Long-Term Care Services | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Source: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/aging-physical-disabilities/long-term-care-services
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
Long-Term Care Services | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Long-Term Care Services
Long-term care, sometimes referred to as long-term living, is a wide range of assistive services provided to an individual based on their needs. Care may range from assistance around the home to sophisticated medical care provided in a nursing facility. If you are looking for programs and services for older Pennsylvanians beyond long-term care, please visit the
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
.
Ready to apply or renew your LTC benefits?
Start your application or renewal in the following ways:
Online via
COMPASS
Call the Consumer Service Center at
1-866-550-4355
Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm
Send a paper application to your local
County Assistance Office
by mail, fax, or in-person drop off
Application and Renewal Process Resources
Need additional support?
The resources below can help inform you of the LTC eligibility process and tell you what to expect when you take common actions. This includes applying, renewing, or providing pending documentation to the Department of Human Services (DHS).
LTC Application Process and Pending Documentation Checklist
This provides an overview of the application process and a helpful list of documentation that applicants may need to submit to verify financial and non-financial eligibility for LTC.
LTC Application Process and Pending Documentation PowerPoint
This PowerPoint presentation is designed to educate LTC providers, other community partners, and individuals on the application process and the documentation applicants may need to provide.
LTC Renewal Overview PowerPoint
This PowerPoint presentation is also designed for the education of LTC providers, other community partners, and LTC recipients on the renewal process.
Available LTC Services
You can apply for or renew your long-term care benefits online by using
COMPASS
. COMPASS is the name of the website where you can apply for long-term care services and many other programs that can help you make ends meet, including:
Alternatives to Nursing Homes
Explore options for receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) at home or in other facilities besides a nursing home.
Medicaid and Payment of Long-Term Care Services
Provides an overview of Medicaid eligibility for LTC services coverage and what this coverage pays for.
Pharmacy Services
Outlines the Medicaid prescription drug benefit and provides forms, procedures, and preferred drug lists.
Long-Term Care Handbook
This LTC Handbook reflects the policy used by DHS to determine and manage eligibility for LTC.
Apply for LTC and HCBS by Phone
Starting June 16, 2025,
the Consumer Service Center will begin taking long-term care (LTC) and home and community-based services (HCBS) applications over the phone. Call 1-866-550-4355 to apply today.
Call to Apply for LTC & HCBS Services
Services My Way (SMW)
A system of supports to assist participants in using self-directed services. Two types of supports are:
Information and Assistance (I&A)
— These services assist participants in developing and managing their self-directed support services (e.g. assistance with developing and implementing a service plan and budget, accessing services and workers). They are often referred to as support brokers, consultants, or service coordinators. The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) refers to them as care managers in the Aging Waiver and service coordinators in the Attendant Care Waiver.
Financial Management Services (FMS)
— These services are provided to (a) prepare and distribute payroll and address federal, state, and local employment tax, labor, and workers compensation insurance rules and other requirements that apply when the participant functions as the employer of his or her workers; (b) make financial transactions on behalf of the participant; and (c) generate reports for participants and state program agencies.
Enrollment Form
Representative Screening Questionnaire
Designation for Authorized Representative
Backup Support Service Worker
Disenrollment Form
FMS Stakeholder Presentation — June 2021
FMS Vendor Transition Presentation
Long-Term Care Waivers
Community HealthChoices
OBRA Waiver
Waiver Participant Informational Materials
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Specialized Services
If you are a nursing facility resident, Specialized Services may be available to help you. This service provides training, encouragement, and other tangible supports, which could enable you to acquire, regain, improve, or maximize your skills and abilities, to live a more productive and satisfying life as close to home as possible.
To be eligible for Specialized Services, you must:
Be a nursing facility resident
Have other related condition(s) occurring before the age of 22 as mandated by the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA 87) and provided as agreed to in the Richardson Settlement Agreement
Other related conditions (ORCs) include physical, sensory, or neurological disabilities which manifested before age 22, are likely to continue indefinitely, and result in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:
Capacity for independent living
Mobility
Self-direction
Learning
Understanding and use of language
Self-care
Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Services that may be available to you include:
Community integration activities
Consumer training
Equipment/assessment
Peer counseling and support groups
Supports coordination and advocacy
Transportation services
OLTL Helpline
Call the toll-free Long-Term Living Helpline at 1-800-753-8827. |
Call the Helpline
Additional Support
If you need additional help finding information about services, please call the Office of Long-Term Living Bureau of Individual Support at 717-787-8091. |
Call OLTL
Do you have questions?
We want to help! If you have questions concerning your LTC or HCBS benefits, contact the DHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.
Call the DHS Customer Service Center
Additional Long-Term Care Resources
Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB)
OIM Recent Operations Memoranda and Policy Clarifications
COMPASS Community Partner Informational PowerPoint Presentation
Long-Term Care Services
Long-term care, sometimes referred to as long-term living, is a wide range of assistive services provided to an individual based on their needs. Care may range from assistance around the home to sophisticated medical care provided in a nursing facility. If you are looking for programs and services for older Pennsylvanians beyond long-term care, please visit the
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
.
Ready to apply or renew your LTC benefits?
Start your application or renewal in the following ways:
Online via
COMPASS
Call the Consumer Service Center at
1-866-550-4355
Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm
Send a paper application to your local
County Assistance Office
by mail, fax, or in-person drop off
Application and Renewal Process Resources
Need additional support?
The resources below can help inform you of the LTC eligibility process and tell you what to expect when you take common actions. This includes applying, renewing, or providing pending documentation to the Department of Human Services (DHS).
LTC Application Process and Pending Documentation Checklist
This provides an overview of the application process and a helpful list of documentation that applicants may need to submit to verify financial and non-financial eligibility for LTC.
LTC Application Process and Pending Documentation PowerPoint
This PowerPoint presentation is designed to educate LTC providers, other community partners, and individuals on the application process and the documentation applicants may need to provide.
LTC Renewal Overview PowerPoint
This PowerPoint presentation is also designed for the education of LTC providers, other community partners, and LTC recipients on the renewal process.
Available LTC Services
You can apply for or renew your long-term care benefits online by using
COMPASS
. COMPASS is the name of the website where you can apply for long-term care services and many other programs that can help you make ends meet, including:
Alternatives to Nursing Homes
Explore options for receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) at home or in other facilities besides a nursing home.
Medicaid and Payment of Long-Term Care Services
Provides an overview of Medicaid eligibility for LTC services coverage and what this coverage pays for.
Pharmacy Services
Outlines the Medicaid prescription drug benefit and provides forms, procedures, and preferred drug lists.
Long-Term Care Handbook
This LTC Handbook reflects the policy used by DHS to determine and manage eligibility for LTC.
Apply for LTC and HCBS by Phone
Starting June 16, 2025,
the Consumer Service Center will begin taking long-term care (LTC) and home and community-based services (HCBS) applications over the phone. Call 1-866-550-4355 to apply today.
Call to Apply for LTC & HCBS Services
Services My Way (SMW)
A system of supports to assist participants in using self-directed services. Two types of supports are:
Information and Assistance (I&A)
— These services assist participants in developing and managing their self-directed support services (e.g. assistance with developing and implementing a service plan and budget, accessing services and workers). They are often referred to as support brokers, consultants, or service coordinators. The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) refers to them as care managers in the Aging Waiver and service coordinators in the Attendant Care Waiver.
Financial Management Services (FMS)
— These services are provided to (a) prepare and distribute payroll and address federal, state, and local employment tax, labor, and workers compensation insurance rules and other requirements that apply when the participant functions as the employer of his or her workers; (b) make financial transactions on behalf of the participant; and (c) generate reports for participants and state program agencies.
Enrollment Form
Representative Screening Questionnaire
Designation for Authorized Representative
Backup Support Service Worker
Disenrollment Form
FMS Stakeholder Presentation — June 2021
FMS Vendor Transition Presentation
Long-Term Care Waivers
Community HealthChoices
OBRA Waiver
Waiver Participant Informational Materials
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Participant Informational Packet
Abuse Neglect Exploitation
Self Direction
Appeal and Fair Hearing
Specialized Services
If you are a nursing facility resident, Specialized Services may be available to help you. This service provides training, encouragement, and other tangible supports, which could enable you to acquire, regain, improve, or maximize your skills and abilities, to live a more productive and satisfying life as close to home as possible.
To be eligible for Specialized Services, you must:
Be a nursing facility resident
Have other related condition(s) occurring before the age of 22 as mandated by the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA 87) and provided as agreed to in the Richardson Settlement Agreement
Other related conditions (ORCs) include physical, sensory, or neurological disabilities which manifested before age 22, are likely to continue indefinitely, and result in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:
Capacity for independent living
Mobility
Self-direction
Learning
Understanding and use of language
Self-care
Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Services that may be available to you include:
Community integration activities
Consumer training
Equipment/assessment
Peer counseling and support groups
Supports coordination and advocacy
Transportation services
OLTL Helpline
Call the toll-free Long-Term Living Helpline at 1-800-753-8827. |
Call the Helpline
Additional Support
If you need additional help finding information about services, please call the Office of Long-Term Living Bureau of Individual Support at 717-787-8091. |
Call OLTL
Do you have questions?
We want to help! If you have questions concerning your LTC or HCBS benefits, contact the DHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.
Call the DHS Customer Service Center
Additional Long-Term Care Resources
Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB)
OIM Recent Operations Memoranda and Policy Clarifications
COMPASS Community Partner Informational PowerPoint Presentation