Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Advance Health Equity, and Support Underserved Communities
Home Featured
Featured posts
SAMHSA Announces $27.5 Million for Women’s Behavioral Health
On July 8, 2024, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced $27.5 million in funding opportunities to enhance women’s behavioral health across the US. The initiatives include the $15 million Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program, which improves access to maternal mental health and substance use treatment by strengthening community referral pathways and ensuring seamless care transitions for at-risk pregnant women. Additionally, the $12.5 million Women’s Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center will boost provider capacity to address diverse women’s behavioral health needs through training and technical assistance. SAMHSA also awarded nearly $1 million in grants to two recipients under the Services Program for Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women.
OMHSAS to Present PRTF Regulatory Overview
The Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services is pleased to invite stakeholders to an informational webinar. This webinar, scheduled for Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 1:00 pm, will highlight significant sections of the proposed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) regulations prior to the public comment period. Please note that comments and questions will not be addressed as part of this webinar but may be submitted during the public comment period.
The proposed PRTF regulations will codify the minimum licensing standards and Medical Assistance (MA) participation requirements and payment conditions for PRTFs that provide medically necessary behavioral health treatment to children, youth, or young adults under 21 years of age with a behavioral health diagnosis. Questions/comments about this webinar should be submitted electronically. If you have any additional questions, please contact RCPA CCO and MH Policy Director Jim Sharp.
View the details below to join the webinar:
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the Meeting
Meeting ID: 268 368 479 297
Passcode: q2SZFu
Dial in by phone
+1 267-332-8737,,363691933# United States, Philadelphia
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 363 691 933#
OLTL Call on July 18 to Focus on Mercer Rate and Wage Study
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that the quarterly Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider call on July 18, 2024, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, will focus on the Mercer Rate and Wage Study. To participate in the Zoom call, registration is required. Because this is an HCBS Provider Call, registration for the call will be limited to providers who are enrolled with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide any of these particular services to individuals. Participant-Directed Common Law Employers are also encouraged to attend.
Everyone is welcome to submit questions electronically about the HCBS Rate and Wage Study to OLTL in advance. Questions received will be read during the call as time allows, and both questions and answers will be compiled into a Q&A document that will be available afterwards.
If you have any questions about the call itself, please contact Kristi Mundis via email.
Reminder: Free RCPA Member Webinar on Clinical AI in MH Crisis to Be Held July 25
Inside Aging July 2024 Newsletter Now Available
RCPA Member SETWorks to Showcase EHR for Performance-Based Contracting on July 31
To achieve the highest tier in the Office of Developmental Program’s (ODP) new performance-based pay initiative, providers must use an EHR and an eMAR. Providers are assessed annually, and their tier determines their reimbursement rates.
Join SETWorks on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 12:00 pm ET for a group discussion, where they will demonstrate how they support all criteria and reporting metrics to meet the highest performance/payment tiers from ODP.
SETWorks in Pennsylvania:
- Integrations with all funding sources, including ODP, OLTL, OVR and Ticket to Work
- Generation of Pennsylvania-specific forms and reports
- Importing authorizations directly from HCSIS
- Handling of complex rules for residential services for billing to ODP
- Completing and reviewing required monthly forms
- Electronic visit verification (EVV) for personal care services is integrated with Sandata
- Simplified process for Pennsylvania residential re-authorizations
Save the Date! RCPA Fall Golf Outing Scheduled for September 23
RCPA is excited to announce that we will be hosting our fall golf outing to support the RCPA PAC on Monday, September 23, 2024, in conjunction with the Annual Conference. Conference attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and presenters can now register to participate in the RCPA PAC’s golf outing at the Colonial Golf & Tennis Club at 4901 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112. Registration and lunch will be held from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, with the shotgun start beginning at 12:00 pm.
Sponsorships are available for this worthwhile cause. We hope you will consider becoming a golf outing sponsor; it is a great way for your organization to receive name recognition as well as an opportunity to support the RCPA fundraiser!
Not a golfer but would still like to support the RCPA PAC? For your convenience, you can now make a personal online contribution, which will provide financial support to state legislators or representatives who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our legislative priorities. If you are interested in learning more about the RCPA PAC or donating, please visit our website, download the PAC FAQ Card and Donation Card, or email Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.
If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Christine Tartaglione. We look forward to seeing you on the golf course!
ODP Shares Updated Guidance for CPS Services in the ID/A Adult Autism Waiver
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-067. This announcement communicates updated guidance for the Community Participation Support (CPS) and Day Habilitation services and requirements relating to Quality Management (QM) plans. Please view the announcement, as well as the QM Data Collection Tool, for information and details.
BIAA Issues Action Alert: House Budget Bill Proposes to Eliminate BI Programs at CDC Injury Center
Last evening, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) released the following Action Alert regarding a bill that proposes to eliminate brain injury (BI) programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Injury Center. View the Action Alert below:
House Budget Bill Proposes to Eliminate Brain Injury Programs at the CDC Injury Center
Dear Brain Injury Champions and Advocates,
On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies proposed a budget bill for Fiscal Year 2025 that would eliminate all brain injury programs under the Centers for Disease Control’s Injury Center.
This would be an enormous step backwards. Without these brain injury programs, we’ll have even less accurate data and create a void in public education and outreach.
We need you to help us oppose this proposal and preserve brain injury programming!
ACTION ALERT:
We are asking ALL our advocates to email and call House Appropriations Labor and Health and Human Services Subcommittee members and ask them to save the Injury Center by 9:00 am on Wednesday, July 10.
You can learn more about what’s at stake and find a sample email and phone script by selecting the Take Action Now button below.
Take Action Now
We need all the help we can get. You can help by spreading the word on social media and within your social circles! Action is needed NOW!
Prev