';
OMHSAS has released the following Telehealth Regulatory Waiver Request template in order to streamline regulatory waiver requests for the continued delivery of telehealth services following the 9-30-21 end date of statewide regulatory waivers based on the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration.
The waiver submission process will adhere to the revised OMHSAS Waiver Bulletin 16-13.
The waiver will cover deliverable considerations for the following services
Each waiver request will remain in place for a 1-year period and will require providers also have documented policies in place for clinical appropriateness and the delivery of telehealth in emergencies. RCPA recommends agencies carefully review each section of the waiver request as they complete their submission.
The waiver will outline the following service considerations:
Submission Considerations:
Providers may utilize the following language in your waiver request letter:
Kristen Houser, Deputy Secretary
OMHSAS
Commonwealth Tower, 11th Floor
303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg 17101
Dear Deputy Secretary Houser:
This letter is a request for a waiver of Department of Human Services regulation(s) to continue the delivery of services through telehealth after September 30, 2021, which is the end date of the Governor’s COVID -19 Emergency Disaster Declaration which authorized certain regulatory suspensions. The details for this request for waiver are included in the form below. In addition, a letter of support from the County MH/ID Administrator for this request for waiver is attached. (REMOVE if Outpatient D&A Clinic Waiver)
Your consideration for approval is appreciated. I look forward to your response. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this regulatory waiver request, please contact me at (Phone and e-mail address.)
Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name)
Members may contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp or their respective Policy Director with questions or feedback.
In the United States, September is acknowledged as Suicide Prevention Month, with the week of September 5–11 identified as National Suicide Prevention Week. Around the world, September 10 is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day. The goal of annual suicide prevention observances is to provide education and encourage advocacy around this public health challenge toward which prevention efforts can and should occur every single day.
This September, the theme of Suicide Prevention Month is Creating Hope Through Action. As communities here in Pennsylvania, nationwide, and around the world continue to experience the social, economic, and health-related impacts and disparities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, this theme offers an important opportunity to work together to promote awareness, provide support, and take action to prevent suicide.
Everyone has a role in preventing suicide. In recognizing Suicide Prevention Month, we can work to reduce the stigma around suicide, suicide attempts, and mental health challenges, and we can reinforce the message that help is available. The following guide offers a broad range of suicide prevention resources and strategies for individuals, families, organizations, and communities. The information in this guide can be used during the month of September and throughout the year.
This three-hour virtual training is approved by the Departments of Human Services, Education, and State and meets all requirements for training on recognizing and reporting child abuse (to include Act 126 for school employees).
It is also approved for continuing education credits under Act 31 (Department of State for health-related licenses) and Act 48 (Department of Education for teachers) at no cost. PFSA will submit your training verification to the Department of State or Education as appropriate on your behalf (details provided during training).
Please register for your preferred training date and time by clicking one of the session links below. Each person must log in through separate devices, using the unique access link emailed to them after registration to receive credit.
Wednesday, Sept. 1 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 1 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 2 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 2 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 2 — 6:00 pm–9:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 3 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 7 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Tuesday. Sept. 7 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 8 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 8 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 9 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 9 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 10 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 10 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Saturday, Sept 11 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 13 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 13 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 14 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 14 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 14 — 6:00 pm–9:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 15 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 15 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 16 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 16 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 17 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 17 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 20 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 20 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 21 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 21 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 23 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 23 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 24 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 24 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Saturday, Sept. 25 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 27 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Monday, Sept. 27 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 28 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 28 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 29 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 29 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 29 — 6:00 pm–9:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 30 — 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Thursday, Sept. 30 — 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
For questions or to schedule a session specifically for your organization, please email PFSA.
After 18 months of telehealth service implementation, the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) has conducted provider telehealth satisfaction surveys, created a provider telehealth task force, and developed policy positions regarding the future of telehealth services. As the Wolf Administration, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the Department of Human Services seek to make telehealth services permanent, RCPA sets forth our telehealth service recommendations for implementation across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. RCPA has compiled the provider comments from these efforts and we believe the following recommendations represent a viable and successful pathway for practitioners and those in need of services.
We offer these recommendations to the provider community to share with stakeholders and legislators as we move forward with the expansion of telehealth services.
RCPA Strongly Recommends and Endorses the Following Telehealth Standards:
Contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp or your RCPA policy director with questions.
The following is a notice provided by Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) regarding the future status of provider Alternative Pay Agreements/Arrangements (APA):
“Community Care, in collaboration with our Primary Contractors/county partners, has been closely monitoring service delivery volumes in order to assess the level of need to continue with the current Ambulatory Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA). In order to continue to support providers to ensure member access to essential behavioral health services, we collectively have determined the need to continue the current terms of the Ambulatory APA and are committed to doing so through December 31, 2021. Community Care and our Primary Contractors will continue to work with our contracted providers to prepare for the future and the eventual discontinuation of our APAs.
Please review your previous contract amendment. In lieu of an extension for additional one (1) month periods, this email serves as formal notification to extend the APA through December 31, 2021. The criterion for eligibility and the methodology for APA calculations will remain unchanged from the contract language. Please add this document to your previous contract exhibit listed below.
APA | Exhibit |
Ambulatory Services Advance Payment Arrangement | Exhibit P |
As noted in the contract amendment, Community Care will perform a reconciliation process for the payments providers receive under this agreement. The reconciliation process for 2021 will begin 90 days after the APA ends.
Providers have the option to opt-out of the APA payments by submitting notice to the following email address. Please use the subject line Opt Out – your organization’s name.
Continue to check our website (COVID-19 Information: HealthChoices Providers – Community Care (ccbh.com)) for other important COVID updates. If you have any questions, please contact your Community Care Provider Relations representative. A list of Provider Relations representatives and contact information may be found at Provider Representatives: HealthChoices Providers – Community Care (ccbh.com).”
RCPA is grateful for these efforts by CCBH for their continued support of providers during this time. If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
The 29th Virtual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference is scheduled for December 1–2, 2021.
At this time, Drexel University’s Behavioral Healthcare Education is now seeking presentation proposals for the conference. Applicants are invited to submit an abstract for a 60-minute workshop consisting of 50 minutes of presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A.
Presentation proposals are encouraged to illustrate this year’s theme: The Power of Opportunity – Creating Growth Through Effective Mental Health Supports.
To submit a proposal, please download this call for presentations document and fill in all information. Please note, the deadline to submit proposals is August 31, 2021. All proposals will be considered, but only a limited number can be selected. Notifications of proposal acceptance will be emailed September 27, 2021.
Please visit here for more details on the call for presentations. If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in a collaboration with the Department of Human Services and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (DHS/OMHSAS), announces the availability of $1,000,000 in funds for the implementation of crisis response or pretrial diversion strategies for justice-involved individuals with Mental Illness/Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders (MI/COD), Intellectual Disorders (ID), and/or autism spectrum disorders.
RCPA is recommending that members connect with their county courts and agencies to gauge interest and potential service provision opportunities. View the memorandum for further details, and please contact your respective Mental Health/Drug & Alcohol/IDD RCPA Policy Director with any questions.