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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is holding a series of virtual conversations on Monday, January 29, to discuss opportunities in modernizing tele-behavioral health services within the Commonwealth. These meetings will be held using Microsoft Teams, and time will be allotted for discussion. To facilitate discussions most efficiently, OMHSAS will hold three meetings based on stakeholder type: BH-MCO/Primary Contractor/County Mental Health Administrators, licensed service providers, and individuals who access services and their families. Please choose the most appropriate webinar for you. The licensed service providers forum will be at 11:00 am. Attendance will be taken so that feedback can be cataloged accordingly.
These conversations will drive OMHSAS closer to finding solutions to the complicated work of increasing access to behavioral health services that are utilizing tele-behavioral health platforms and ensuring service recipients have a choice. This first conversation will focus on psychiatric outpatient clinic services and telehealth.
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Visit here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 290 432 891 13
Passcode: 6nz9cp
Download Teams | Join on the web
Or call in (audio only)
+1 267-332-8737,,985858579# United States, Philadelphia
Phone Conference ID: 985 858 579#
OMHSAS looks forward to you joining this critical conversation. If you have questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model to enhance integration in behavioral health. This model is designed to improve care quality, access, and outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders under Medicaid and Medicare. Community-based behavioral health practices will form interprofessional care teams to address behavioral and physical health, including health-related social needs. The IBH Model uses a “no wrong door” approach, providing access to all services, and emphasizes building health information technology capacity. The model is scheduled to launch in Fall 2024 and will operate for eight years in up to eight select states. For more information, visit the IBH Model web page, where you can find frequently asked questions, access a fact sheet on the IBH Model, and explore a fact sheet on the accomplishments of the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration.
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has updated the meeting dates for the 2024 Stakeholder Webinars. The revised schedule is as follows:
Registration and webinar links will be provided closer to each meeting date.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) have announced a nearly $300,000 grant opportunity for licensed recovery houses. The grants, capped at $50,000 each, aim to facilitate physical upgrades to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Eligible recovery house facilities can apply for health and safety enhancements, covering aspects such as demolition, rehabilitation, and environmental remediation. The application period will be open until funds are exhausted. For more details, including the application form, a comprehensive understanding of the competitive grant process, and federal application requirements, visit DDAP’s website.
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation will present a free webinar titled “Elevating Whole Person SUD Care: How The Revised & Redesigned ASAM Criteria Improves Outcomes For Patients, Providers & Payers.” The webinar is scheduled from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Expert speakers will share valuable insights into leveraging changes to improve patient outcomes and assist SUD provider organizations in increasing rates of insurance approval. Attendees will also get a first-hand look at the redesigned digital format, which was informed by addiction professionals for more effective clinical implementation. More details about the webinar are available online, and interested individuals can register here.
The Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children has published its 2023 State of Child Welfare Report, providing an analysis of child safety, placement, and permanency based on 2022 data. This 14th annual report focuses on Pennsylvania’s county-administered, state-supervised child welfare system, highlighting findings such as increases in child abuse reports in 2022. The report includes policy recommendations to address system challenges and improve outcomes for children and families. The full report, state-level data tables, and county tables can be accessed on the PA Partnerships for Children website.
RCPA would like to thank PA Partnerships for their partnership and shared advocacy on behalf of children and families in Pennsylvania.
The Infant/Toddler Provider Registry will be moving to a new website on January 29, 2024. This is a reminder that Monday, January 22 begins a blackout period from January 22–28 for the Infant Toddler Provider Registry website. Any information entered after Sunday, January 21 will not be migrated to the new site. The new website will be shared with users via email on January 29, 2024.
If you or one of your staff were unable to attend the live webinar, a presentation has been posted. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the Provider Registry resource links. Also, as a reminder, the update webinar has been posted to the EITA website and can be found at the bottom of the page.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.