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Authors Posts by Jim Sharp

Jim Sharp

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is sponsoring our second annual training series, “Supporting Transgender Clients,” in partnership with the Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Training dates/locations for in-person trainings will be coming soon; once the dates are announced, RCPA will send out an Alert. Dates for the webinar series are available here. Webinar slots are limited; if multiple staff from one location wish to participate, please consider viewing jointly. If you have questions, or would like additional information, please email Jill Stemple or RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp.

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On Wednesday, November 20, the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) conducted its most recent WebEx, outlining several key areas to the Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) implementation. The materials for the presentation can be found here.

This presentation provided an overview of the following:

  • Written Orders;
  • Assessment;
  • Training Approval Process;
  • Current Department Approved Trainings;
  • Family Outreach;
  • Medical Necessity Guidelines;
  • Licensing;
  • Enrollment/ Billing; and
  • Rates.

This link will direct you to the IBHS Website on the HealthChoices server. At the bottom of the page is the repository of information on these topics as well as the updated FAQ. The RCPA IBHS Work Group will be reconvening in early December to continue to address implementation issues in conjunction with OMHSAS. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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Tablet on a desk - Questions and Answers

As part of the ongoing Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Implementation, OMHSAS has released an FAQ guide. This guide represents a composite of inquiries regarding the standards and will be updated as a companion piece to the implementation.

Additionally, the IBHS Region Summits will be wrapping up next week so if you have any additional questions, please email RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp. Jim will be attending the session on November 14; please forward questions to him so that he may be able to present them. The next OMHSAS IBHS WebEx is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm; register here to participate.

The RCPA Children’s IBHS Work Group will reconvene the first week of December to continue its work on standards for our members, and will convey its findings to the Children’s Division via Alerts, Infos, and regularly scheduled divisional meetings.

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On October 8, 2019, the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) hosted a statewide webinar to discuss Act 147 of 2004, Mental Health Treatment – Consent to Treatment, Release of Medical Records. The recording of the webinar, along with supporting documentation, can be found here. A frequently asked questions document is also being created and will be available upon completion.

Act 147 has elicited many questions and discussions across our mental health and school-based services committees. We recommend you share this information with your program leadership, perhaps as part of training. We will continue to review Act 147 in our work groups and report out on information and activities as warranted.

If you have any questions or feedback, please submit them to this email and copy RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp on the correspondence.

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There is pending legislation in Washington that will focus on multiple entry points for physical and mental health services, for individuals incarcerated in jails and prisons.

The first piece of legislation, the Humane Correctional Health Care Act (HR 4141), asserts that a legislative goal is to increase medical assistance services and access to quality care, as well as access to these services upon return to the community.

See Rep. Kuster’s op-ed in the Washington Post with Senator Booker, and an editorial in the Concord Monitor, on the Human Correctional Health Care Act (HR 4141) — legislation that would extend Medicaid eligibility to inmates of public institutions. Rep. Kuster’s office is ramping up outreach to build co-sponsorship support for the bill, and is working hard to make the legislation bipartisan. Current group supporters of HR 4141 can activate grassroots efforts to help build bipartisan support; if your group would like to support the bill, please contact Marisa Salemme.

The second is an outpatient services bill that outlines the guarantee of three outpatient physical and three mental health visits at a minimum for inmates returning to community settings. Staff from Rep. Lauren Underwood’s (D-IL) office reached out, sharing the above referenced DRAFT text and is soliciting feedback on a bill they plan to introduce later this year. The bill would require commercial plans to cover three outpatient mental health visits per year without any cost-sharing requirements (it would also cover three primary care visits without cost sharing).

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has released Bulletin 3490-19-03 entitled, “Information Sharing in Custody Filings (Act 107 of 2013).” The purpose of this bulletin is to transmit requirements and guidance related to legislative changes to Pennsylvania’s Child Custody Act, specifically Act 107 of 2013, which requires custody courts to determine if a child is the victim of a crime which would constitute child abuse as defined in the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL).

Questions regarding the bulletin should be directed to your OCYF Regional Office. You may also reach out to Mr. Erik Walters, Human Services Program Specialist in OCYF’s Bureau of Policy, Program and Operations. If members have further questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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On October 19, 2019 DHS and OMHSAS release the newly promulgated IBHS Regulations; Title 55, Chapters 1155 and 5240. The new regulations will be in full effect in 90 days.

This link to the DHS/Health Choices IBHS web page will be the repository for Information regarding IBHS and the ongoing implementation.

This site has access links to the IBHS Regulations, the IBHS Preamble, upcoming regional training information and registration, as well as important IBHS forms, including the IBHS FAQ link. Access the new IBHS Regulations here.

If you have any questions regarding the IBHS regulations, upcoming training, or feedback, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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The 2019 James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice will be held from Wednesday, November 6 – Friday, November 8, in Harrisburg. This year, the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer/Service Provider Forum at the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) Conference will include a panel of judges, chiefs, and providers to discuss matters of mutual interest. Taking concerns into account, they want to ensure this is a planned, organized, and respectful event and are asking for any specific questions or topics you would like the facilitator to address. This will be an open discussion and they will take questions from the audience; however, the facilitator will be provided with topics so as not to identify those who may have a specific issue with the juvenile probation and/or the courts.

Use this link to sign in or create an account and register to attend. For any questions about this event, please contact Bob Tomassini or Andy Benner.

This is a great opportunity for identifying current issues and concerns, in a critical time in our juvenile justice system, to be respectfully discussed in a problem-solving environment. Topics for the forum can be emailed directly to Abigail Wilson.

If you have any further questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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Gov Wolf Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2019
View Online

Pennsylvania Awarded Grant to Support Access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today that Pennsylvania has been awarded a $1.3 million grant to increase access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by expanding state-based call centers.

The grant was issued by Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and provides confidential, free, 24/7 support to people in crisis, considering suicide, or helping another person.

“We have an obligation to provide resources and promote safe, supportive environments so people we serve know that there are places to turn if they are in crisis,” said Gov. Wolf. “Silence can perpetuate crisis and make people feel like they are struggling alone with no outlet or options for support, but things can and will get better, and help is always available. Expanding access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is one more way to let more people know help is available in Pennsylvania.”

The Department of Human Services will partner with three Lifeline network centers to form three regional call centers to ensure at least 70 percent of calls are answered in Pennsylvania, with the goal of increasing that percent to 90 within two years. Partners include Center for Community Resources, Family Services Association of Bucks County, and New Perspectives Crisis Services. In 2018, partners supported nearly 3,000 calls. As of June 2019, they have received nearly 2,500 calls.

“No one should ever feel like they are alone – especially in times of crisis,” said Secretary Miller. “The Wolf Administration is committed to dispelling stigma around suicide and mental health and ensuring supports are available to promote a safe, supportive environment so people know there are resources, like the Lifeline, to turn to in emergencies. Expanding our in-state call centers is another opportunity to better serve our fellow Pennsylvanians and prevent suicide across our commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania is committed to reversing the rising national trend of suicide and supporting Pennsylvanians affected by suicide. In May 2019, Governor Wolf established a statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force. The task force brings together leaders from the departments of Human Services, Health, Corrections, Aging, Education, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation as well as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Pennsylvania State Police, elected officials, and mental health and suicide prevention organizations to create a comprehensive suicide prevention plan for Pennsylvania.

The task force is holding public listening sessions through November to learn about how suicide impacts the lives of Pennsylvanians and to develop prevention efforts that reflect the diverse needs of individuals and families across Pennsylvania.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s Suicide Prevention Task Force and upcoming listening sessions, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/suicideprevention.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is considering suicide, help is available. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741-741.

MEDIA CONTACT:  J.J. Abbott, 717-783-1116

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