HARRISBURG --- With today’s announcement by the Department of Human Services (DHS) of the Community HealthChoices (CHC) insurers, PHCA congratulates the administration and the successful health plans on this important milestone, and notes the need to move methodically while implementing CHC with consumer outcomes and choice as the focus.
“Each states system of Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), which Pennsylvania has branded Community HealthChoices, is very different and has had varying challenges in assuring access to care, saving money and improving the health of the long-term care population”, said PHCA President W. Russell McDaid.
“Our members view themselves in an important partnership with the consumers they serve, their families, DHS and the CHC health plans. We do not believe that there is a one size fits all approach and no single proven model that will guarantee this programs success,” Mr. McDaid continued.
“Under the Governor’s leadership, the Departments of Human Services and Aging have set a strong, positive tone for the program with a very open and inclusive input process. PHCA continues to believe that they should proceed carefully, and take the necessary time between the implementation of each phase to make any program modifications that may be necessary in the best interest of consumers and those providing care and services as they work to expand the program statewide,” Mr. McDaid added. “We need to ensure that those who need long-term care receive quality services in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting at each stage of their life.”
McDaid added that “No one who does not need the around-the-clock skilled care and services provided in a nursing home should be forced to reside in a nursing home merely because other options do not exist. Our members look forward to working with the Departments and the CHC health plans to make sure that consumer choice is expanded under the program. However, when a consumer has multiple chronic health care needs, and the most appropriate setting to assure they get the care and services they need is the nursing home, we need to ensure that the system is not stacked against the delivery of that care.”
“We look forward to continued collaboration with the administration, consumers, the newly named CHC health plans and the entire General Assembly to ensure that CHC is phased in to assure that it improves care and outcomes for consumers, and continues to focus our tax dollars towards care for vulnerable Pennsylvanians” he said. “We all share the same goal, which is to have a system of long-term services and supports that is person centered, coordinated and focused on preventive services and participant outcomes.”
