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Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

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The Commonwealth recently announced (access the press release here) the selection of a vendor for the Resource Information and Services Enterprise – or RISE PA – the upcoming statewide resource and referral tool. When fully implemented, anyone in Pennsylvania will be able to access this tool from their personal computers, tablets, and mobile devices to find information about services and resources and self-refer to participating social services agencies.

RISE PA will also allow service providers to assess the needs of individuals during a physician’s office or emergency department visit, when receiving case management services, or seeking assistance from a community organization, among others. Providers may refer their clients to agencies and be notified of the outcome of their referrals through the system.

RISE PA Stakeholder Webinars:

Lehigh/Capital Zone – Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, Perry, and York counties
Please register for RISE PA Stakeholder Webinar on Mar 12, 2021 – 10:00 AM EST at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Southeast Zone – Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties
Please register for RISE PA Stakeholder Webinar on Mar 16, 2021 – 1:00 PM EST at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Southwest Zone – Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Green, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties
Please register for RISE PA Stakeholder Webinar on Mar 19, 2021 – 10:00 AM EST at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

New West Zone – Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, and Warren counties
Please register for RISE PA Stakeholder Webinar on Mar 23, 2021 – 10:00 AM EST at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

New East Zone – Bradford, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties
Please register for RISE PA Stakeholder Webinar on Mar 30, 2021 – 10:00 AM EST at:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), with support from the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), is happy to release the OMHSAS Telehealth Survey Report. This telehealth survey was conducted in the Spring of 2020, during the initial onset of COVID-19. The results of the Telehealth Survey have allowed OMHSAS to hear directly from stakeholders and to better understand their experiences with – and access to – telehealth during these tumultuous and difficult times. The report is also available on OMHSAS’s Telehealth web page.

If you would like to contact OMHSAS about this report, please feel free to email them directly or contact your RCPA Policy Director.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is announcing the temporary suspension of provisions in certain bulletins and other non-regulatory guidance documents. The temporary suspension of the specified provisions in these bulletins and other non-regulatory guidance documents is intended to support the health and safety efforts of the agencies and facilities by affording them the flexibility needed to focus on patient care in the most effective way possible. The suspension supports the continued and uninterrupted delivery of behavioral health services in the face of the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspensions will remain in place while the Governor’s Disaster Proclamation remains in effect or such other time as the Department of Human Services or OMHSAS directs.

This document outlines the various provisions being suspended, scope of the suspensions, and any binding conditions for the suspensions. Highlights of the suspensions are noted below:

  • Suspension of requirements for face-to-face contacts with beneficiaries if it is clinically appropriate to utilize telehealth/telephone to provide those Services.
  • Suspension of training and certification requirements for staff for certain Services.
  • Suspension of timeframes for assessments, treatment/service plan development
  • and revisions.
  • Suspension of requirements around signatures.
  • Suspension of staff to beneficiary ratio in certain Services.
  • Suspension of fidelity assessments.

The memorandum announcing the suspension, along with a detailed list of the specified provisions suspended, can be read here. Any comments or questions regarding these suspensions should be directed to your OMHSAS Field Offices or your RCPA Policy Director.

  • Central Field Office:          717-705-8395
  • Northeast Field Office:      570-963-4335
  • Southeast Field Office:     610-313-5844
  • Southwest Field Office:    412-565-5226

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Image by Katja Fuhlert from Pixabay

The Wolf Administration has released a new order effective today to increase the administration of vaccine dosages received; ensure ease of scheduling appointments; reinforce specific reporting by vaccine providers; and ensure accountability in providers’ adherence to vaccine priorities. Key messaging around the order and specifics can be found in the order. A frequently asked questions document can be accessed here.

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As part of the ongoing intensive behavioral health services (IBHS) implementation, the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released an updated IBHS frequently asked questions (FAQ) guide. This guide represents a composite of updated inquiries regarding the standards and will be updated as a companion piece to the implementation.

The RCPA Children’s IBHS Workgroup continues their work on standards and implementation values for our members and will convey their findings to the Children’s Division via alerts, infos, and regularly scheduled divisional meetings. Contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp with questions.

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