The Pennsylvania Provider Associations representing the ID/A community have developed a unified budget request to address the service crisis resulting from a depleted Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce. Underinvestment in our workforces has resulted in below-market wages and benefits producing high turnover, widespread staff vacancies, and a reduction in services. The …Please see our letter to Governor Shapiro and TPA member talking points for further details and useful information that you may use to communicate this advocacy priority among those you serve, people within your organization, and everyone who support your mission.

TPA supports legislation to establish a nationally recognized annually applied market index to fee schedule rates. Current Pennsylvania regulations only requires that the data used in rate development be updated once every three years. As market forces change constantly people needing services, their families, and provider organizations cannot plan and invest accordingly with no guarantee that service funding will not keep pace with inflation. TPA has successfully introduced legislation in the previous two legislative sessions and will continue to work diligently to obtain bipartisan support for this critical issue that we believe to be an essential element of a service system intended to support people for their entire life.

The Prudent Payment Policy is a directive implemented in 2006 that permits the state to delay payment to service providers. While the Prudent Payment policy has been suspended during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency there is no guarantee the suspension will continue. If reinstated Prudent Payment would delay reimbursement of claims by an additional 21 days. This could be devastating for cash flow and meeting essential financial obligations that directly affect services. This policy adds a burden to an already stressed system facing unprecedented workforce challenges in a single-payer system where reimbursements have not kept pace with prevailing market conditions. We believe strongly that ending this practice will ensure ID/A providers are paid promptly for the care they deliver and ensure that some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens do not lose access to critical services.

TPA supports the adoption of technology that assists individuals in all aspects of their lives. TPA promotes system simplification that enables individuals to access services easily and eliminates duplication and unnecessary administrative burdens through efficient processes and technologies.