Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) is Pennsylvania's statewide Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent (VF/EA) for both the ODP and OLTL programs. When a participant chooses self-direction, PPL handles the financial and administrative side — payroll, taxes, worker enrollment, and budget reporting — so the participant can focus on directing their own care. 

In an AWC model, the provider agency is the employer of record and retains administrative overhead from the participant's budget. In PPL's VF/EA model, the participant becomes the Common Law Employer — with full authority to hire, set wages, and manage their worker. More of the authorized budget reaches direct support hours, and the participant retains greater control over their care.  

For ODP, self-direction is available to participants enrolled in the Consolidated Waiver or the PFDS Waiver who live in their own home or a family member's home. For OLTL, self-direction is available through the OBRA Waiver and the Act 150 Program. Participants must be able to fulfill employer responsibilities or have a surrogate who can act on their behalf. 

A referral to PPL is appropriate once a participant has confirmed interest in self-direction and eligibility has been established. The Supports Coordinator submits the referral, and PPL begins enrollment for both the participant and their chosen worker. Referral guides for ODP and OLTL are available to download above. 

 Yes, and this is one of the most meaningful aspects of self-direction. Participants can hire a family member, friend, or neighbor as their Support Service Professional (ODP) or care worker (OLTL), provided that person meets eligibility requirements and clears a background check. PPL manages the background check process as part of enrollment. 

 PPL works to complete enrollment as efficiently as possible. Services cannot begin and workers cannot be paid until PPL issues a Good to Go confirmation — meaning all required paperwork is complete and the worker is set up in the payroll system. Coordinators and brokers can contact PPL directly to check enrollment status for their participants.

ODP team: 1-800-249-0861 or PAODP-CS@pplfirst.com, Monday through Saturday.

OLTL team: 1-877-908-1750 or cs-oltl@pplfirst.com.

A dedicated Supports Broker support line is also available — contact PPL directly to be connected to the right PA program team. 

Supports Coordinators (SCs) and Administrative Entities (AEs) should use MyAccount as the primary source for reviewing the remaining balance on an authorization. HCSIS is not updated until providers have been paid and claims have been submitted by PPL.

To review authorization balances in MyAccount:
1. Search for the participant.
2. Select Authorizations.
3. Review the remaining units and dollar amounts.

Please ensure sufficient units and funding remain available to support time entry submissions and vendor payments.

Rate updates are completed through the following approval workflow. The Common Law Employer must start this process.

For information on how to add an SSP's pay rate go to Guide to Submit a Rate.

There is also a paper rate sheet available here.

For new services or new SSP enrollments, the updated rate becomes effective once all required approvals have been completed by the CLE, SSP, and SC or AE.

For existing services or currently enrolled SSPs, approved rate changes become effective on the first day of the next pay period following final approval.