RCPA Members Bethlehem Haven and Pittsburgh Mercy Join Project Partners to Welcome 26 Women Home to Uptown
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Virtual Session On Best Practices for Controlled Substances
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) is hosting a virtual session with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Philadelphia Division to discuss pharmacy best practices in ordering and dispensing controlled substances, particularly medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) like buprenorphine. This session, scheduled on Wednesday, April 24 from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm, aims to address concerns raised during PA DOH’s Fall 2023 listening sessions on patient access to controlled substances. Participants can register for the session using this form and are encouraged to submit questions in advance by Friday, April 19, 2024. Even if unable to attend, individuals can still submit questions for a later response. Please submit inquiries via email. This collaborative learning opportunity is crucial, and recipients are encouraged to share the invitation with interested parties.
DDAP Announces Clinical Supervision Skills Trainings
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has announced multiple in-person clinical supervision skills trainings occurring in the upcoming months in various locations. These sessions, aimed at enhancing clinical supervision skills and providing tools for working with supervisees, will take place on May 20–24 at Courtyard by Marriott in Lancaster, and June 10–14 at Holiday Inn Express Grove City in Mercer. Additional sessions are planned for July, October, and November in different regions. Each training is from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, with a registration fee of $300. Registration is limited and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals can download the registration form from the Training Management System (TMS).
Public Comment Webinar on Residential Performance-Based Contracting, ID/A Waiver Amendments
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is hosting a series of public comment webinars to provide an overview of how it proposes to implement performance-based contracting for residential services effective January 1, 2025. Additional proposed changes to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family-Directed Support Waivers that are not related to performance-based contracting will also be covered.
The proposed changes have not been published yet. As soon as they are available to review, we will share the document with our members. We will also reconvene our Performance-Based Contracting Committee in order to develop our comments. We encourage our members to submit comments to ODP, and share your thoughts with us as well to include in our response.
Sessions will be held for specific stakeholder groups. Preregistration is required. To register, follow the registration link under the session that best defines your role. Registered participants will have the opportunity to provide verbal comments on the waiver amendment during the session.
Registration Link
Update to Remote Supports and Assistive Technology: ODPANN 24-015
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has updated ODPANN 24-015: Implementing Changes to Remote Supports and Assistive Technology in the November Waiver Amendments. The original release of the communication was missing the guidance for implementing changes to assistive technology. Please note: this has been corrected with this update. All new information is included in red. Please use this version of the communication going forward.
- ATTACHMENT A – Remote Supports Services HCSIS Guidance
- ATTACHMENT B – AAW Report Support Service HCSIS Guidance
- ATTACHMENT C – Remote Supports or Assistive Technology Decision Tree
Embrace Autism in April!
To celebrate the diversity of individuals with autism, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) encourages you to be active participants within your home and communities! Throughout Autism Acceptance Month, ODP will be holding autism trainings throughout the month of April. You are invited to join these trainings, as they discuss what autism is, how to teach skills, address risk, and apply best practices. These trainings will be recorded and posted to MyODP in May 2024.
The attached documents offer tips for embracing autism in your community and a full listing of ODP autism trainings in April!
Training Schedule:
- Empowering Autistic Individuals: The Vital Role of Teaching Skills
Friday, Apr 19, 2024 10:00 AM
- Supporting Autism and Beyond
Friday, Apr 26, 2024 10:00 AM
- Exploring the Complexities of Autism
Monday, Apr 29, 2024 11:00 AM
CMS Hospital/Quality Initiative Open Door Forum Planned for April 16, 2024
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the next hospital/quality initiative open door forum will be conducted on April 16, 2024 at 2:00 pm. The agenda topics that will be discussed during the call include:
- Announcements & Updates
- FY 2025 IPPS/LTCH PPS Proposed Rule
- Quality Program Update Proposals
- FY 2025 IPF PPS Proposed Rule
- Wage Index Updates: April PUF, 45-Day Reclassification Withdrawal Deadline, and Appeals Deadline
- Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM)
- New Hospital Price Transparency Resources
The call will be a Zoom webinar with registration and login instructions below. To participate by webinar, please register in advance.
Meeting ID: 160 823 4591
Passcode: 200020
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Preparation for Enterprise Case Management (ECM): ODPANN 24-035
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the attached communication, ODPANN 24-035: Action Required in Preparation for Enterprise Case Management (ECM). This communication is to request providers’ assistance in updating their contact information and service information to ensure accuracy in the Home and Community-Based Services System (HCSIS) and in PROMISe™ prior to the Enterprise Case Management (ECM) transition. Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.
ATTACHMENTS:
Registration Open for 2024 Virtual Dual Diagnosis Conference
The 2024 Virtual Dual Diagnosis Conference, titled “Full Diagnosis: Impact of Trauma, Physical Health, and Metabolic Health,” will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hosted by The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Programs, and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the conference features nationally recognized speakers who will explore various perspectives on these crucial issues. Featured speakers include Dale Adair, MD, FAPA, Syard Evans, PhD, Beth Barol, Stacy Nonnemacher, Self Advocates United as 1, Brandi Kelly, PhD, and Dan Dubovsky. Registration for the conference is open.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Director of Mental Health, Jim Sharp.
OIG: Lack of BH Providers in Medicare/Medicaid Impedes Access to Care
Lack of BH Providers in Medicare and Medicaid Impedes Enrollees’ Access to Care
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released a report citing there are not enough behavioral health providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid networks.
In an analysis published April 2, the government watchdog studied one urban and one rural county in 10 states across the country. The analysis found relatively few behavioral health providers are participating in Medicaid, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage programs, leading to difficulties in access for enrollees.
Notable Findings:
- On average, there were fewer than five active behavioral health providers accepting Medicare and Medicaid patients per 1,000 enrollees. Traditional Medicare had the lowest rates of providers, at 2.9 per 1,000 on average, and Medicare Advantage had the highest rate at 4.7 per 1,000 enrollees.
- Rural counties had fewer providers accepting Medicare and Medicaid than urban counties. In rural counties, there were 1.5 providers accepting traditional Medicare per 1,000 patients, compared to 4.4 in urban counties.
- Across Medicaid, traditional Medicare, and Medicare Advantage, there were fewer than two providers per 1,000 enrollees that could prescribe medication for mental health issues, such as psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
- Active providers accepting public insurance make up around one-third of the behavioral health workforce, according to the report.
- Fewer than 10% of public insurance beneficiaries received mental health treatment in 2023.
- CMS could also tighten network adequacy standards in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid to increase the size of insurers’ networks, the OIG said in its report.
- The OIG recommended CMS up its oversight of Medicaid and Medicare enrollees’ use of behavioral health services, and recommended CMS examine allowing more types of behavioral health providers to participate in Medicare and Medicaid.
- CMS said it concurred with the OIG’s recommendations and said it has already taken several steps to improve access to behavioral health providers for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
If you have questions please contact RCPA COO and Director of Mental Health Jim Sharp.
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