ANCOR Stateside Report — November 7
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PA CoP for Supporting Families Work Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23
The Community of Practice (CoP) for Supporting Families Work Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 reflects ongoing efforts as well as areas of focus for new or enhanced strategies for the Supporting Families Initiative Director and leadership team. It also includes highlights of accomplishments from the prior FY. The work plan can be found on the MyODP page for the CoP for Supporting Families.
A webinar is also available that describes the structure of the work plan and the relationship of the Supporting Families Initiative to the Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC). It also explains a few of the new and enhanced activities for this fiscal year.
ID/A Compensation Survey Work Group Recording Now Available
Drexel’s 30th Annual Forensic Rights & Treatment Conference Scheduled for Nov. 30–Dec. 1
“Homeward Bound: Exploring Issues Faced by Justice-Involved Persons”
The 30th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, brought to us by Drexel University, will be presented this year with a spectacular online educational program addressing clinical, policy, and environmental issues that impact persons involved with the criminal justice system. RCPA highly recommends this engaging experience, and members can see further details, including registration, in the conference brochure.
The plenary sessions will address implicit bias, false confessions, Megan’s Law, and an overview of the pardons process. The workshops will offer skill-building sessions to use in your own settings. All sessions will be recorded, which will allow you to earn additional continuing education credits by viewing sessions at your convenience. The conference will be available to registrants until December 31, 2022, and you will be able to see all of the workshop offerings.
For more information contact Drexel via email or call 215-831-4055. If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp or Carol Ferenz.
Now Available: PA’s Statewide Transition Plan for HCBS Submitted to CMS
ODP Announcement 22-112 informs all interested parties that on October 31, 2022, the Department submitted Pennsylvania’s Statewide Transition Plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is responsible for reviewing the Statewide Transition Plan to ensure all federal regulatory requirements are met. During the review process, CMS may request that technical changes be made to the plan. When this occurs, CMS usually includes a summary of changes made with the final approval letter. The Department will notify all interested stakeholders when CMS has given its approval and will make the approved version available at that time.
The Statewide Transition Plan may be viewed here. Questions about the Statewide Transition Plan or this communication should be sent electronically.
Welcome RCPA Partner Streamline Healthcare Solutions!
RCPA members will now receive a discount on services from Streamline. Streamline Healthcare Solutions is a trusted EHR and MCO solution partner in building innovative technology solutions for the human services and health care delivery marketspace. Developed specifically for this market, their cloud-based, single platform and intelligent technology is unlike any other. From value-based care to evidence-based practices to population health management, human services is changing, and the Streamline SmartCare Platform’s open architecture and sophisticated data integration & analytics enable human services organizations to meet tomorrow’s needs today.
- For more information on their products and services, please visit their website.
- Investing in an EHR: Leadership Considerations Guidebook for Leaders of Behavioral Health and Human Services Organizations
- View details of the RCPA member discount
- EHR Discount for CCBHCs
For further information, please contact Streamline’s PA Regional Sales Manager Matt Mercer via email or 313-283-9456.
City & State Media Name Power 100 for PA Nonprofits: RCPA Members and Partners Recognized
City & State PA is a premier multi-media news firm that dedicates its coverage to Pennsylvania’s state and local government, political, and advocacy news. City & State PA annually cite among their Power 100 rankings those in the nonprofit field for their achievements and contributions. This year, several RCPA members and stakeholder partners have been recognized for their efforts in their field and those they serve. Included in the list are:
- Jill Bowen, Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services;
- Colleen McNichol, President and CEO, Child Guidance Resource Center;
- Marco Giordano, CEO, Resources for Human Development;
- Mike Smith, President and CEO, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania;
- Gordon May, President and CEO, CONCERN 4 Kids;
- Sherri Landis , Executive Director The Arc of Pa; and
- Representative Frank Ferry Pa House of Representative 142nd Districts.
RCPA congratulates these members and partners for their recognition in this year’s Power 100 Nonprofit Leaders. You can view the full article here.
CMS Releases Final 2023 Physician Fee Schedule
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Calendar Year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule. The final rule includes several National Council and RCPA recommended priorities. These are wins for mental health and substance use care organizations that will help expand access to care by strengthening the workforce.
RCPA recommends members review this 2023 Physicians Fee Schedule Final Rule Summary for impacts on your agencies practice and/or policies.
Key Highlights:
- Telehealth Flexibility Extensions: CMS is extending telehealth flexibilities implemented under the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for a 151-day period after the expiration of the PHE.
- CMS is allowing behavioral health clinicians to offer services incident to a Medicare practitioner under general (rather than direct) supervision.
- Licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists are now able to bill incident to Medicare practitioner for their services.
- Medicare will allow opioid treatment programs to use telehealth to initiate treatment with buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder, continuing the flexibilities under the Ryan Haight Act of 2008.
- CMS is also clarifying that opioid treatment programs can bill for opioid use disorder treatment services provided through mobile units, such as vans, in accordance with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) guidance.
The Final Rule, in alignment with the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2022, implements an extension of a number of flexibilities for a 151-day period after the expiration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), which is set to expire on January 11, 2023.
In the event of further extensions of the federal PHE, we will communicate this info to members. Under the current timeframe for PHE continuation, states must be notified by November 11, 2022.
We thank our members and Steering Committees for their guidance, recommendations, and support through the review process. If you have any questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.
OMHSAS Extends Selected Flexibilities Beyond PHE
Wolf Administration Touts Decriminalization of Fentanyl Test Strips
Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith and Acting Health Secretary and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson today praised Gov. Tom Wolf’s signing of Act 111, which amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act of 1972 to no longer define fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia.
Read the press release.
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