[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6301823,"mediaKeyId","2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263","parentId",2484001,"title","DOC and lawmakers discuss Medicaid 11/15 waiver, reentry services and possible effects of CCC closures","audioSeconds",2679,"startMs",2679000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263&start=2679&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263/thumbnail_2679000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6301823/Pennsylvania/DOC-and-lawmakers-discuss-Medicaid-1115-waiver-reentry-services-and-possible-effects-of-CCC-closures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301823-1b9db6a3ab9caaeaa175715e5b2f25c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452583&Signature=OFiPvZceTMfe6vgBSpA3OYW44xMFsu5l-TZgVG9pqZeqoOu3lMIWvZxVlUHty7uLrQdXffIkv2HuBr5sYxeWnXnH~3a8L0PKbeAN5e9ogYTcTVW2tuB9eswRcCG-9GefGC1LmrpOmc-DSFFzNJeIAdbuiEgJK0EO4U75kRqHkegidn4JIVx5cGj16auUVdVPHWB5Ik2GtwoPUeMZhDDtaUyfuYLKFIUyojKZ~IUPwoBwWq9n4wcClIOqouZpQn9VBvFqPQUMeJ73QGpMoWO25d75ERGQiBsRnuHcSEYPilJYOuBp7zjIcWs39zFn-s1Co~d4hzhQ5dNFksLaRsn-kQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennsylvania House of Representatives","date","2025-03-04T05:22:24Z","article","The Department of Corrections told lawmakers it supports the 11/15 Medicaid waiver as a way to improve reentry outcomes, provide a Medicaid match for treatment in the 90 days before release and reduce overdose and recidivism risks, but said legislative changes are required to fully implement some waiver functions.

Deputies described four primary goals of DOC participation in the 11/15 waiver: improving warm handoffs to community providers at release, reducing overdose risk during the high‑risk weeks after release, concentrating services on vulnerable populations (substance use disorders, serious mental illness, autism spectrum) and expanding access to MAT (medication‑assisted treatment) with federal match dollars. “Ninety days, we can start to treat them with Medicaid dollars, have a federal match, and then we can expand,” one deputy said.

Committee members asked how the waiver would affect the DOC budget. DOC officials said any savings would be reinvested into treatment services; they also said the larger fiscal savings for Medicaid and human services would accrue to the Department of Human Services. DOC noted that some legislative changes are still necessary to maximize the waiver’s benefits, and lawmakers said they would reintroduce enabling legislation.

Separately, committee members asked about the governor’s proposal to close two community corrections centers (CCCs), including one in Warrnansville. DOC said it does not expect parole violator rates to rise because of the proposed CCC closures and said technical parole violator counts were actually down in the prior year (technical parole violators down 10%, criminal parole violators down 3%). Deputy EDS said DOC oversight teams will continue to monitor reentry placement and that contracted halfway houses remain part of the continuum of care. DOC staff also described contract facility coordinators (CFCs) who conduct weekly oversight visits of contracted facilities.

Ending: DOC and lawmakers agreed to continue coordination with DHS on waiver implementation and to follow up on whether CCC closures will reduce reentry infrastructure or shift demand to private halfway houses; DOC asked for written stakeholder feedback during Act 133.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations Committee --March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","DOC officials and legislators discussed an 11/15 Medicaid waiver to support pre‑release treatment and reentry services and debated whether closing two community corrections centers will increase pressure on private halfway houses.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29233,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301828,"DOC credits recruitment changes for falling vacancies but mandatory overtime remains a concern",0,2034000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263&start=2034&end=2034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263/thumbnail_2034000.jpg","/articles/6301828/Pennsylvania/DOC-credits-recruitment-changes-for-falling-vacancies-but-mandatory-overtime-remains-a-concern","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301828-75f5bd074e5230f32eccab84bf1a7ea7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452583&Signature=crqGozDBZoXavqiCxM44C2LkBd6c6eBKLUxvcqkJbMEjdEgkahaK4KnpzfDTzoA67hiia3MC00fF~brDe~9OWcIudJobkFwZBdVXE2u1heUwD6js5-Dz7HHzk9MWvwww3-~yk1~JqyXZ2ArI6qaX3D3K9o69uasbpCpUk25LCEjoI3Fu6L~DFgug~3ysXcjya~sSPLt7CHxfdx1CWW0LiOovhdUoz3lfIZH1zjIV9O~U6McIqjs2jG1E6n6eTzGX94UwBYlv91UCbnBMyMz1rpzqI3usx1gvAQC31MKwmDjX5g6zwydN2xqdi881XqJi6Oi0X8qhxXFPz9k0I7iong__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Corrections leaders defended recruitment and retention measures, saying they have reduced vacancies while acknowledging persistent staffing pressures that drive overtime.

Secretary Laurel Harry said the department lowered the minimum trainee age to 18 in January 2023 and that the change has produced better retention: the DOC reported hiring 211 individuals under age 21 and lower early‑separation rates for that cohort. “For the first 9 months, only 4.7 percent of those individuals end up washing out or leaving our system,” Harry said, contrasting that with a 25.3 percent attrition rate among older new hires in the same period.

DOC officials said other steps — faster time‑to‑hire, recruitment events and contractual pay increases — also helped shrink vacancies: the department said its vacancy pool has fallen from a high of roughly 930 vacancies in late 2022 to about 420 vacancies at the time of testimony (a roughly 4.8% vacancy rate). DOC said monthly hiring and retention incentives and improvements in onboarding are producing progress, though some job classes (notably registered nurses and LPNs) still show higher vacancy counts.

On overtime, the DOC reported overall overtime declines over four years but a small increase in mandatory overtime from 13% to 15% year‑over‑year; voluntary overtime has decreased. Committee members asked for facility‑level breakdowns of mandatory overtime and vacancies; the DOC agreed to provide this data as follow‑up.

DOC also described other retention steps: targeted retention bonuses for registered nurses (annual payments) and collective‑bargaining adjustments that increased starting pay for Correctional Officer Trainees to about $47,000 with a step to roughly $50,000 after one year on the job.

Ending: Lawmakers urged continued monitoring. DOC said it will provide facility‑level vacancy and overtime statistics and continue recruitment strategies, including limited out‑of‑state hiring where appropriate.","DOC told lawmakers it has reduced correction‑officer vacancies by expanding trainee hiring to age 18 and shortening hiring timelines, but mandatory overtime rose slightly and the department still faces staffing challenges in nursing and other licensed roles.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301833,"Lawmakers press DOC on inmate medical contractor, Legionella tests and false positive drug results at SCI Phoenix",168,1118000,1286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263&start=1118&end=1286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263/thumbnail_1118000.jpg","/articles/6301833/Pennsylvania/Lawmakers-press-DOC-on-inmate-medical-contractor-Legionella-tests-and-false-positive-drug-results-at-SCI-Phoenix","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301833-e0e3818be70ea341b9b3d6075ebb43ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452583&Signature=VPOOiTlOACDFASaIwjY7i7xdpy2bIgONFD0L0slk8wxaiC~XCMiaX2ppzXY9N42NooDolKyWkrAlsqD2HGJXTVuv7yCEdwK0wYisRSiSqkl6-EdWXGM86mRWfpUtwT3ZidUSfSRYKOaqzOVKRLsqUBmyKaAdG6GQxME2gdMF23J6Cwe4VZdITpQvnfSe5QCMYtdYMFEkQrdFd6RucxnEZnpoFfQaQOwnTpKiwbHgUu3nr7BUuS3O2yN5DGF~~i-qUXhXKAkoSGElVfzsUVaR~GxpH9ZDK6jbLXCUOwaH7TnSyGdWBV56ETuAu1TtI2Za1DrNdXOWHeNRz7v-u-SVbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers pressed the Department of Corrections about contracting and medical care after testimony about Wellpath’s bankruptcy and reported medical problems at SCI Phoenix, including concerns about Legionella tests and allegations of false‑positive drug screenings that have affected parole applicants.

Secretary Laurel Harry told the Appropriations Committee that Wellpath — identified in testimony as the DOC’s statewide medical vendor — filed for bankruptcy in November and that the company has renegotiated payment terms with subcontractors. She said the DOC’s review shows inmate care “has not been jeopardized” and that the vendor continues to be paid for services when invoices are posted correctly. Harry added that the current contract runs through fall 2025 and that a replacement RFP has already been posted.

Lawmakers raised active medical concerns at SCI Phoenix. Committee members noted reports that at least 62 men at Phoenix have complex medical needs and that multiple individuals tested positive for Legionella. Harry said there were three individuals who tested positive for Legionella and that internal testing inside the facility did not show positive results; a cooling tower sample outside the facility returned a positive result and the DOC hired a University of Pittsburgh expert to advise on disinfection and remediation. “We do regular disinfecting…disinfecting of showerheads and cooling towers and air handling units,” she said.

Separately, Representative Kinkade asked about reports of false‑positive drug tests and asked DOC to provide the committee with counts and status updates; the department responded that they would provide additional information. DOC counsel clarified in the hearing that the tests were not “false positives” per their internal review, but acknowledged the committee’s request for a detailed count and status report.

On procurement and oversight, DOC said it can put vendors “on notice,” place contractors on contract remediation plans (CRP) and, if necessary, move to terminate contracts; officials said they regularly escalate problems with vendors at the bureau and executive levels. DOC said contractual language and standard commonwealth procurement terms would apply to any replacement vendor and that the RFP process is ongoing and therefore not open for live comment at the hearing.

Ending: Committee members asked for follow‑up documentation, including counts of individuals affected by testing issues, the status of remediation at Phoenix and the DOC’s vendor oversight timeline; DOC agreed to provide the requested information.","Committee members asked DOC leaders about Wellpath’s bankruptcy, medical care at SCI Phoenix, a cluster of Legionella tests and reports of false‑positive drug tests affecting parole; DOC said care was not jeopardized, the vendor renegotiated post‑bankruptcy terms and the department has remediation and testing protocols in place.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":79,"_43":102,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301838,"DOC says small ‘Little Scandinavia’ unit at SCI Chester shows positive early results; department aims to expand",246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263&start=246&end=246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263/thumbnail_246000.jpg","/articles/6301838/Pennsylvania/DOC-says-small-Little-Scandinavia-unit-at-SCI-Chester-shows-positive-early-results-department-aims-to-expand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301838-ae8a7e5416263041e232b0f019d29053/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452583&Signature=UMDsw7lvms-WpyoPYjJJeakoG4G5nyTA7ornu8vsmfo2rwQxk-gQUEc6auyc2CzVpab8gsy6vQsDKhqSkIgSXjeJtcDweuO7RyPKxgZOGJ2c5lP6s1Tu6qWR4LzivmdmlBEoGat6b79mFM0bUecYWQFp-NLHB0ivZ9ubIX574ca0zbY0TbkvV4qkqmOWk0AdFvO5LQwlEVT0jJmDY1LTRFB~NO8guArA8zvtXOnaBKRptEaE3nMdc4xV7oPFeqO6AcRr79PH0LBkNrqEGcBK-fEpRmh5uw8qSjOQvsHaU54yvConWIX7PDFuOQD4mbwA1TwzGOpduM~Fq7Lll1iiRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Corrections and researchers are studying an experimental housing model at SCI Chester known in testimony as “Little Scandinavia,” and department leaders told the Appropriations Committee the pilot shows promising early results and could be expanded to other sites.

Secretary Laurel Harry described the unit as modeled on Swedish correctional practices and said preliminary research in partnership with Drexel and academic partners shows positive indicators: fewer violent incidents, higher staff‑inmate interaction and improved moods among residents. “The research up to this point looks very positive,” Harry said, noting she traveled with the Chester team and met Swedish practitioners as part of the study.

DOC officials said Chester’s unit is smaller and operates differently from a typical higher‑security housing block: single cells, congregate meals, a kitchenette in the unit and staff who may exercise and eat with incarcerated residents. Harry said the unit averages about 57 occupants and has had “only 1 inmate fight on the unit,” a rate officials described as lower than comparable custody‑level housing.

How staff and inmate experiences differ: the department said staff report lower stress levels and stronger sense of purpose on the unit, which it called a staff‑wellness benefit in a challenging work environment. “They feel much calmer walking onto that unit, less stress… they definitely feel a sense of purpose,” Harry said.

Questions from lawmakers focused on how the model would scale. Harry and DOC deputies said Chester was suitable because it was designed as a smaller treatment‑oriented facility and that more research is needed before transplanting the model to maximum‑security facilities with custody‑level 4 inmates. “One of the things we want to look at with research is putting it at a maximum security facility with custody level four’s,” Harry said.

Costs and scope: the department did not provide a dollar estimate for expanding the model, but members noted that the Swedish model typically provides single cells for every resident — something DOC said would be costly in the U.S. if replicated at scale. DOC said it hopes to test the model’s core components (staff‑resident interaction, congregate food, smaller unit size) in other institutions where feasible and to measure impacts on violence and recidivism.

Ending: DOC said the unit’s initial outcomes are promising and that the department will continue research partnerships to measure operational, safety and recidivism outcomes before committing to a broader rollout.","Officials described a Scandinavian‑inspired specialized unit at SCI Chester — called 'Little Scandinavia' — with low violence and strong staff/inmate interactions; DOC said research is underway and it hopes to replicate elements at three other facilities.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301844,"Pennsylvania DOC proposes closing facilities, opens three‑month Act 133 feedback period",881,639000,1520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263&start=639&end=1520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484001-3b6113de3c91d91add2ec28e2d876263/thumbnail_639000.jpg","/articles/6301844/Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania-DOC-proposes-closing-facilities-opens-threemonth-Act-133-feedback-period","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301844-68c9275012d5a5fe01be0693f59c48e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452583&Signature=GBSsUkDwvkipjg~kI~Xgm2abAmx5lJdhsJLpTK~GOaDG~Kt1-MBVq~l9-M4ihEiHa09DJ9l7wV28Wbxf7Hxuy0gTPARSi~~ZtBAK0SsYIpZ5qM958jPPzXSld01cTPD1A2Q7dxKljTkbGtNt64wTRGLkgQjUL3eifFmToL~6ssnaSNvO2tJzUR9wiVrVuBYtn3LWX29d~yW5d8C8v6id8hnTFaeF1DrOwMfdB4MxIlpIWcGlM7vRupK-bKTfpIeQZOyZdowdFfHpEgX6Q9h3ifc-Nh1xzfGr6JmoxslRztMGV6KbRVV9TdXpEkW7-poxC57jM386B92dwiYK41Hdyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Corrections on Feb. 4 proposed closing multiple facilities — including SCI Rock View and a Chesapeake‑area boot camp listed in testimony as “Kehana boot camp” — and said it would accept public and local‑official feedback during a three‑month Act 133 process before making any final decisions.

The proposal is meant to respond to a sustained drop in the prison population and to reduce ongoing operating and capital costs, Secretary Laurel Harry told the House Appropriations Committee. “These are proposed closures. We have not made a final decision yet because we are in the 3 month feedback period,” Harry said.

Why it matters: the department told lawmakers it has excess capacity across the system and must weigh the high cost of maintaining older facilities against mission needs. Committee members pressed department officials on how closure decisions were made, who served on the internal steering committee and what local impacts would look like for staff, county services and utilities.

Officials described how the steering committee compiled data on expenditures, infrastructure needs, staffing and specialized housing to identify sites that could be closed with “the least impact on staff, inmates, programs, and [the DOC’s] mission of rehabilitation and public safety,” Deputy Secretary Christopher Ottman told the panel. Ottman said the steering committee includes bureau chiefs from administration, population management, facilities, planning and security and that the committee met multiple times beginning in January before the announcement.

Lawmakers pressed for more local engagement and for clarity about costs. Secretary Harry said the department calculates capital projects over a multi‑year plan and that Rock View carries an estimated $74,000,000 in needed capital work over a 10‑year horizon, a major factor in the review. The department also warned that closed properties sometimes must be held and maintained for years as the Department of General Services pursues reuse or sale, which can leave continuing costs on the state budget.

Local officials and some committee members said they were concerned by the timing and the potential local economic effects of closures. Representative Mustela asked whether local officials had been consulted; Harry said local officials receive stakeholder letters under Act 133 and that the current 90‑day period is explicitly intended to collect that feedback. “They are a stakeholder. They received a stakeholder letter. Local officials, state other commonwealth agencies… we reach out to them and invite that feedback,” Harry said.

Operational impacts: the DOC said it expects to remain below roughly 90% capacity in male facilities and below 80% capacity in female facilities even if the proposed closures proceed. Harry and Ottman said the department believes it has available bed space to absorb populations now assigned to the proposed sites, because some vacant beds are specialized (restrictive housing, mental‑health/residential treatment, drug‑treatment beds) and not interchangeable with general‑population beds.

On reuse and utilities: the department warned that parts of a closed site sometimes must be retained because they supply utilities to neighboring facilities. Harry noted that some Rock View acreage contains reservoirs and water infrastructure that also serve nearby SCI Benner, and that any disposition would involve DGS and, ultimately, legislative action.

Next steps: the Act 133 process will accept written feedback and public comment; the steering committee will review responses and make recommendations to the DOC executive team and the Governor’s office before any final decisions are announced. Until that process concludes, the department emphasized that the closures are proposals only and no final staffing or relocation orders have been issued.

Ending: Committee members asked for follow‑up documents, including the department’s 10‑year capital plan and facility‑level breakdowns of capital needs and staffing. The DOC said it will compile a final report after the feedback period that will include more facility‑level detail.","The Department of Corrections told the Appropriations Committee it has proposed several facility closures — including SCI Rock View and a boot camp — because of excess bed capacity and capital costs; the proposals are in a 90‑day Act 133 stakeholder feedback period and no final decisions have been made.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DOC and lawmakers discuss Medicaid 11/15 waiver, reentry services and possible effects of CCC closures

DOC credits recruitment changes for falling vacancies but mandatory overtime remains a concern

Lawmakers press DOC on inmate medical contractor, Legionella tests and false positive drug results at SCI Phoenix

DOC says small ‘Little Scandinavia’ unit at SCI Chester shows positive early results; department aims to expand

Pennsylvania DOC proposes closing facilities, opens three‑month Act 133 feedback period