Q: Can multiple counties submit one COMCARE loan application?
A: Multiple counties can submit one application with the appropriate signatures. The information sheet should contain the intended use of the borrowed monies and the allocated amount that each county will be responsible for repaying.
Q: Do joinders incur one administrative proccessing fee or is there an administrative processing fee for each county within the joinder?
A: Each application is assessed a flat administrative fee of $300. There is no correlation between the fee and number of counties on the application.
Q: Does the Debt Act apply to the COMCARE loans?
A: No, it does not apply to all of the loans that COMCARE offers. The only type of loan that falls under the Debt Act is the Small Capital Borrowing, which is used to purchase hard assets such as computers and office equipment.
Q: Is repayment based upon the Human Service Program's or the County's fiscal year?
A: Repayment is based upon the County's calendar fiscal year.
Q: What documents should accompany the COMCARE Loan Application?
A: We require the most recent copy of the county's debt statement, borrowing base certificate and the county's financial audit.
Q: Why don't working capital loans fall under the Debt Statement under Local Government Unit Debt Act (LGUDA)?
A: Please reference Section 8002a of the Debt Act, Exception 3.
Q: How are membership dues calculated?
A: Membership dues are calculated using the number of MA recipients provided by the Office of Income Maintenance (including those that are voluntarily enrolled individuals), based on the average number of MA recipients at the end of each month for the 12-month period. They are calculated using the prior year's MA data.
Q: When are the dues for COMCARE sent out?
A: Renewal dates are staggered. For the majority of the counties, the dues notices are sent out in April. For those counties that join the program during a month other than April, their dues notices are sent out based on the date joined.
Q: COMCARE is an acronym for what?
A: County Managed Care Resources
Q: What does COMCARE do for the counties of Pennsylvania?
A: COMCARE provides the counties of PA with a resource to assist them with the planning, implementation, and administration of managed behavioral healthcare, specifically the HealthChoices program. Members can choose from a variety of service offerings.
Q: What is HealthChoices?
A: HealthChoices is the name of PA’s 1915 (B) waiver program to provide mandatory managed healthcare to medical assistance recipients.
Q: What is managed care?
A: Managed care is an organized system for delivering comprehensive mental health services that allows the managed care entity to determine was services will be provided to an individual in return for a prearranged financial payment.
Q: What is the difference between training and mentoring?
A: Training is a formal classroom approach, while mentoring is less formal, with mentors providing general knowledge on the topic area, and engaging in open conversation with the participants.
Q: Who is eligible to win the Scholarship Lottery?
A: The Scholarship Lottery is available to all members of COMCARE. Counties can win once until all members have had the opportunity to attend a conference. COMCARE recognizes all counties as separate members. Therefore, all members of a joinder have the opportunity to win the scholarship lottery.
Q: How do COMCARE members log in to the members only section of the website?
A: Members need to click on 'Members Log In', which is located in the upper right hand corner of the homepage. When the pop-up box appears, members need to enter their user id and password, which is given at the time of membership.