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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced two days of interactive training webinars that will cover Medicare basics. The webinars will be offered on April 16 and 17, 2024, from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Attendees can attend one or both days, and space is limited. CEUs will not be offered. The topics for the webinars include:

Day 1 — Medicare enrollment and eligibility; SSA and CMS roles and responsibilities; cost and coverage under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance); why enrolling on time is important; and an overview of Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies.

Day 2 — Medicare drug coverage (Part D); Medicare Advantage Plans; coordination of benefits; how to detect and report suspected Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse; and different resources to help you find answers to Medicare policy and coverage questions.

To register for these events, visit the CMS National Training Program website. The webinars will be recorded and posted to the NTP website. To view the recordings, visit here.

College of Direct Support Webinar — Discover How DirectCourse Can Revolutionize Your Organization
April 18, 2024
10:00 am
Register

This webinar is for providers within the state of PA who oversee a workforce that provides services and supports to individuals with disabilities in their home and/or employment setting. Discover how, through DirectCourse, you can educate and empower Direct Support Professionals (DSP) to do their best work for the individuals they support in your community.

What DirectCourse Offers:

  • Foundational Training: Perfect for newcomers to the field.
  • Compliance Training: Content that meets regulatory standards.
  • Skill-building Modules: For those seeking to elevate their expertise.
  • Advanced Content: Tailored for seasoned professionals.
  • Specialty Training: For targeted projects and circumstances.
  • Leadership Training: For those at the helm of policy and practice design.
  • Career Path Options: For those looking to advance in the field of Direct Support Professionals.

Our Commitments:

  • Up-to-Date Training: Our online training curricula align with the latest research.
  • Strong Partnerships: We value our bonds with content developers from university partners.
  • Skill-Based Training: Our content is rooted in specific skills and competencies, ensuring clear on-the-job training.
  • Building Connections: We foster connections between families, providers, board members, supervisors, and everyone in the support industry.

The next Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee (LTSS) meeting has been scheduled for May 8, 2024, as a hybrid event, with both in-person and webinar with remote streaming options available to attendees. The meeting will be held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Honors Suite, 1st Floor, at 333 Market Street Tower, Harrisburg, PA.

Register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released the OMHSAS-24-01 Restraint Seclusion and Exclusion Bulletin, updating policies on restraint, seclusion, and exclusion in state mental hospitals to reduce these practices. This bulletin supersedes OMHSAS-09-06, necessitating adjustments in local hospital policies. Changes include shifting from “manual hold” to “physical restraint” terminology and clarifications in definitions. It strictly prohibits mechanical and chemical restraints, allowing physical restraint only as a last-resort emergency measure with detailed guidelines on application, documentation, and debriefing protocols. The emphasis is on individualized care, de-escalation techniques, and personnel training to ensure the humane and judicious use of physical restraint.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) April 2024 Stakeholder Webinar is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 3:00 pm 4:00 pm. You can now register for the meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

With close to 400 members, the priorities of RCPA leadership are to maintain the quality standards of membership communication, along with advocacy at the state and federal levels. To continue to serve our members effectively and efficiently, it has become imperative that RCPA leadership include a Chief Operating Officer (COO) position. We are pleased to announce that RCPA policy staff member Jim Sharp will start as the COO — and remain Director of Mental Health — effective Monday, April 8, 2024.

Jim has been with RCPA for five years. He has more than 35 years of cross-systems advocacy with organizational and strategic planning experience. He previously worked for RCPA member Merakey, and has served in several key positions, including Chief Juvenile Probation Officer at the Philadelphia Family Court, Admissions Director at George Junior Republic, and he began his career at Montgomery County Juvenile Probation. He holds a Master of Administration, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Shippensburg University.

This COO role will provide management, leadership, and vision to ensure that RCPA continues to meet its short-term and long-term goals and objectives, by creating policies and a company culture that strengthens operational efficiency and quality of services. Jim Sharp demonstrates a depth of knowledge regarding RCPA’s mission, vision, and values. Please join me in congratulating Jim in his new role.