Team Select Home Care advocacy in PA for the House Bill

At Team Select Home Care, advocacy isn’t something we do from the sidelines. It’s woven into who we are, because the families we serve can’t afford for us to stay quiet. This week, that commitment took us to Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania HB 2164.

A Voice in the Room – Pennsylvania HB 2164

Team Select Home Care’s Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations, Bill Sczepanski, testified before the Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee in support of the Pennsylvania House Bill 2164 – legislation that could be a genuine turning point for families of medically complex children across the Commonwealth.

  1. Alongside Bill, our Manager of Government Relations, Hannah Knowles, engaged with committee members and legislative staff throughout the day – including meetings with Chair D. Williams, Republican Chair Heffley, Representatives Bellmon, Rep. Pugh, Rep. Harris, Rep. Friel Otten, staff from Senator Farry’s office, and staff from Senator Cappelletti’s office. The conversations were productive, and we left feeling something we don’t always feel in legislative chambers: genuine optimism.

Bill Sczepanski, Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations at Team Select Home Care, Testifies in Support of HB 2164

What Is Pennsylvania HB 2164 and Why Does It Matter?

For over a decade, Pennsylvania families with medically fragile children have been navigating a private duty nursing staffing crisis that has no easy fix. Their children qualify for Private Duty Nursing services through Medicaid. But finding nurses to fill those hours? That’s a different story entirely.

What many people don’t realize is that Pennsylvania’s current rules create an especially painful gap. While Medicaid allows family members to be employed by a home health agency to provide care for their child, the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing does not permit Registered Nurses to delegate skilled nursing tasks to family members – even when those family members are already providing that care every single day, unpaid, out of love and necessity.

Other states have found a better way. Pennsylvania deserves one too.

Pennsylvania HB 2164 would establish a new certification pathway, the Complex Care Assistant (CCA), for parents, guardians, and family members of medically fragile children enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance Program. Under this legislation:

  1. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services would create a CCA program within the Medical Assistance Program, allowing certified family caregivers to provide services under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
  2. The Pennsylvania Department of Health would develop training and certification requirements covering essential clinical skills: positioning, enteral feeding, catheter care, vital signs monitoring, medication administration, and more.
  3. Certified family caregivers would be compensated at an increased reimbursement rate, recognizing the complexity and skill involved in caring for a medically fragile child.

And critically, this bill does not eliminate or replace the existing Private Duty Nursing benefit. It adds an option. It gives families a seat at the table of their child’s care, with the training, oversight, and compensation to match.

What Comes Next

The response from committee members was encouraging. We are hopeful that HB 2164 will move to a committee vote within the coming weeks. If that happens, it creates real momentum and puts meaningful pressure on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Services to schedule a hearing regarding the Senate Bill 1041.

We are actively working to get the House Human Services Committee to vote on our Bill as soon as possible to ensure its progression through legislation. Every conversation Bill and Hannah had this week matters. Every voice that shows up for these families matters.

Team Select Will Keep You Updated

This is not a sprint. it’s the kind of sustained effort that changes outcomes for families who have been waiting far too long. We’ll share updates here as the bill moves forward.

If you’re a family navigating the private duty nursing shortage in Pennsylvania, or a clinician who sees this gap firsthand every day, know that Team Select Home Care is in Harrisburg fighting for you, and we won’t stop until Pennsylvania gets this right.

Team Select Home Care is a private duty nursing and home health agency serving medically complex patients across 16 states and 52+ locations. To learn more about our advocacy efforts and the families we serve, we’d love to hear from you.

Inside the State Capitol Building for the Pennsylvania HB 2164
Front view of a grand historic building with a green-domed roof, columns, and a broad flight of stone steps, framed by trees for the Pennsylvania HB 2164

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Complex Care

Pennsylvania House Bill 2164 is proposed legislation that would create a new Complex Care Assistant certification pathway for parents, guardians, and family members of medically fragile children enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance Program. The goal is to give eligible family caregivers the training, oversight, and compensation needed to help provide skilled care at home under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

A Complex Care Assistant, or CCA, would be a certified family caregiver trained to provide certain skilled care tasks for a medically fragile child at home. Under HB 2164, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services would establish the program within Medical Assistance, while the Pennsylvania Department of Health would develop training and certification requirements.

HB 2164 matters because many medically fragile children in Pennsylvania qualify for Private Duty Nursing through Medicaid but still experience unfilled nursing hours due to the ongoing staffing shortage. The bill would create another care option by allowing trained and certified family caregivers to provide support at home, helping children receive more consistent care while remaining with their families.

No. HB 2164 would not replace the existing Private Duty Nursing benefit. Instead, it would add another option for eligible families. Private Duty Nursing would remain an essential service for medically complex children who need skilled nursing care, while the Complex Care Assistant pathway could help fill gaps when nursing coverage is unavailable or inconsistent.

Under the proposed legislation, parents, guardians, and family members of medically fragile children enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance Program may be eligible to pursue Complex Care Assistant certification. Final eligibility requirements would depend on program rules, training standards, and certification requirements established by the state if the bill becomes law.

HB 2164 outlines training and certification requirements that may include essential clinical support tasks such as positioning, enteral feeding, catheter care, vital signs monitoring, medication administration, and other care needs commonly experienced by medically fragile children. Care would be provided under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

Pennsylvania’s current rules create a significant gap for families. While Medicaid may allow family members to be employed by a home health agency in some circumstances, the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing does not currently permit Registered Nurses to delegate skilled nursing tasks to family members. HB 2164 is intended to address this gap by creating a formal Complex Care Assistant pathway.

HB 2164 would support Pennsylvania families by recognizing the care many parents, guardians, and family members already provide every day. Through training, certification, Registered Nurse oversight, and reimbursement, the bill could help families care for medically fragile children more safely and sustainably at home.

Team Select Home Care testified before the Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee in support of HB 2164. Bill Sczepanski, Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations, spoke in support of the legislation, while Hannah Knowles, Manager of Government Relations, met with committee members and legislative staff to advocate for families of medically complex children across Pennsylvania.

The next step is for HB 2164 to move forward in the legislative process, including a potential committee vote. If the bill advances, it could create additional momentum and increase pressure on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Services to schedule a hearing regarding the Senate Bill 1041. Team Select Home Care will continue monitoring the bill and advocating for medically fragile children and their families in Pennsylvania.

Families can stay updated by following Team Select Home Care’s advocacy updates, contacting their state legislators, and monitoring Pennsylvania legislative activity related to HB 2164. Families navigating the Private Duty Nursing shortage can also reach out to Team Select Home Care to learn more about available home health care options and advocacy efforts.

Yes. Team Select Home Care provides Private Duty Nursing and home health care services for medically complex patients in Pennsylvania and across multiple states. Our teams support children and adults with complex care needs through skilled nursing, family-centered communication, and advocacy for better access to care at home.

Ready to Learn More?

Whether you’re exploring home health care options for the first time or looking to make a change, Team Select Home Care Indiana is ready to help.

Our teams across Indiana – from Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to Evansville and beyond – are here to answer your questions, guide you through the process, and connect your family with the care you deserve.

Because home is more than a place to receive care. It’s where life happens – and we’re honored to be part of it.

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Jennifer Frankito Chief Marketing Officer
Jennifer Frankito is the Chief Marketing Officer at Team Select Home Care, a private duty nursing and home health agency serving medically complex pediatric and adult patients across 16 states. With over a decade at Team Select and a career spanning marketing, operations, and project management, Jennifer brings a uniquely broad perspective to healthcare marketing - one built on a deep understanding of the families, nurses, and communities the organization serves. Her work is grounded in Team Select's mission to make the world a better place, and she leads a lean, mission-driven marketing team focused on building trust, elevating the brand, and connecting the right people to the care they need.
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