Bill > SB617

This bill aims to establish a more responsive and market-driven approach to setting fee schedule rates for professionals who provide care to individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism in Pennsylvania. The bill introduces a mechanism to annually update these rates using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland area. Starting July 1, 2025, fee schedule rates for direct support professionals will be automatically increased based on the percentage change in the CPI-U for the most recently reported twelve-month period, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill recognizes that using a nationally recognized market index is more cost-effective and efficient than existing rate-setting methods, and it aims to improve wages, service capacity, and outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism. The changes are subject to federal government approval and will be implemented through an amendment to the Human Services Code, with the act taking effect immediately upon passage.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=617