PA HR134

Joint State Government Commission directed to conduct a study on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs administered by the Office of Long-Term Living and Office of Developmental Programs, with report due within 24 months of adoption

Study must examine whether HCBS waivers meet medical needs of recipients, barriers to hiring direct care workers, challenges to avoiding institutionalization, and disparities between OLTL and ODP programs including employment outcomes (18% of ODP waiver participants ages 18-64 employed in integrated settings in 2023)

Commission required to convene a 27-member advisory committee including state agency representatives, legislators, disability advocates, waiver recipients, family members, health care providers, and a health care economist

Study must compare service menus, worker wages, and benefits between OLTL and ODP waivers, and evaluate how other states accommodate individuals with disabilities using the federal definition of "developmental disabilities"

Advisory committee to be dissolved no later than six months after final report is issued to the House of Representatives