistance services.
- Require an actuarial study every three years of the cost of care
- Provide personal service agencies with reimbursement for overtime expenses.
The bill has already received bipartisan support from 30 members of the state house.
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