Community HealthChoices: Pennsylvania's Medicaid long-term care program

Last verified: October 2026

What is Community HealthChoices?

Community HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvania's mandatory Medicaid managed care program for adults 21 and older who are either dual eligible for Medicare and Medical Assistance or need long-term services and supports because they meet a nursing-facility level of care; it covers physical health care plus, for those who qualify, home and community-based services.

Sources: PA DHS: Apply for CHC.

Which CHC plans can Pittsburgh-area members choose?

Three CHC managed care plans are currently available: AmeriHealth Caritas, PA Health & Wellness, and UPMC Community HealthChoices; behavioral health benefits are provided separately by behavioral health managed care organizations.

A Pennsylvania appeals court on April 2, 2026 threw out DHS's 2024 selection of five CHC plans and ordered the selection redone; the Pennsylvania Health Law Project reported that the three existing plans continue and nothing changes for members for now.

Sources: Pennsylvania Health Law Project, May 1, 2026.

What does CHC pay for at home?

For members who qualify for long-term services and supports, CHC pays for services such as personal assistance services, respite, home-delivered meals, residential habilitation, service coordination and vehicle modifications, along with the medical benefits every member gets.

CHC does not pay room and board in a personal care home or assisted living residence, so a member who moves into one still pays the home's monthly rate from income.

How do you apply for Community HealthChoices?

If long-term services are needed, contact the Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227, which arranges an in-person assessment at home, in a hospital or in a nursing facility and helps with the Medical Assistance application; financial eligibility is decided by the county assistance office.

The Medical Assistance application can also be filed online through COMPASS or by phone at 1-866-550-4355. CHC questions go to the CHC Helpline at 1-844-824-3655.

Can CHC help someone living in a personal care home?

Yes, partly: a CHC member who meets the nursing-facility level of care can receive some home and community-based services while living in a personal care home or assisted living residence, but CHC does not pay the home's room and board, so the resident still needs income such as SSI plus the state supplement or savings to pay the monthly rate.

Community HealthChoices: what it is and is not