PRINTER'S NO. 1696
No. 260 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY D. WHITE, CORMAN, KASUNIC, FERLO, BOSCOLA,
PILEGGI, LEMMOND, PICCOLA, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, EARLL, CONTI,
LOGAN, WAUGH AND GREENLEAF, APRIL 17, 2006
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, APRIL 17, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a comprehensive study and cost review of personal
3 care home services in Pennsylvania, including the actual
4 costs incurred to operate a personal care home.
5 WHEREAS, There are 1,549 licensed personal care homes within
6 Pennsylvania, both nonprofit and for profit, that serve
7 approximately 50,000 residents; and
8 WHEREAS, Personal care homes are designed to provide safe,
9 humane, comfortable and supportive residential settings for
10 adults who do not require the services in or of a licensed long-
11 term care facility but who require assistance or supervision
12 with activities of daily living; and
13 WHEREAS, The Department of Public Welfare oversees the
14 licensing of personal care homes through licensing regulations
15 in 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2600, which contains the minimum requirements
16 that shall be met to obtain a license to operate a personal care
17 home; and
18 WHEREAS, Personal care home licensing regulations strengthen
1 health and safety protections for personal care home residents
2 based on current information and research and incorporate state-
3 of-the-art program concepts; and
4 WHEREAS, New regulatory requirements contained in 55 Pa. Code
5 Ch. 2600 have imposed additional costs on personal care homes,
6 thus increasing operational costs; and
7 WHEREAS, A comprehensive review of the operational costs
8 incurred by personal care homes has not been conducted; and
9 WHEREAS, Regulations under 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2600 will have a
10 significant impact on the approximately 50,000 residents in
11 Pennsylvania's personal care homes; and
12 WHEREAS, A comprehensive review would be beneficial for
13 personal care home operational and administrative purposes;
14 therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
16 Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study and cost
17 review of personal care home services in Pennsylvania, including
18 the actual costs incurred to operate a personal care home; and
19 be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
21 prepare a report of its findings which, at a minimum, includes:
22 (1) A comparison of the cost of operating a small
23 personal care home, defined as serving eight or fewer
24 residents, and the cost of operating a large personal care
25 home, defined as serving nine or more residents.
26 (2) A comparison of the costs for personal care homes
27 that serve SSI residents and personal care homes that do not.
28 (3) A comparison of the cost of operating both small and
29 large personal care homes prior to and after the
30 implementation of 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2600.
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1 (4) Costs determined to be one-time costs and costs
2 determined to be ongoing, including staff and administrator
3 training costs.
4 (5) Potential effects of the additional regulatory
5 requirements outlined in 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2600 on personal
6 care homes throughout Pennsylvania.
7 (6) An analysis of the potential impact personal care
8 home closings will have on current residents and the possible
9 effect on the Commonwealth's budget.
10 (7) The impact on residents of personal care homes which
11 may have closed or will close due to the effects of
12 additional regulatory requirements;
13 and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
15 report all findings, conclusions and recommendations to the
16 Senate within six months of the adoption of this resolution.
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