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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CareLink Community Support Services
March 31, 2021

CareLink Names Rich Hoback Chief Operations Officer

MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA – CareLink Community Support Services, a Greater Philadelphia area human services provider, announced today that Rich Hoback has been named Chief Operations Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Hoback succeeds Gary Woomer, who served as CareLink’s COO for seven years before assuming the role of CEO in late 2020.

“Rich is a seasoned and trusted leader with a laser-focus on operational excellence,” said CareLink CEO Gary Woomer. “His considerable experience, dedication, and thorough understanding of the agency make him uniquely qualified for the position of COO.”

Mr. Hoback brings nearly 25 years of experience in mental healthcare to his role at CareLink. He joined the agency as a Program Supervisor in 1998, and has since served as Residential Program Supervisor, Assistant Regional Director, and Regional Director. Prior to his tenure at CareLink, Mr. Hoback was employed by The Horsham Clinic and Horsham Health Systems of Delaware County.

“I am honored and excited to take on the role of COO at CareLink,” Mr. Hoback said. “I’m proud of the work our team has done to meet the challenges of the last year, and I look forward working closely with the management team and staff to keep the agency energized and moving forward.”

Mr. Hoback holds a master’s degree in health services management from Eastern University and a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Temple University. He is also certified as a psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner (CPRP) and crisis prevention instructor.

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Since 1959, CareLink Community Support Services has been dedicated to providing people with mental illness and developmental disabilities with the caring support they need to live, work, and participate in the community with dignity and independence. CareLink currently serves individuals in 33 community programs throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

Media Contact:
Kate Rosin
CareLink Community Support Services
krosin@carelinkservices.org
(610) 874-1119, ext. 613
www.carelinkservices.org

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Advocacy Alert

Do you believe older adults and individuals with disabilities should have easier access to mental health services? (We certainly do).

 

Currently, marriage and family therapists and licensed mental health counselors are not eligible Medicare providers, despite the important role they play in delivering treatment, recovery, and prevention services.

 

However, there is new legislation to change that – and it needs your support!

 

On March 18, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) reintroduced the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 828). This legislation would allow marriage and family therapists and licensed mental health counselors to participate in the Medicare program, dramatically expanding access to care for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

 

This simple change would immediately increase patients’ access to needed care, particularly in underserved communities, rural areas, and areas with a mental health workforce shortage.

 

Will you take two minutes today to urge your Senators to cosponsor the Mental Health Access Improvement Act? 

Thank you to those of you who already took action to ask your Representatives to cosponsor the House version.

Sincerely,

Chuck Ingoglia
President and CEO
National Council for Behavioral Health

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Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

The Department of Human Services is tracking when vaccines have been administered to individuals and direct support staff in licensed Community Homes and Private ICFs/ID. It is very important that providers use the Vaccine Administration Tracker. This information is essential to implementing the Commonwealth’s vaccine and administration plan and helping ensure that vaccines are being administered as soon as can be accomplished. Completing this form is a major component to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.

Please remember to use the Vaccine Administration Tracker when vaccinations are completed at your location. This announcement contains additional information and instructions about the tracker. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation with this critical effort.

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OMHSAS has released the following bulletin that applies to providers of Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR) services that provide behavioral health treatment services in host homes to children and youth under 18 years of age in the Medical Assistance (MA), Fee-For-Service (FFS), and managed care delivery systems.

On October 19, 2019, the Department promulgated 55 Pa. Code Chapters 1155 and 5240, which codified the minimum standards for licensing and MA payment conditions for agencies that deliver Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) to children, youth, and young adults under 21 years of age with mental, emotional and behavioral health needs.

The regulations replaced the requirements for Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS) previously set forth in bulletins issued by the Department. Because IBHS replaced BHRS, BHRS will not be compensable after January 17, 2021.

Specialized behavioral health treatment provided in the CRR host home setting is not considered IBHS. Because the behavioral health treatment component provided in a CRR host home setting cannot be provided through IBHS, the Department is issuing procedures for how CRR providers who provide services in a host home setting can continue to provide specialized behavioral health treatment.

Please review OMHSAS 21-04 Home Host Treatment Bulletin for guidance. There are procedural steps for existing and new providers that should be followed in accordance with this bulletin as well as identified code procedures.

There are also addition attachments related to the bulletin:

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

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OMHSAS will be hosting a webinar on May 11, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm to provide Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) updates. This webinar will provide a brief summary of the transition from BHRS to IBHS throughout 2020, as well as current tips, policy, and process. Anyone is welcome to attend. If you have a specific question, please familiarize yourself with the resources, frequently asked questions, and presentations already listed on the IBHS website. The webinar details will be sent out shortly.

In addition, the IBHS email is always available for questions and suggested webinar topics. If you have questions or thoughts, please contact RCPA Children’s Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released a report titled “Hospitals Reported That the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Significantly Strained Health Care Delivery.” The report focuses on the continued strain that COVID-19 has placed on hospitals and their ability to deliver care to patients and provides an overview on the many challenges they are facing clinically, administratively, and financially due to the pandemic. The report also highlights problems hospitals have raised concerning COVID-19 patients who they have been unable to discharge to post-acute care facilities due to a shortage in bed capacity or because the post-acute care facility did not want to risk the further spread of COVID-19 infection.

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The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) recently announced the availability of funding through a grant that was posted on March 22, 2021 by the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center. The intention of this program is to advance medical rehabilitation by increasing scientific efforts to longitudinally assess the experience of individuals living with a TBI. The deadline to apply for the funding opportunity is May 21, 2021.

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