Sellers Dorsey Worked with Commonwealth
to Develop LTSS Report and Recommendations
January 12, 2015 HARRISBURG, PA – After nearly a year-long and deliberative process to engage a wide range of stakeholders to address issues facing the long term services and support system in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett officially accepted the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Long Term Care Commission last week.
Since creation of the Commission by executive order last year, Sellers Dorsey together with its collaborator, Leavitt Partners, supported the Commission in its activities. The team facilitated the Commission meetings, assisted with workgroups in developing proposals, gathered and presented information to the Commission, and worked with Commonwealth staff from the Pennsylvania Departments of Aging and Human Services to draft the report summarizing the Commission’s recommendations and proposed strategies.
The Commission’s report, which was unanimously approved, was submitted to Governor Corbett late last year. The report was the culmination of a process that involved extensive public input, including seven public meetings throughout the Commonwealth, a comprehensive study of the financing, delivery, and reimbursement for long term services and supports (LTSS) in the state, and robust discussions among Commissioners and work group members. As a result of this process, the Commission reached consensus on four broad recommendations – improve service coordination, improve service delivery, improve quality and outcomes, and make the system more fiscally sustainable – and proposed a series of concrete actionable strategies to support those recommendations.
The Pennsylvania Long Term Care Commission was comprised of 25 members representing all aspects of the LTSS system: consumers, community based providers, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, the medical community, managed care organizations with experience in long-term care, nursing homes, county officials, and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Commission met throughout 2014 to consider issues related to prevention and caregiver support, accessibility of services, coordination of services, and ensuring quality outcomes.
“I applaud Governor Corbett for forming the Commission and supporting its extensive public input process. Our firm was honored to work with the Commission and Commonwealth staff on this project. By bringing together key voices to consider the challenges and opportunities around long term services and supports, Pennsylvania is now well positioned with a plan to strategically improve its system for older adults and adults with physical disabilities. As baby boomers age and require these services, other states should undertake similar efforts to study their systems and prepare for the future,” said Harvey Hurdle, CEO of Sellers Dorsey.
“I congratulate the commissioners on their hard work, open and frank discussions, and their willingness to reach consensus. Their engagement and dedication greatly helped in our efforts to facilitate the process and to ultimately reach unanimous support for the report and its recommendations,” said Marty Sellers, Founder and Chairman of Sellers Dorsey. Sellers Dorsey works with the public and private sectors to transform the payment, delivery, and reimbursement systems in public health care. The firm has worked with several other states to engage stakeholders on the future of healthcare and has worked with stakeholders, providers and health plans to adapt and navigate the changing policy and financing landscapes.
