Lawson v. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

NARICK, Senior Judge.

The issue presented is whether William F. Lawson (Petitioner) was denied due process because he did not receive a de novo hearing on his appeal from a decision by Homemaker Services of the Metropolitan Area, Inc. (Homemaker) to terminate his attendant care services. We hold that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (Bureau) applied the wrong standard of review and did not conduct a de novo hearing on Petitioner’s appeal and thus denied Petitioner due process. Therefore, we reverse the order of the Bureau and remand…