The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released an updated Child and Adolescent Social Service Program (CASSP)/System of Care (SOC) directory. This is now available in the most current version by county. You can access it here.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) has launched the Pennsylvania Meaningful Family Engagement Toolkit, a web-based resource developed through statewide quality improvement efforts. Over a two-year collaboration period, Pennsylvania system partners defined meaningful family engagement, set consistent expectations for day-to-day practice, and prioritized organizational cultures supporting family engagement. The toolkit provides a comprehensive definition of meaningful family engagement and offers specific strategies and skill-building opportunities for child welfare professionals to enhance engagement and improve outcomes. It also highlights populations needing additional support for engagement, which they have included as fathers, youth, out-of-state parents, incarcerated parents, and extended family. Child welfare professionals are encouraged to utilize this resource to ensure consistent and sincere practice of meaningful family engagement.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
President Biden signed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 into law on March 23. This Act includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Notable FY 2024 funding totals for mental health and substance use include:
Additionally, key provisions of the Act include an $18 million increase in funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and a $1 million increase for the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration grant technical assistance program. There is also a $75 million increase for mental health research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health. Various mental health and substance use programs maintained funding levels similar to those of FY 2023. For more information, you can access the full explanatory text as well as the comparative highlights table.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) invites public review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant application on the Mental Health in PA website. The PATH grant, established under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990, assists individuals with serious mental illness facing or at risk of homelessness. The application, submitted annually to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is open for public comment until 10:00 am Friday, March 22, 2024. For questions or comments, please contact Lauren MacWithey, Pennsylvania PATH Grant Coordinator.
Additional questions can be sent to RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Children First, The Advocate for the Kids, is hosting a webinar titled “Reimagining Our Mental Health System for Pennsylvania’s Children and Youth,” which is scheduled for 12:00 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. This event will delve into the pressing matter of children’s mental health reform in PA, with a diverse panel comprising of advocates, clinical mental health practitioners, insurance payers, and youth voices. The discussion aims to explore effective strategies and solutions to tackle the ongoing children’s mental health crisis. Register here.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Medical Assistance Bulletin 08-24-04, issued by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP), provides updates to the PROMISe (Provider Reimbursement and Operations Management Information System) Provider Handbook 837, Professional/CMS-1500 Claim Form, specifically focusing on Appendix E – FQHC/RHC (Federally Qualified Health Center/Rural Health Center) Handbook. Released on March 1, 2024, the bulletin outlines revisions to Federal and State requirements for FQHCs and RHCs in Pennsylvania participating in the Medical Assistance (MA) Program.
Notable changes include the addition of pharmacists and licensed dietician-nutritionists as eligible practitioners for billable encounters starting March 1, 2024. The revision addresses group therapy encounters and introduces guidelines for telehealth, telemedicine, and teledentistry in FQHC and RHC services. A new section on alternative payment methodologies is included, along with updates to the MA Cost Reporting and Wraparound Reporting sections. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ clarification designates “hospital” as an allowable place of service for FQHC and RHC services. Providers are encouraged to review the revised handbook for detailed information on these changes.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
With state and federal laws governing the use and disclosure of confidential substance use disorder (SUD) information having undergone significant changes, including the recently announced final rule modifying 42 CFR Part 2, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) issued Licensing Alert 04-2024 to clarify the identification of recipients of confidential SUD information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations for compliance with 28 Pa. Code § 709.28(c)(1).
Consent forms must now include names of recipients, with a single form applicable for future disclosures, using a generalized recipient description. Treatment providers are urged to ensure their consent forms comply with these regulations and updated policies. For additional questions treatment providers can contact the Bureau of Program Licensure.
RCPA member Achieva and the Pennsylvania Health Law Project are hosting a webinar titled “Understanding Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waivers for People With Disabilities” from 10 am – 12 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Led by Janice Meinert from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, the webinar will explore Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Home & Community-Based Waiver programs. Topics include eligibility criteria, the application process, available services, and annual waiver clinical eligibility redeterminations. For more details and registration, visit Achieva’s website. This project receives funding from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. For accessibility accommodations, please contact Patty Yerina. If you have additional questions, you may contact Jim Sharp, RCPA Mental Health Policy Director.
The Early Bird registration deadline for Pennsylvania’s 21st Children’s Interagency Conference has been extended to March 15, 2024. From April 22 – April 25, 2024, the event will be held at the Penn Stater Hotel in State College, PA, focusing on the theme “Shining The Light on Mental Health: Building Youth Wellness & Resilience.” Keynote speakers Dani Bowman, Anthony Cammilleri, and Victor Armstrong will address attendees on April 22, 2024. The conference is organized by the PA Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services, and the PA Care Partnership. Registration is now open at the 21st Children’s Interagency Conference Registration web page. For more information about the conference, visit the conference website. For assistance, contact conference planner Katrina Harris.
If you have any further questions, please contact Jim Sharp, RCPA Mental Health Policy Director.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) released the Phase 1 findings of its statewide stakeholder engagement tour, detailing actions to enhance community and treatment provider engagement and improve access to substance use disorder services. The findings address various challenges within the behavioral health workforce, regulatory and data aspects of service delivery, and unmet needs within priority populations. For more details, read the full press release.
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