CLS provides advice and representation to people whose eligibility for Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) through Community HealthChoices or other programs is denied or terminated. In some cases, CLS can also represent people who have been denied particular services or who are not getting enough hours of care through an LTSS program. CLS also provides advice concerning Medicaid Estate Recovery
How We Can Help
What to Bring
Before you call or visit CLS, please gather any paperwork you think may be relevant, including:
- Any letters or notices you have received recently from Community Health Choices or another benefits administrator regarding HCBS.
- Recent pay stubs if you have them
- A recent bank statement
Where To Get Help
Community Legal Services
North Philadelphia Law Center
1410 West Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Mondays and Wednesdays
9:00 am -12:00 pm
Community Legal Services
215-981-3700
Thursdays 9:00am – 12:00pm
Your call will be returned within 2 business days.
About Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
Home and Community Based Services are programs that allow people who need nursing home level care to get care in their own homes instead of having to enter a nursing home. Many people receive these services through Community HealthChoices, a Medicaid program administered by the state Department of Human Services..
The long term services and supports available from Community HealthChoices include:
- Personal assistance services (help at home with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, toileting, medication reminders, meal preparation and some cleaning)
- Home delivered meals
- Home health services
- Non-medical transportation
- Respite care
- Personal Emergency Response System
- Counseling Services
- Accessibility Adaptations, Equipment, Technology and Medical Supplies
- Adult Day Care
Applicants must meet both financial and functional need eligibility requirements.
Medicaid Estate Recovery (a program through which the state Department of Human Services tries to collect the costs of Medicaid long term care after the recipient’s death) applies to Medicaid-funded long term care programs.
People who receive long term services and supports through Community HealthChoices can either receive their personal assistance services from an attendant sent by an agency or they can select and hire their own attendant, who may be a family member (except that parents cannot be paid attendants for their minor children, nor can spouses be paid
CLS’ Aging and Disabilities Unit is supported in part by funding provided by PCA and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.