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News Release

HHS APPROVES PENNSYLVANIA'S PLAN
TO HELP MORE DISABLED ADULTS LIVE AT HOME

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the approval of Pennsylvania's plan to expand the number of disabled adults who receive assistance through Medicaid so they can remain in their homes and out of nursing facilities. The change will increase the number of people served by the waiver from 8,385 to 10,049.

Pennsylvania's newly amended home and community-based services waiver will provide services to adults age 60 and over who otherwise would require care in a nursing home. Services offered under the waiver include home support, personal care services, respite care, transportation and home delivered meals. Pennsylvania officials have the authority to increase the waiver to as many as 14,123 individuals.

"This latest waiver will give many more Pennsylvanians the kind of benefits that they need to stay out of nursing homes and remain a part of their communities," Secretary Thompson said. "President Bush and I are encouraging this type of option for people with disabilities living across the country."

Medicaid is a state and federal matching program to provide health care services to certain low-income populations, primarily children, disabled adults and the elderly. States and the federal government share the cost of the Medicaid program.

As former governors, President Bush and Secretary Thompson have made it a priority to make it simpler and easier for governors to submit Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program waiver requests and to have those requests considered promptly. Since January 2001, HHS has approved waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to more than 2 million people and enhanced benefits for more than 6 million people.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: December 3, 2002