Pennsylvania Counties Issue Letter Regarding Rate Changes for Waiver Participants
Pennsylvania Counties Issue Letter Regarding Rate Changes for Waiver Participants
If you are currently the employer of record or managing employer for your staff or the staff of the person you represent through either the Consolidated or Person Family Directed waiver you should have received the below-referenced letter and rate ranges for your County for all participant directed services. Please note that you must use the rate ranges for your County for any staff employed on or after 7/1/08. If you wish to renegotiate the rate for existing staff you must contact your supports coordinator to hold a meeting and revise your ISP. We are aware that some counties have not issued the letter and rates as they were required to do so wanted to make people aware. If you are in the Person Family Directed waiver you must remain below the cap but an increase cannot be denied to you just because your budget would increase.
July 28, 2008
Dear Waiver Participants, Families and Surrogates:In compliance with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) approved Consolidated and P/FDS Waivers and corresponding Financial Management Services Policy Bulletins, Administrative Entities (County Mental Retardation Office) were required to develop wage ranges and rates for seven
(7) of the ten (10) Participant Directed Service categories. These services are as follows:
. Unlicensed Home and Community Habilitation (2 levels)
. Unlicensed In-Home Respite (2 levels plus overnight)
. Supported Employment
. Transitional Work
. Personal Support
. Home Finding
. Homemaker/Chore
These wages ranges were recently approved by ODP for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 and must be used by participants or their surrogates (who are the employers of those workers) when negotiating rates of pay (wage) and a benefit allowance for their support service workers that are paid by a Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent Financial Management Service Organization. These wage ranges/rates are effective July 1, 2008 and continue to June 30, 2009.
For consistency statewide, each Administrative Entity was required to publish the approved wage ranges and rates via this correspondence so that you would be able to determine the rate of pay (wage) for the support service workers you employ. You must use the established wage ranges to determine the pay rate for workers hired on or after July 1, 2008. The wage ranges also apply to existing workers, however, workers with pay rates above the attached ranges/rates should not have their pay rates reduced. Existing workers with pay rates that fall within the ranges should see no impact, unless you decide you would like to renegotiate their pay rates. Please note that any new negotiated pay rate must fall within the range, and would only be implemented upon a team meeting to revise your individual support plan (ISP).
You are welcome to schedule a meeting with your Supports Coordinator to discuss these wage ranges/rates. If you plan to renegotiate worker pay rates, your Supports Coordinator may need to schedule a special meeting with you to discuss the changes and update your ISP. At a minimum, this information will be used at your next annual ISP meeting. Any changes in worker pay rates will go into effect the date of that meeting or a later date you designate as the employer. There are reasons you may decide you would like to wait to increase worker pay rates. For example, the ISP for you or the person you represent may not be able to accommodate an increase in pay or you decide to wait until the annual anniversary of the support service workers.
It is to your advantage to use these wage ranges to promote recruitment, longevity and staff morale. It is not expected that every staff will be paid the same wage and benefit allowance as good employer practices indicate that varied levels of pay are most effective in recruiting and keeping staff.
These ranges/rates should provide you or the person you represent maximum flexibility within the ranges and the ISP development when performing your employer role of negotiating wages and the benefit allowance. As the employer, you should keep a record of the final negotiated wage and benefit allowance for each support service worker you employ.
If you have any questions, please contact your Supports Coordinator Sincerely,
**********, Administrator
MH/MR/D&A/BH
Attachments
Cc:
SC and SCO Organization
Regional Program Manager
Regional Wage Range/Rate Point Person