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With the completion of the training for the Cost Report and Personnel Roster documents, it is time to begin completing both, as the deadline is set for January 16, 2024. Completed documents should be uploaded using the PA EI Rate Study website’s “Submit Data” tab.
The following resources are available on the PA EI Rate Study website:
Questions about next steps? Attend a Cost Report and Personnel Roster Office Hour. Available time slots are listed below:
If you have any questions, please send them electronically or contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) published a bulletin on patient smoking on June 15, 1993, to clarify smoke-free living areas. The Department now requires all state hospitals to be smoke-free facilities, which was announced during the Department’s press release on December 11, 2018. The facilities are to offer smoking cessation programs and support as needed, including nicotine patches, gum, or other replacement items permissible for both patients (if approved/supported by the treatment team, primarily for new admissions) and staff.
View the full announcement on rescission of Bulletin SMH-93-02, Patient Smoking, here. Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed via email.
If you have additional questions or would like RCPA to submit comments, please contact RCPA Mental Health Services Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) is currently accepting applications for the PA-SUN Request for Applications (RFA). Hospitals and Health Systems, on behalf of their ED(s), are invited to apply to the Department in accordance with RFA # 67-166.
The Department is interested in funding applications addressing building and implementing health system-wide clinical capacity to screen, diagnose, and support longitudinal care for opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulant use disorder (StUD) as well as support recovery for adults and adolescents.
The overall goal of this funding is to promote and support ED linkage to care via multidisciplinary teams utilizing navigators, to include strategies like focused connections during care for conditions that may represent sequelae of substance use and enhanced universal screening for substance use disorder (SUD) among patients presenting for other reasons to EDs to identify new opportunities to engage in and link to care.
All questions regarding this RFA must be directed via email, no later than 12:00 pm on December 4, 2023. All questions must include the specific section of the RFA about which the potential applicant is requesting clarification. Answers to all questions will be posted on PA eMarketplace. To review the responses to posed questions, select ‘Solicitations’ and search for RFA #67-166. Applications must be received no later than 1:30 pm on January 16, 2024.
An additional update regarding the educational modules: By end of year 2023, the PA-SUN team intends to release asynchronous (self-study) education modules to aid EDs in increasing knowledge on topics such as harm reduction, buprenorphine initiation, linkage to care, and stigma. For updates regarding the education modules please visit the PA-SUN website.
As part of the ongoing efforts by the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) to assist children’s providers in the states’ trauma-informed initiative, these offices have partnered with PA Care Partnership to provide any child welfare professionals in Pennsylvania FREE Trauma Training by Lakeside Global through September 30, 2024, or while funding is available. Available trainings will be offered in-person or live via a web-based platform.
For individuals looking for Trauma Training, there are multiple cohorts for courses and workshops scheduled on specific dates and times.
Trainings available include the following:
Questions?
If you already registered for training and did not receive a training link, here are your contacts:
If you have any additional questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting a study to help them improve your experience with Medicare program and billing resources. Share your thoughts with them by taking this survey today. Responses are confidential, and the survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.
CMS thanks you for your time and valuable feedback.