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
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
providing for intellectual disability and autism fee schedule
rates.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 443.16. Intellectual Disability and Autism Fee
Schedule Rates.--(a) The purpose of this section is to
recognize that:
(1) Fee schedule rates should be responsive to market
conditions that affect direct support professionals who provide
care for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism.
(2) The use of a nationally recognized market index is less
costly and more efficient than the other requirements under law
or regulation regarding fee schedule rates and will produce
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19 better outcomes, higher wages and increased capacity to address
the waiting list for services for individuals with an
intellectual disability or autism.
(b) Notwithstanding 55 Pa. Code Ch. 6100 (relating to
services for individuals with an intellectual disability or
autism) or any other provision of law and subject to approval by
the Federal Government:
(1) The department shall apply a nationally recognized
market index to update fee schedule rates effective July 1 of
each year.
(2) For the twelve-month period beginning July 1, 2025, and
each July 1 thereafter, the annual fee schedule rates for direct
support professionals who care for individuals with an
intellectual disability or autism shall be increased by the
percentage change, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware and Maryland area for the most recent twelve-month
period for which figures are officially reported by the United
States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
immediately prior to the date that the adjustment is due to take
effect.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
20250SB0617PN0628 - 2 -
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