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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting was held yesterday, November 6, 2024. During the meeting, a number of presentations were given. In addition to the presentations, the agenda and a document that provided follow-up items from the October 2, 2024, LTSS Subcommittee meeting were provided.

Members should take time to review the PowerPoint presentations from the meeting below:

The 2025 meeting dates for the LTSS Subcommittee were also shared:

  • January 8, 2025
  • February 5, 2025 (virtual only)
  • March 5, 2025 (virtual only)
  • April 2, 2025
  • May 7, 2025
  • June 4, 2025
  • July 2, 2025
  • August 6, 2025
  • September 3, 2025
  • October 1, 2025
  • November 12, 2025
  • December 3, 2025

The meetings will continue to be held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

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Image by DarkmoonArt_de from Pixabay

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the 2025 quarterly meeting dates for next year’s OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinars and asks that you mark your calendars.

2025 OMHSAS STAKEHOLDER WEBINAR DATES:

  • January 30, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • April 24, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • July 17, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • October 23, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for January’s webinar, please submit them via email. We will monitor the account and will only reply to the sender if more information is needed. Responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.

Please note that webinar links will be provided closer to each of the meeting dates as shown above.

Thank you for your review and please – SAVE THE DATE.

If members have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.

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Northern Tier Counseling Inc. held the ribbon cutting of their Drug and Alcohol Wellness Treatment Center, dedicated to State Representative Tina Pickett, on Friday, May 24.

NTC, Inc. President Paul DeNault explained that this grand opening is thanks to not only the staff at NTC, Inc., but also the All One Foundation, who granted NTC, Inc. the All In One Grant to help the idea come to life as well as Tina Pickett, whose legislation allows for the progression of drug and alcohol treatment.

View the full press release here.

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Living the D.R.E.A.M! Creating a Culture of Health and Wellness for All
December 4, 2024
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference “Living the D.R.E.A.M.” During this session, SPIN will provide an historical overview of how they created a culture of health and wellness by engaging all stakeholders in living a healthy lifestyle. Presenters will showcase SPIN’s mission of inclusive and holistic meaningful activities in the community and SPIN Community & Fitness, a gathering and welcoming place for the whole community. The D.R.E.A.M team model, including the vision and purpose, elements of “Living the D.R.E.A.M,” and lessons learned for successful incorporation into everyday lives, will be featured.

Registration is now open.

See the announcement for a full session description, presenter biographies, and how to register.

Email with any questions.

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Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Message from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL):

The Commonwealth is working collaboratively — Governor Shapiro’s office and the health hub agencies (Health, Human Services, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Insurance) — to develop a statewide maternal health strategic plan. We need your help to make it a robust, comprehensive, collaborative, living, and most importantly, active plan.

As you are likely aware, Pennsylvania, like the nation, is experiencing a maternal health crisis.

According to the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee report, in 2020, Pennsylvania residents experienced a pregnancy-associated mortality ratio of 83 deaths per 100,000 live births with large disparities identified. In total, 107 individuals lost their lives during pregnancy, delivery, or up to one year postpartum.

Those numbers are far worse for Black women, where the rate was twice as high at 163 deaths per 100,000.

We also know that women and birthing people with disabilities experience unique challenges and needs on their health journey, so we are inviting you to join us for a 90-minute Zoom listening session where members of the Commonwealth’s health agencies and members of the statewide maternal health strategic plan can engage with you to learn what specific needs you have and how you feel the Commonwealth should address those needs.

We want our strategic plan to address all Pennsylvania women and birthing people, and sharing your voice at this listening session will help inform our plan.

The Zoom listening session is scheduled from 10:00 am – 11:30 am, on Friday, December 6, 2024. Please RSVP electronically by December 1 if you plan to attend. We will send the Zoom link by end of day December 4 to those who RSVP.

Thank you for considering spending 90 minutes with the disability community and state health team members to share your thoughts and needs around maternal health.

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Inglis’s Regional Housing Coordinators (RHC) offer a variety of FREE webinars each month on Zoom, focused on understanding and navigating the affordable housing system and resources for people with disabilities in housing.

If the training times listed below do not work for your organization, you can always use their Information and Referral form to request a private training.

  • Navigating Income-based Housing Options: Tuesday, November 5, at 11:00 am
  • Introduction to Housing Concepts: Wednesday, November 6, at 1:00 pm
  • Assistance Animals Explained: Thursday, November 14, at 12:00 pm
  • Home Modifications: Tuesday, November 19, at 10:00 am
  • Eviction Prevention and Processes: Tuesday, November 26, at 11:00 am
You can register at their training calendar here!

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On Friday, November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an anticipated Final Rule titled “CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1809-FC),” which includes three new exceptions for the federal “four walls” rule. At present, the “four walls” rule prohibits Medicaid payment for clinic services when both the practitioner and individual receiving service are outside of the “four walls” of the clinic unless the services are being provided to unhoused individuals (such as through street medicine). The new exception for Indian Health Services and Tribal Facilities is required nationally. The exceptions for Behavioral Health Clinics and Rural clinics are optional. States who determine that their Behavioral Health Clinic and/or Rural Health Clinic populations served meet the four criteria established by CMS (see page 1323 of the final rule) must submit a Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) and receive approval from CMS for these exceptions to be in place for their state.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) had been working toward a short-term state level solution to the four walls issue for both Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics and Drug and Alcohol Clinics. However, now that a long-term federal option has been made available, the team in OMHSAS will be pivoting to pursue this newly available federal exception for Behavioral Health Clinics. While OMHSAS is still in the process of developing a timeline for the new State Plan Amendment, their team will be working on this as a top priority, with the goal of having a SPA in place in early 2025.

It has been confirmed that OMHSAS will not be shifting their current enforcement policy around the four walls while they work through getting this waiver in place. RCPA will continue its collaboration with OMHSAS on the process as this move forwards. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

For additional information, please see the following:

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