Governor Tom Wolf recently responded to provider concerns over the language in the pending HealthChoices contracts as it relates to work force stoppages. The State added this language to limit service interruptions based upon an agency’s previous work stoppages. Providers raised the issue that inclusion of these provisions serves as a subsidiary policy goal of mandating health care unionization
Members can view the full response from Governor Wolf here.
Please read the revised/updated memorandum regarding the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Outpatient Competency Evaluation Program (OCEP). For those who are unfamiliar with OCEP, see below for a brief summary:
“The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) administers the Outpatient Competency Evaluation Program (OCEP) for individuals who are facing unadjudicated charges and are incarcerated in a Pennsylvania county jail/prison, State Correctional Institution (SCI), or awaiting trial in the community. These court-ordered competency evaluations can be performed inpatient via Regional Forensic Psychiatric Centers (RFPC) or via the OCEP, which is the preferred method, so that individuals who have pending criminal charges can receive services in a more timely manner, rather than waiting for admission to an RFPC. These evaluations are performed by psychologists or psychiatrists who are contracted by OMHSAS and are independent, unbiased assessments of competency.”
This revised memorandum has been issued by Mr. Philip E. Mader, Director of OMHSAS’s Bureau of Community and Hospital Operations, and Dr. Dale Adair, OMHSAS’s Chief Psychiatric Officer. This revised memorandum aims to reduce some of the administrative burden and to ensure that all staff working within OCEP receive all of the necessary information to complete and distribute final competency evaluation reports.
Included in the memorandum and provided as separate fillable PDF documents are the OCEP Referral Form and the OCEP Rescind Form, both of which are used to gather and submit information necessary to complete an Outpatient Competency Evaluation.
We would also ask that any agency referring individuals to the OCEP for evaluation please submit complete “referral packet(s)”, which includes the following information/documentation:
Any “referral packet(s)” that are submitted via email and are found to be lacking any required information will be returned via email with the missing information highlighted, along with a request to resubmit the “referral packet(s)” when the missing information is obtained.
If you have any questions or concerns related to OMHSAS’s OCEP, please email. You can also submit any completed OCEP referral forms and associated documentation to the same email resource account.
If you have any additional questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program is a post-Master’s curriculum created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.). It is a comprehensive, evidence-based training designed exclusively for licensed mental health professionals, providing knowledge and skills needed to effectively serve the adoption and kinship network. TAC is designed to increase families’ and individual’s access to adoption competent mental health professionals and to improve the well-being of adopted children, youth, and their families.
Licensed clinicians throughout the state are invited to participate in this training program. The next TAC training is scheduled to begin May 11, 2022, and is a virtual training.
Please view the flyer for more information.
RCPA and our Delta Center Grant partner, the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC), invite people with first-hand experience and advocates using or trying to use telehealth services to share your experiences.
The discussions and subsequent recommendations will guide the PA Delta Center team in its advocacy in developing regulations, bulletins, and practices that ensure equity and access to services for all communities. These forums are to bring advocates and stakeholders to the table to provide life experience and perspectives that can shape policy development. We hope you will join us for one of these events, as your participation will be key to our ongoing work in ensuring a healthy and sustainable telehealth footprint in Pennsylvania.
People who are volunteering to join the forum for free will be paid a stipend of $20/hour for their time or given an equivalent in a gift card.
To register for the first forum on March 16, visit here.
To register for the second forum on March 30, visit here.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Eyster of RCPA.
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