OCYF Trauma Team September Newsletter
Jim Sharp
JCJC Conference November 2–4: Free Registration for Provider Resource Day
The Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) is very excited to announce that the 2022 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice will return to the Hilton Harrisburg on Wednesday, November 2 through Friday, November 4, 2022. With the Conference returning to an in-person event, Resource Day will be held on Friday, November 4 between 8:00 am – 11:00 am. We invite you to join us as an exhibitor at Resource Day, where your organization can inform and educate a wide variety of conference attendees, including but not limited to juvenile court judges, juvenile court hearing officers, juvenile probation staff, attorneys, providers, and other system stakeholders.
Your long-standing devoted service to our juvenile justice system is valued, recognized, and appreciated. The past few years have provided previously unimaginable challenges, yet the provider community adapted and continued to provide high-quality services to youth and families across the Commonwealth. Again, the JCJC appreciates your perseverance and dedication to our system.
As a small sign of our appreciation, exhibitor fees for this year’s Resource Day are waived. The announcement provides details regarding this year’s conference. We truly believe attendance will be outstanding as we return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, providing a great opportunity for providers to interact with a large number of conference attendees.
If you are interested in becoming an exhibitor during this year’s event, please contact Michael Yoder, Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, electronically or at 717-705-9006.
For further information, please contact RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OCDEL Announces 3% Rate Increase Updates For 2022/23 Fee Schedule
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced a 3% increase to all Early Intervention service rates from the previously published 2022/23 fee schedule.
Through the 2022/23 budget, a permanent rate increase of 3 percent for Early Intervention Services was enacted. This rate is in addition to the 3% increase funded through ARPA-IDEA previously published rates for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The Fee Schedule includes the 3% rate increase.
The funding must be used to enhance, expand, or strengthen IDEA and HCBS services. In 2021/22, OCDEL used the combined federal funds (ARPA-IDEA Part C & HCBS FMAP increase) to support the rate increase announced for fiscal year 2021/22 across all rates for Infant/Toddler Early Intervention services.
The Fee Schedule also includes the new Place of Service code for Tele-Intervention for Early Intervention. When providing services to a child and family by Tele-Intervention, the provider must identify the Place of Service for Tele-Intervention on the billing claim in PROMISe. The Place of Service for Tele-Intervention for Early Intervention is 02. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), for the purposes of Medicaid, defines telemedicine as the use of two-way, real time interactive telecommunications technology that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment as a mode of delivering healthcare services.
NEXT STEPS:
- Infant/Toddler programs should share this announcement with all of their Early Intervention providers.
- Infant/Toddler programs and providers should review the MA Bulletin 99-22-02 for further information.
- Infant/Toddler Early Intervention programs and providers can use the updated 2022/23 fee schedule rates for services delivered on and after July 1, 2022.
- Early Intervention claims filed prior to this announcement with eligible dates of services may be resubmitted as a claims adjustment at the time and expense of the Early Intervention provider. Timely filing requirements must be abided by at all times with no exceptions or exemptions.
- Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Providers shall update any guidance and billing protocols around place of service Tele-Intervention 02. Providers will need to begin to bill using the 02 Tele-Intervention Place of Service code as of July 1, 2022.
- Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Programs will need to have a process in place to review the Place of Service 02 when analyzing provider billing.
If you have any questions, contact OCDEL or RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Pa.’s Telemedicine Waivers Create Confusion
PA Parent Alliance Offers IEP Bootcamp
You’re invited to sign up for the Parent Alliance’s IEP Bootcamp! It doesn’t matter if you’re considering asking for an IEP for your child or if you’ve been to more meetings than you can count — you will learn something new.
Each morning, for 21 days, you’ll receive information and tips about one section of the IEP to help create a plan day-by-day for reviewing, evaluating, and improving your child’s IEP. With a special focus on their behavior and emotional needs, you’ll be well prepared for every meeting.
Here is a link to sign up. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OMHSAS Releases MH Bulletin for Older Adults
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to announce the issuance of Bulletin OMHSAS-22-06 titled “Revised Bulletin for Services to Older Adults.”
In 2019, Pennsylvania ranked 7th in the United States for the largest number of adults 65 and older. In the U.S., between 2020 and 2030, the number of older adults is projected to increase by almost 18 million, a 39% increase. The fastest growing segment of the population during the next two decades is expected to be in the age 85 and older group. Social isolation and limited access to supports negatively impact the well-being of older adults.
Depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental illnesses are not a normal part of aging and should not be considered as such. As individuals age, the support networks utilized to help manage symptoms of a mental illness may change, resulting in individuals seeking services for the first time in their lives.
The development of depressive disorders occurs frequently in older adults, making it critical that comprehensive mental health evaluations are conducted based on presenting symptoms regardless of age. It is important for providers to evaluate for suicidality given that older adult males have the highest suicide completion rate of any age group.
Older persons diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder, including dementia, who are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress syndromes, and behavioral agitation, are guaranteed access to mental health services under laws and regulations of the Commonwealth.
If you have questions or concerns related to this bulletin, please email OMHSAS or contact your RCPA Policy Director.
OMHSAS/OCDEL to Host County IECMH Funding Webinar Sept. 9
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in collaboration with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), will be hosting a webinar on September 9 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am to support counties in their use of annual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) funds. This webinar will include an overview of IECMH, organizations that host IECMH-related conferences, summits, and/or trainings that are preapproved for reimbursement, and instruction for counties on how to submit an IECMH funding request that is not preapproved.
See the Program Flyer for additional details.
MEETING REGISTRATION:
Please register for the IECMH Funding Webinar on September 9, 2022, 9:00 am EDT. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Call-in Number: 415-655-0052
Access Code: 733418631#
For questions regarding the webinar, please contact Amy Kabiru or RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.
New Clinical Guide From SMI Advisor for Criminal Justice Forensics Populations
Find ways to best support individuals who have serious mental illness (SMI) and are involved with the criminal justice process.
There is a trend toward collaboration among behavioral health clinicians and the criminal justice system. Yet studies show that individuals who have SMI interact with the criminal justice system at higher rates than the general public. In fact, about two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of SMI.
This guide for mental health clinicians helps you better understand the criminal justice system process as it relates to individuals who have SMI. Learn what happens after an individual in your care is arrested or incarcerated. Gather insight on how you can best support and advocate for them.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
DHS Releases New CRC Process for Licensed Facilities
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released a new Civil Righters Compliance (CRC) process for all facilities licensed by DHS. This process is effective Monday, August 22, 2022.
There are two changes to the Civil Rights Compliance process. First, there is a new Civil Rights Compliance form when submitting a new licensing application. There is also a new Civil Rights Compliance Attestation form when submitting a licensing renewal application. Second, the process of submitting the form has changed.
| If your license is issued by… | Submit your application AND your CRC form (if new license) or CRC Attestation (if license renewal) to: |
| The Bureau of Adult Residential Licensing | RA-PWLICADBHSLPRO@pa.gov |
| The Office of Children, Youth, and Families | RA-PWLICADOCYFPRO@pa.gov |
| The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services | RA-PWLICADOMHSASPRO@pa.gov |
| The Office of Developmental Programs* | RA-odplicensing@pa.gov |
| The Office of Child Development and Early Learning*
*Licensees who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the attestations by email. The attestations are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. |
Child care providers should include their MPI number in the subject line and email the appropriate regional office:
Central Region Counties: Snyder, Perry, Juniata, Centre, Mifflin, Tioga, Lycoming, Northumberland, Union and Clinton |
| The Office of Child Development and Early Learning*
*Licensees who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the attestations by email. The attestations are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. |
Western Region Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, Warren, Washington and WestmorelandCounties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset |
Entities seeking a new license will utilize a Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) form (HS 2126). This form must be included in the packet submitted as part of any new license request. The new application, supporting documents, and CRC form must be emailed to the DHS office that issues your license; the email address can be found in the chart above. Entities licensed by OCDEL or ODP who use CLS or PELICAN to submit new applications must submit the form by email. The CRC forms are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN new application process. The CRC form for new applications can be found at here.
For licensing renewals, a licensee will now submit a CRC Attestation form (HS 2125). The Attestation form must be submitted as part of a renewal licensing application. The renewal notice will still be sent out 130 days prior to expiration. The renewal application and attestation must be emailed to the DHS office that issues your license; the email address can be found in the chart above. Entities licensed by OCDEL or ODP who use CLS or PELICAN to submit renewal applications must submit the attestations by email. The attestations are not part of the electronic CLS/PELICAN renewal application process. The CRC form for new applications can be found at here.
The DHS Bureau of Equal Opportunity currently issues you a letter verifying that a facility is in compliance with applicable civil rights laws. With the new process, a letter from BEO will no longer be sent out to licensed entities. Instead, the issuance of the new license or renewal license will indicate that your CRC form or Attestation form submission was approved. If there are issues and/or questions on the submitted CRC or Attestation form, a staff member from DHS will contact you.
The new process is effective on Monday, August 22, 2022. Existing licensees and applicants must begin following the new process on or before that date.
If you have any questions about the new process, please contact the applicable DHS office using the emails shown above or your respective RCPA Policy Director.
OMHSAS Releases Updated Telehealth FAQ
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