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Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

Jenn Newell has built a career in public service, with nearly 25 years in various roles focused on supporting individuals with substance use disorders. She began her journey in 2000 as a Case Manager at the Dauphin County Department of Drugs and Alcohol. In 2002, she transitioned to the Commonwealth as a Drug and Alcohol Program Representative in what is now the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), where she has since taken on multiple positions of increasing responsibility.

During her tenure at DDAP, Jenn served as the Director of the Bureau of Quality Assurance and Administration, providing strategic leadership and oversight for fiscal, administrative, and programmatic functions. Her diverse responsibilities encompassed budget management, rate setting, procurement, grants oversight, quality improvement, data management, implementation of IT systems solutions, training, and human resources. In 2012, DDAP evolved into a cabinet-level agency, witnessing a remarkable budget increase of approximately 300%. Jenn held responsibility for managing these funds, expanding services to vulnerable populations, and meeting the rigorous federal and state demands for data collection and reporting. Her leadership style blends stability with compassion, ensuring her team delivers exceptional customer service to stakeholders and individuals in need.

Jenn holds a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services Education with a minor in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. She is also a proud graduate of the Commonwealth’s Leadership Development Institute, class of 2015.

A lifelong resident of central Pennsylvania, Jenn now lives in Enola with her husband and two children. She is deeply committed to her family and community, passionately volunteering at her church in various roles to foster connection and support for those around her.

Jenn has agreed to meet RCPA members at our January 2025 IDD meeting.

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Join Drexel University Behavioral Healthcare Education’s visiting resident Radhika Rani, DO, for a special presentation titled “Mental Health Care for Migrants and Refugees in the U.S.: Culturally Informed Practices.”

Thursday, November 21, 2024
9:00 am – 12:15 pm ET
3 CE Hours
Live Webinar

This course aims to provide behavioral health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address the mental health needs of migrant and refugee populations in the United States. Participants will explore the unique challenges and stressors encountered by these groups, including trauma, displacement, acculturation, and systemic barriers to care. Emphasis will be placed on culturally informed, trauma-sensitive approaches to diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the course will explore the legal, social, and policy implications impacting migrant and refugee communities as well as outline strategies for patient advocacy. Participants will also be able to gain practical skills while reflecting on personal biases and assumptions to foster more inclusive care and improve patient outcomes.

Register at the BHE website.

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From Penn State College of Medicine and ASERT

Dear Valued Participant:

You are receiving this communication because you or your group have been identified as someone who works in a health care setting, and we hope you will participate in and disseminate this survey. We are a combined research group representing a relationship between the Penn State College of Medicine and ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training). Through this survey, we hope to gain insight into the feasibility of developing a training/autism friendly certification program for medical staff and health care providers. The program would indicate to patients that staff within the health care setting are knowledgeable and supportive of people with autism. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and all responses will be kept confidential. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. The survey should take approximately 5–10 minutes to complete. The deadline to complete the survey is January 10, 2025. View the flyer for more details. To take the survey, please use this link.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-111. The Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) provider table has been updated to reflect new procedure codes for Specialized Skill Development: Behavioral Specialist services, effective November 1, 2024, and to correct errors found in the October 1, 2024, release. Previous ODP Announcement 24-095 is now obsolete.

Please view the announcement for information and details.

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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Physician Fee Schedule CY 2025 Final Rule. You can view CMS’ press release, fact sheet, and final rule page in the Federal Register for more information. There were critical areas addressed in this year’s Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), including:

  • The extension of some telehealth flexibilities permitted under CMS’ authority absent Congressional action;
  • Updated payment for social determinants of health risk assessments as a part of Opioid Use Disorder intake activities furnished at Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP);
  • The establishment of a new add-on code to account for coordinated care, referral services, and peer supports at OTPs;
  • Payment for safety planning intervention and post-discharge follow-up;
  • The establishment of six G codes that mirror current interprofessional consultation Common Procedural Terminology codes used by practitioners who are eligible to bill E/M visits; and
  • Recognition of responses to CMS’ request for information on Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

For the OPPS Final Rule, please see links to CMS’ press release, fact sheet, and final rule page in the Federal Register. Some highlights from this final rule include:

  • The maintenance of the Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program rate structures;
  • Narrowing the definition of “custody” in Medicare’s payment exclusion rule to mitigate barriers to Medicare access by individuals who have recently been released from incarceration or are on parole, probation, or home detention; and
  • Changes to Medicaid regulation, allowing states implementing the Medicaid clinic services benefit to cover clinic services outside the “four walls” of behavioral health clinics.

If you have any further questions regarding these final rulings or the application of the “four walls” impacts on Pennsylvania, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.

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Pennsylvania saw a large Election Day turnout in certain areas of the Commonwealth, so before sending out the Election Day update, RCPA wanted to wait so we could report to you the most accurate information available.

As of today, November 8, 2024, there are still two seats in question. One is the US Senate race between the Incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D) and his opponent, Dave McCormick (R). The other seat in question is in Cambria County between Incumbent State Rep. Frank Burns (D) and his opponent, Amy Bradley (R).  More information on these two races is available below.

Election Results

President

Trump (R) – 50.5%
Harris (D) – 48.5%

Donald Trump won the race to be the 47th President of the United States. Trump saw increased support this election with Black and Latino men. The rural areas of the Commonwealth offset any Democrat leads in the urban areas, and in many urban areas Trump limited the Democrats’ winning margins.

US Senate

McCormick (R) – 49%
Casey (D) – 48.5%

This race has been called by the Associated Press (AP) in favor of Dave McCormick, but Sen. Casey has not conceded the race yet. According to AP, McCormick is currently winning by about 30,000 votes. AP believes the remaining votes will break in favor of McCormick. We will keep the members posted as events unfold.

The Republicans have flipped the US Senate and currently have a 52-seat majority, with the possibility of gaining two more seats (Pennsylvania and Arizona).

US House

The US House is projected to stay in Republican control by a 222–213 majority. In Pennsylvania, two  US House seats flipped from Democrat to Republican in Northeast PA and the Lehigh Valley (see results below).

District 7 (Lehigh Valley)
Ryan MacKenzie (R) – 50.7%
Incumbent Susan Wild (D) – 49.3%

District 8 (NEPA)
Rob Bresnahan (R) – 51%
Incumbent Matt Cartwright (D) – 49%

District 10 (Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York Counties)
Incumbent Scott Perry (R) – 50.8%
Janelle Stelson (D) – 49.2%

PA Senate

The Republicans went into Election Day with a 28–22 seat majority and came out of the election with the same majority.

PA House

The House Democrats went into Election Day with a majority of seats, 102–101. As of today, November 8, 2024, one race will decide whether the Democrats maintain control of the House or the Republicans assume majority control.

The race in question is in Cambria County, between Incumbent Democrat Frank Burns and his Republican opponent, Amy Bradley. As of today, Burns holds a 936 vote lead with approximately 97% of the vote in. As of this writing, the AP called the race for Rep. Burns, but challenges will probably be filed by the Bradley campaign.

Next Week

The House will be in session next Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Senate will be in session Wednesday and Thursday. It is believed no major legislation will be voted on and both chambers will hold leadership elections for the 2025/26 legislative session.

If you have any questions, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-110. This communication announces the new Deaf Services required training, replacing the previously required Harry M Settlement training (ODP Communication Number 119-17).

The Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind Required Training is available on MyODP’s website.

Please view the announcement for information and details.

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    For your next business meeting/event in the Harrisburg area, consider using RCPA’s facility, located at 777 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA. Close to downtown, local hotels, and restaurants, making it a convenient location for your organization’s needs. View flyer for details and pricing.

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