County to sign performance-based SCO agreement with state Office of Developmental Programs

The Board of Commissioners approved a performance-based contracting agreement with the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) that qualifies the county as a Supports Coordination Organization (SCO) for individuals enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Consolidated Community Living and Person/Family Directed Supports waivers. Cathy, a Human Services presenter, explained the state has established performance benchmarks and a tiered-rate system: meeting the base standards allows the county to continue receiving payment, and higher tiers yield higher reimbursement rates.

Cathy said the first five-year period under the new model would run Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2031, and that the state will provide technical assistance to help the county meet base performance measures. She told commissioners there is “no cost to the county at this point” and that staff aim to reach the second tier to improve the rate of payment.

Commissioners discussed the complexity of the program and complimented staff for monitoring standards and brainstorming strategies to meet them. The SCO agreement and a related Human Services item presented jointly (including a lease item described by a separate presenter) were then approved by voice vote (motion and second; vote recorded as “aye,” motion carries).