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Photo by Nelly Antoniadou on Unsplash

The Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Education have released the below COVID-19 safety guidance documents to assist providers, families, and individuals during the provision of in-home services.

For additional guidance related to COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health COVID-19 in Pennsylvania and DHS COVID-19 Guidance and Resources pages.

If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA policy director.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Message from Kevin Dressler

COVID-19 Vaccine

I have attached three documents regarding the rollout of a vaccine once it is available to the long-term care facilities. The first document is an overview of the strategy for the rollout along with a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document concerning the rollout. There is also a copy of an email regarding a meeting slated for Friday, December 4 at 3:00 pm to discuss the provider enrollment; a question and answer portion will be built into the presentation. EDHS and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) are anticipating that the intermediate care facilities (ICFs) will be a part of Phase 1A, which is the initial part of the rollout of the vaccine distribution.

HAN 537– Testing and Management Strategies for Co-Circulating Flu and COVID Viruses

Please take the time to review and implement the testing and management strategies where possible to address the co-circulating flu and COVID viruses.

CDC Guidance on Quarantine

This link outlines new guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding people in quarantine and exposure to COVID-19. I anticipate that a HAN will be forthcoming to align with this guidance and want to get this out to everyone so that you can begin thinking about the changes and be prepared to implement them when the HAN is completed. This guidance reduces the number of days required for someone to quarantine from 14 days to 10 days if the person is not experiencing symptoms, is wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and is monitoring for symptoms for the full 14 days. There is also a strategy for a seven-day return with a negative test result that could be considered in extreme staffing situations. Again, this is the CDC’s guidance, and I fully suspect that we will be receiving further guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) in the form of a HAN. As a result, we should wait until the guidance from the DOH is received to implement these new procedures.

 

 

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Problem Gambling Webinar: Sports Betting and Online Gambling

  • Thursday, December 10, 2020 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
    • This training will explore the nature of problem gambling while examining emerging trends in online gambling, sports betting, and future considerations in Esports wagering. See this flyer for more details.

Veterans Benefits Administration Tele-Townhall

  • See this webpage for upcoming dates, times, and call-in information.
    • The Tele-Townhall series is hosted by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Under Secretary for Benefits, Dr. Paul Lawrence.

Conversation with the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) – Part 2: Collaboration Opportunities for County Jails and Opioid Treatment Programs to Support and Expand Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Services

  • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
    • This conversation will discuss options to increase medications for opioid use disorder in the jail system by working closely with local Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP). Topics will include OTP regulations relevant to jails and opportunities to increase access to methadone within jails.
  • Recommended Participants:
    • Lead representatives from grantee jails, including members of clinical, custody, and administration teams who support data collection, reporting, and evaluation of MOUD programs
    • Representatives from state OTPs
    • State correctional institutions and non-grantee jails are also encouraged to participate if interested in learning more about MOUD and future grant opportunities

For more information, please contact Mary Kate Brousseau.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they will hold a call on December 10, 2020 from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) that will focus on the calendar year (CY) 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule that was recently released. This call will focus specifically on four key areas within this final rule, including:

  • Extending telehealth and licensing flexibilities beyond the public health emergency (PHE);
  • Updating Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding guidance;
  • Updating the Quality Payment Program and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System Value Pathways; and
  • Updating opioid use disorder and substance use disorder provisions.

During the call, CMS experts will briefly cover provisions from the final rule and address any questions. Members are encouraged to review the final rule prior to the call. To participate, please register here.

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Workshop Series

  • Reminder: The Office of National Drug Control Policy has launched a new workshop series for rural faith leaders. It is entitled Empowering Faith Leaders to Help Persons with Substance Use Disorder. This is a series of four workshops that will allow rural faith leaders to share valuable information and resources. The first workshop, Substance Use Disorder and the Pandemic in Rural Communities, will take place on December 8, 2020 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern Standard Time. If you would like to attend, RSVP to Betty-Ann Bryce. Please include your name, title, organization, and contact information.

­Funding

  • The Department of Health and Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Statewide Family Network grant program (SFN). The purpose of this program is to more effectively respond to the needs of children, youth, and young adults with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and their families by providing information, referrals, and support; it will also create a mechanism for families to participate in state and local mental health services planning and policy development. The application due date is January 4, 2021.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Statewide Consumer Network grant program (SCN). The purpose of this program is to improve efforts to address the needs of adults with serious mental illness (SMI) by developing and/or expanding peer support services, peer leadership, and peer engagement strategies statewide. The application due date is January 4, 2021.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services – Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals aims to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals while also improving distribution of a quality behavioral health workforce, thereby increasing access to behavioral health services. A special focus is placed on the knowledge and understanding of children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth at risk for behavioral health disorders. The closing date is January 21, 2021.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the National Telehealth Resource Center (NTRC) Program. The purpose of NTRCs is to support the delivery of telehealth technical assistance through Regional Telehealth Resource Centers (RTRCs). Two NTRCs may be funded. The closing date is January 21, 2021.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Regional Telehealth Resource Center (RTRC) Program. RTRCs assist health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural areas and populations. RTRCs also assist patients and families living in rural areas with telehealth technology so that they can obtain health services. This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) will support 12 RTRCs that focus on statewide and regional telehealth activities. The closing date is January 21, 2021.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Rapid Response Rural Data Analysis and Issue Specific Rural Research Studies Program. The purpose of this program is to assist rural communities with conducting rapid data analyses and short-term issue-specific rural research studies to understand the impact of current and proposed policies and regulations as well as provide information that will improve health care in rural America. The closing date is January 29, 2021.
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