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Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

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OMHSAS is announcing the publication of OMHSAS-25-03 Administration of Psychotropic Medication to Individuals Over Objection in State Mental Hospitals, updating the procedures for determining when to administer psychotropic medications over objection in the State Mental Hospitals through the establishment of an additional appeals process.

OMHSAS-25-03 supersedes 99-85-10 Administration of Psychotropic Medication to Protesting Patients, meaning that 99-85-10 remains in effect, but OMHSAS-25-03 takes precedence over it.

**Importantly, 99-85-10 applies to both state mental hospitals and community providers, but OMHSAS-25-03 applies only to state mental hospitals.**

OMHSAS-25-03 and forms may be found at the links provided below:

 

Please submit any questions regarding this bulletin via email.

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RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition. These meetings serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.

The Coalition will be meeting on the following dates:

  • Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Monday, June 23, 2025
  • Monday, June 30, 2025
  • Monday, July 14, 2025

All meetings will be scheduled for 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm.

The coalition will be sending out legislative advocacy bulletins to General Assembly legislators and stakeholders weekly, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system.

If you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

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Meeting ID: 211 809 369 905 4
Passcode: vx7LQ2iS

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+1 689-206-0441,,217672043# United States, Orlando
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Phone conference ID: 217 672 043#

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RCPA is excited to host a membership benefits webinar on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 10:00 am, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that occur throughout the year.

Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Items we will review include the below and much more:

  • Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
  • Discuss the 2025 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
  • Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
  • View the RCPA member-only website;
  • Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events; and
  • Understand the value of the National Association and ANCOR memberships included with RCPA membership.

Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.

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RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.

The coalition, which is open to all stakeholder groups, convened last week to lay out our primary vision, actions, and goals. The coalition will be sending out its first legislative advocacy bulletin to General Assembly legislators and stakeholders this week, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system.

This meeting will review and discuss the critical areas of funding for the 2025/26 budget, including county mental health, school-based services, psychiatric centers, and the Behavioral HealthChoices system, along with ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Federal Medicaid. The coalition listserv has been updated; if you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

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Meeting ID: 289 703 832 805 3
Passcode: 4Ji6nE6f

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+1 689-206-0441,,182354162# United States, Orlando
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Phone conference ID: 182 354 162#

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RCPA member and partner Eleos are known for their market-leading AI-powered solutions. Now they’ve taken their documentation solution to the next level — and they want you to see what the buzz is about!

Join Eleos and Hillsides leaders as they debut the all-new Documentation experience at their Spring Launch Event on June 5 at 12:00 pm EST. This 1-hour webinar will kick off with a look at the reimagined Documentation experience, which features:

  • Seamless live session capture with embedded audio, eliminating the need for third-party tools or hardware;
  • Compatibility with over 150 languages, supporting a more diverse provider and client population;
  • Coverage of virtually any 1:1 session type, including psychiatry, intake, and assessments; and
  • Offline mobile access, so providers can document anytime, anywhere — even without internet connection.

Hillsides was one of 150+ organizations that shaped the new Documentation experience, and you will hear firsthand from leaders in client services, IT, and administration how Hillsides is using Eleos to:

  • Alleviate administrative burden and staff burnout;
  • Drive clinical, financial, and operational efficiency; and
  • Achieve measurable ROI.

Register here for this exciting event today. By registering, you will ensure receipt of a recording if you cannot make it to the live event.

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Image by Dirk Wouters from Pixabay

The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has issued a bulletin on the Draft Needs-Based Plan and Budget Guidelines for FY 2026/27. OCYF is seeking comment and feedback to be sent electronically by June 14. The subject of the email should state “Draft NBPB Comments.”

If your organization submits comments regarding this bulletin, please copy RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp on your responses. For members of the RCPA Children’s Residential Services Committee, please contact Emma Sharp for thoughts or guidance that will be included in the RCPA Bulletin Comments.

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As a follow up to the recent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Regulatory Forum on May 21, 2025, OMHSAS has released the following slide deck of the presentation. The forum presented an opportunity to review OMHSAS’ response and changes to the public feedback from the proposed PRTF regulations that were released last fall.

The RCPA PRTF Review Group is reconvening to review the changes as well as responses to recommendations that are still pending for review. Additionally, we will be working to create a cost analysis for the implementation of these proposed regulations as they stand currently. The state is proposing a cost analysis 90 days after promulgation, but with the uncertainty in Federal Medicaid, and the state’s proposed capitation increase, the potential challenges of those fiscal benchmarks indicate a cost analysis could better inform all systems stakeholders on the financial implications of implementation.

We will be reaching out to our PRTF Review Group this week for next steps, and if any members are interested in our Children’s Residential Services Committee or PRTF Review Group, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

Also if you have any feedback or comments on the OMHGSAS PRTF Forum, they can be submitted via email.

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RCPA invites members to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.

The Coalition is open to all stakeholder groups, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system. This meeting will review and discuss the critical areas of funding for the 2025/26 budget, including county mental health, school-based services, psychiatric centers, and our Behavioral HealthChoices system, along with ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Federal Medicaid. If you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 245 992 905 070 9
Passcode: 4eF9M8Sp

Dial in by phone
+1 689-206-0441,,595808722# United States, Orlando
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 595 808 722#

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Last year, RCPA met with its provider members regarding the provision of group psychotherapy services via telehealth in the client’s home. RCPA then met with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) to discuss the possibility of allowing this flexibility in an effort to fully realize the use of telehealth technology to enhance access.

Today, the Department of Human Services’ Medical Assistance (MA) Bulletin #99-25-02 outlines revisions to the MA fee schedule. The following changes are specific to behavioral services and are effective May 1, 2025:

  • Procedure code 99452 (Interprofessional Services) is now open for provider type (PT)/Specialty combination 08/184 (Outpatient Drug and Alcohol).
  • Place of Service (POS) 10 — Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home is now available to use with the procedure code 90853 (group psychotherapy) for PT/Specialty combination 08/110 (Psychiatric Outpatient).

Please see the section titled “Behavioral Health Services” on page 6 of the bulletin for additional information related to these revisions.

If you have questions about these changes, please reach out to OMHSAS electronically or RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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