SB 617 — An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for intellectual disability and autism fee schedule rates.

PRINTER'S NO.    628

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 617
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY COMITTA, L. WILLIAMS, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, SCHWANK,
        COSTA, KANE, PENNYCUICK AND MUTH, APRIL 11, 2025

     REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 11, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
 3      welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
 4      providing for intellectual disability and autism fee schedule
 5      rates.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.     The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
 9   as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
10   read:
11      Section 443.16.     Intellectual Disability and Autism Fee
12   Schedule Rates.--(a)    The purpose of this section is to
13   recognize that:
14      (1)   Fee schedule rates should be responsive to market
15   conditions that affect direct support professionals who provide
16   care for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism.
17      (2)   The use of a nationally recognized market index is less
18   costly and more efficient than the other requirements under law
19   or regulation regarding fee schedule rates and will produce
 1   better outcomes, higher wages and increased capacity to address
 2   the waiting list for services for individuals with an
 3   intellectual disability or autism.
 4      (b)    Notwithstanding 55 Pa. Code Ch. 6100 (relating to
 5   services for individuals with an intellectual disability or
 6   autism) or any other provision of law and subject to approval by
 7   the Federal Government:
 8      (1)    The department shall apply a nationally recognized
 9   market index to update fee schedule rates effective July 1 of
10   each year.
11      (2)    For the twelve-month period beginning July 1, 2025, and
12   each July 1 thereafter, the annual fee schedule rates for direct
13   support professionals who care for individuals with an
14   intellectual disability or autism shall be increased by the
15   percentage change, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All
16   Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
17   Delaware and Maryland area for the most recent twelve-month
18   period for which figures are officially reported by the United
19   States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
20   immediately prior to the date that the adjustment is due to take
21   effect.
22      Section 2.    This act shall take effect immediately.




20250SB0617PN0628                   - 2 -