Pa. secures $58M in fed funding for Medicare, Medicaid

Pennsylvania will receive an estimated $58 million in federal reimbursement to support a program centered on supporting individuals with disabilities after they leave the hospital.

The money, distributed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and announced by the Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, will impact the state’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program.

Reimbursements will support approved activities and provide funding for new Department of Human Services (DHS) initiatives and goals to serve individuals, said Arkoosh.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing in programs that help Pennsylvanians have what they need to live with dignity and independence in the communities of their choosing,” Arkoosh said in a statement. “We are grateful to our federal partners for supporting this work, and with this additional federal funding, we are able to continue to assist individuals who wish to move from an institutional setting back to the community.” 

Pennsylvania has participated since 2008 in the MFP program. The program provides reimbursement for administrative activities and federal match for an MFP participant’s supportive services for their first year back in the community. Savings are directed by DHS toward removing barriers to transition and increasing and improving services. 

MFP supports initiatives aimed at preventing re-institutionalization. MFP funding has provided DHS with the ability to develop education/outreach, training, IT enhancements, data analytics, capacity building, specialized clinical teams, and pilot programs.   

The MFP program provides the state with the financial flexibility to allow services to “follow the person” as older Pennsylvanians or those with a disability transition from an institutional setting back into the community.  

The award will support current and newly funded activities, including the following:   

• Nursing Home Transition Training: 700 nursing facilities will participate in training and resident education sessions so nursing facility staff can provide residents with information about the option to receive care and services. 

• Capacity Building for the Dual Diagnosis Population and Individuals Under 21: The Capacity Building Institute Strategy educates, informs, and trains staff to identify and work with individuals under 21 with developmental and intellectual disabilities.   

• START PA: The START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) PA Program aids individuals with an intellectual disability or autism. 

• Trauma Awareness and Intervention Programs: The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Project addresses population health needs via tele-mentoring and collaborative care.    

• Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund: The program seeks to mitigate perceived risks that landlords experience when considering renting to individuals with disabilities. The program is designed to increase this population’s ability to secure rental housing.   

• Shared-Housing Project: The Shared Housing and Resource Exchange (SHARE) Program addresses the need for affordable housing options for seniors by matching senior homeowners with individuals of all ages seeking a home. SHARE operates in 13 counties, including Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, and Northampton.